How does St Tropez Gradual Tan work to achieve a natural-looking tan?

St Tropez Gradual Tan

If you want a natural-looking glow that lasts, a gradual self tan is your best bet. But how exactly do you apply it? Cult beauty expert Micaella shares her practiced sequence, methods and motions to achieve the most seamless, streak-free results. Prep the skin first, she says, by exfoliating a few days before. She also suggests moisturizing key areas like knees, ankles and elbows.

If you’re new to fake tan or are looking for a subtle glow, a st tropez gradual tan is perfect. It’s like a moisturiser, but it tans your skin, providing a natural-looking tan that builds over time. Achieve a smooth and even finish with this easy-to-apply body lotion. It is lightweight, hydrating and enriched with shea butter. It also contains vitamin E to soften the skin, while an odourless fragrance leaves you smelling fresh and lovely.

Apply the product on to a clean, exfoliated base, but don’t moisturise beforehand (it’s not necessary). Then, just like with our Self Tanning Mousse, use a mitt and start at the feet and move upwards, paying special attention to dry areas such as knees, elbows and wrists. Ensure no patches are missed and wash your hands once you’re done. The result is a subtle, sunkissed glow that gradually deepens over 4-8 hours. Reapply daily to build your desired depth of tan.

How does St Tropez Gradual Tan work to achieve a natural-looking tan?

Unlike traditional self tans, which create a deep finish that can stain sheets and make them impossible to get off without a shower, gradual tanning lotions contain far less DHA (the sugar-derived active ingredient that causes a non-toxic browning effect on the skin) and are delivered in a body moisturiser. This means they are easier to apply and dry more quickly, so colour transfers to bedding or clothes is minimal.

As a result, they can be applied morning or night without the risk of streaking or patchy areas. To ensure a smooth and even application, we recommend exfoliating the day you plan to tan and using a clean mitt to distribute the product evenly. Our experts love incorporating gradual tan into their daily routine to maintain their gorgeous bronzed glow year-round. Simply re-apply daily to build your desired amount of glow. To achieve a natural-looking face tan, use our nourishing face cream, which contains added shea butter to help keep your complexion hydrated while you build your glow.

Having the right technique is key to getting a flawless, natural-looking fake tan. Harknett believes it’s about “choosing a shade that closely matches your complexion – you don’t want to go too dark or you’ll end up looking unrealistic.” Other things that can affect how long it takes to see results from a self-tanner include: Your skin type – fair skinned people can often have a hard time tanning because they produce much less melanin, meaning that you can hit a point where the sun won’t be able to do any more work for the day and it starts to burn rather than tan.

It’s also important to exfoliate and moisturise before applying any sort of tan, but especially before applying gradual tan so you avoid patchy areas like knees and elbows. It’s also a good idea to wash your palms afterward to prevent staining them. Then it’s a case of reapplying daily until you reach your desired bronzed look.

Michaella says that “it’s safe for most people but if you have dry skin it’s best to exfoliate well before applying any gradual tanning moisturiser and then on days you’re not tanning, use an ordinary body cream or lotion to ensure your skin stays hydrated.” She also advises that you shouldn’t apply too much product to avoid patchiness and over-darkening in certain areas. And don’t forget to wash your hands!

Definitely avoid any products that contain Hydroquinone, an ingredient that’s used to lighten skin, but which can cause irritation and lead to rashes. Likewise, steer clear of Lead Acetate, which can cause a range of issues from gout to seizures. Formaldehyde is another no-no, which is listed as a carcinogen in Europe and should not be used on skin. Instead look out for other ingredients that help to preserve the product longer and prevent microbial growth, like Methanediol, Propanediol and Ethylhexylglycine. All the St Tropez Gradual Tan products are free from both.