WHAT I USE… SELF TAN

WHEN YOU GET PAID TO TEST BEAUTY PRODUCTS FOR A LIVING, WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY PAY TO USE? ELLE’S BEAUTY DIRECTOR Katy Young COMES CLEAN

Beauty director Katy Young on how to use fake tan at home, plus her tried-and-tested formulas

Oh golden glow, it’s been a while. But, a few years into my self-tan hiatus, I’ve come to the conclusion that being pale isn’t that interesting when it’s time to put your best foot forward for summer. At least, not as interesting as the new fake-tan formulas on the block, which promise to bronze without stress, streaking or that all-too-familiar smell of biscuits. So I’m keen to get to know them in all their easy, golden glory.

My mission to find The One began with an almost-religious exfoliating and moisturising routine. No tan is given a fair trial without a smooth canvas to work on, so start priming skin a week before application, scheduling in any hair removal for at least a day before to avoid those tiny dots (the result of tan getting stuck in open pores). Once your skin is in good nick, it’s time to tan like it’s 2O2O.

All self tan works thanks to the power of dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a simple carbohydrate made in the lab or derived from sugar cane that reacts with dead cells on the surface of the skin, darkening them. It is (unless you have hypersensitive skin) completely safe, and a lot less risky than lying in the sun or on an electric sunbed, which in my view should be banned.

But now, unlike the pretty simple mousses of yesteryear, fake tan comes with a whole lot more actives, hydration and skin benefits. One of my favourite new brands is Isle of Paradise, created by Jules Von Hep, who spent years tanning celebrities for the red carpet (as well as beauty editors, pre-holiday). His own range does away with classic tanning gripes: added chia seed and coconut oils means no drying out or patchiness as colour fades, while 36O-degree nozzles make tanning our backs a cinch. (And if your bronzing efforts still don’t cut the mustard, he’s created Over It – a lotion to strip away old tan.) The tanning shy might prefer the drop formulas: golden tears of tanner to mix into your overnight skincare, so you can get up and glow by breakfast. It figures that Clarins, one of the first to bring gradual tan to the market, has some of my favourite drops for a made-to-measure tan. Again, it’s loaded with skincare, including softening aloe vera.

I’ve also enjoyed working my way through today’s St. Tropez offering. Back in the 199Os, anyone who tanned ‘St. Tropez-ed’. Twenty years later, the brand sells a product every 15 seconds, in part because there is a St. Tropez spray, water, mousse or lotion for every tanner, experienced or novice. There’s even an in-shower cream that works in three minutes – and gets top marks from my time-poor colleagues. Like I said: It. Has. Everything.

As you can see, choice is not an issue when it comes to finding a good self tan. If at first you don’t succeed, buy on; it just comes down to finding a texture and tone that suits your skin. What will stand you in good stead is practice, because however much a nozzle can spin or a mitt can buff, good application comes down to you.

“NOW, UNLIKE THE SIMPLE MOUSSES OF YESTERYEAR, FAKE TAN COMES WITH ACTIVES, HYDRATION AND skin benefits”