When All Else Fails - Fake It! (No.7 Self-Tan Mousse)

Member Name: Festa

Product:	No.7 Self-Tan Mousse
Date:	01/07/02 (365 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Doesn't streak, Hypo-allergenic, Looks like the real thing

Disadvantages: Time consuming

While preparing for a recent trip to visit a friend in Malaysia I realised that I would stand out from the natives by my lily white skin. So a week before my trip I rushed into my local branch of Boots (no time for ordering from Avon or Oriflame which would have been my usual course of action).

Already owning several No 7 products I immediatley scanned their display and discovered Self Tan Mousse. It promises you a tan in 1-2 hours and also 12 hours of moisturisation. After 4-5 days the tan then starts to fade gradually.

HOW TO USE IT

* As with all tanning products it is best to exfoliate first so that you are not colouring already flaking skin. I went into action with a Body Scrub and my exfoliating gloves. By the time I had finished my skin already had a tinge of red! You could almost believe I had been out in the sun (except of course this is England and hence the need for faking it!)

* As the product contains a moisturiser then you miss out a step common with many other fake tans. Instead all you do is shake the can of mousse and squirt it into your hand.

* As the mousse is tinted then it is easy to see where you have applied the mousse. To cover your whole body evenly probably takes about five to ten minutes. To be on the safe side I did wash my hands a couple of times so I didn't acquire tanned palms!

* It is true that you do use this type of products in s smaller quantity on your elbows and knees because it is absorbed more quickly. This time with the help of the tint I managed not to get the tell tale brown patches on my elbows.

* After finishing the application you are advised to allow the mousse to dry for five to ten minutes (take a good book up to the bathroom for while you are waiting ... and remember to keep standing)

* After two hours it is advisable to have another shower to prevent staining your bed clothes from the initial tint of the product.

* The other
alternative is to go through it all again after four hours for a deeper tan - does anybody have the time to do this?!)

POINTS WORTH REMEMBERING

* Although you appear tanned, you still need to use a relevant sun protection factor when you venture out into the sun especially when you head off to the Med or beyond.

* The skin colour doesn't matter when you visit Malaysia and have fair hair - you receive lots of attention (next time I will have to test the brown or black hair colourings!).

* The tan starts to fade after a few days, but this is just in line with the fading of real suntans.

* This is the safe tanning option.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRODUCT

* It contains SPF 6 though of course a higher factor is recommended than this, but in the unlikely event of seeing the sun here you do have some protection when first applied.

* I managed to apply the mousse without any noticable streaking.

* It is suitable for most sensitive skins. This is one product that I have managed to use without a reaction.

* There is only a faint scent to the mousse, nothing like the smells of those old fake tans.

SUMMARY

I will continue to use this mousse so that I don't look like a ghost. It is a much safer option than a sunbed and I never know when I will manage to catch the sun again before my next trip.

Summary: