The Great British Summer, In A Bottle! (Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel)

Member Name: memphisto_chick

Product:	Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel
Date:	16/07/08 (441 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Even coverage, nice consistency, easy to apply

Disadvantages: Price

I don't think, realistically we are going to get a decent summer in the UK this year. In fact, I think we may have had it in May, or at least, as close as we are going to get to summer. So no chance of a tan this summer then.

Not that getting a tan is actually good for you, I don't advocate going out in the sun, getting burnt and potentially putting your future health at risk but that isn't going to stop millions of people worshipping the sun. However, I like the sun but always take precautions to cover myself in sun cream, hats, t-shirts etc, therefore, inevitably, I look, well pale.

Self tanner is not something I have always used, in fact, only maybe in the last two years have I started using a self tanning lotion to add a bit of colour.

I came across the Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel whilst I was buying two other Clarins products in House of Fraser. With my purchase I got a free beauty bonus and got to choose 2 midi sized products, the assistant recommended this self tanner as one of her favourites, so I took it and decided to be brave. Without giving too much away at this point, I finished that midi size and returned to purchase more.

When I returned to buy the full size gel, there was a decent offer on, the self tanner, refiner (exfoliator to you and me) and an SPF 15 facial tanning gel, in a box for £21. Given that the tanner alone costs £15.50, I felt this was great, especially since they were all full size products, not samples or half sizes.

Whilst the exfoliation process is a vital part of the self tanning process, I will avoid talking about that too much here and write another review about the refiner.

The packaging is quite swish, I feel. The tube is 125ml and in bronze, although you won't go this colour bronze unless to bathe in great vats of this on a twice daily basis. As with most Clarins products, the French product name is given above the English. The cap is a secure flip up top, there is a satisfying click when closing so you know it is secure, and the last thing you want is self tanner leaking over everything else on your bathroom shelf or make up bag.

The tube feels quite full, so I was cautious not to squeeze out too much, in case it shot out and left me orange. However, I feel that Clarins have made a good effort to represent a good amount of product for the money. The tube is quite 'squeezable', again so you don't need to put too much pressure on the tube to squeeze out the gel.

I patch test all my leave on skin products 24 hours before I use them and I tested a small amount on the inside of my elbow and I would recommend anyone does this with any new product.

After a successful, uneventful patch test, exfoliation and investing in a pack or surgical gloves, it was time to get tanning.

The gel is coloured bronze with a very small amount of shimmer in the gel, this aides putting the gel on the body, you can see where you have put the gel on, this sheen rubs in well, so you don't end up shiny. I apply this in a downwards circular motion, working upwards from my legs, if that makes sense. I generally only apply tanner to my legs, arms and décolletage. If I am going out or have a special occasion, I will do a whole body application.

There is a slight scent to the gel, but not the normal, vile self tanner that can put you off using fake tan forever. This is a fresh and floral smell but really, unless you get very close to the gel, you'll hardly notice it.

The consistency is lovely; the gel is a decent thickness, not thin to be watery and patchy to applied and not thick to be tacky and difficult to rub into the skin. The gel rubs in very well and doesn't feel tacky on the skin, it also doesn't dry my skin, which I have found can be an issue when using gels on the skin where you have to rub them in quite well.

As there is tinting to the gel, you get a very subtle colour immediately, not unlike if you had used a bronzer, but this also avoids the patchiness you can get from a clear self tanner. You can also dress immediately afterward with no colour transfer, or if you do it before bed, no coloured sheets!

Application took me about 25 minutes, I am meticulous and I hate orange of streaky patches so I make sure everything is rubbed in evenly, no areas are left untouched. If you are an expert self tanner, I suspect it wouldn't take you that long to do legs, arms and chest. Another bonus after application, it doesn't smell at all, so no evidence you have been applying tanner if you need to go out afterwards.

I would recommend, after you finish applying the self tan, you wipe the top of the tube as once the colour develops; it also develops on the tube. I go caught out by not wiping the top, squeezing more out and having old dried tanner in my newly squeezed out gel, not nice.

Colour developing time is brilliant, just one hour gets you a gorgeous tan, it doesn't get deeper than it is at that point, so you at least know within a short space of time whether you want a deeper colour.

Coverage is great too, because it is a gel and it has a colour, you know exactly where it is going on the skin. With any tanner, cheap or expensive, you do get a bit of a deeper colour on your dryest skin areas, such as your knees and elbows, however, I have seen this to extraordinary degrees on some people and it has put me off self tan in the past, I must be honest. However, I cannot say this gel is completely flawless itself, it does give you a bit of extra colour on your knees and elbows but not enough to be noticeable to anyone but yourself. I personally don't have many people coming up to me for close inspections of my elbows and knees, so I am not about to be too worried about this, I feel it is an inevitable part of self tanning. Just remember to decrease the chances of this happening, exfoliate and moisturise your skin well all well time, not just in pre self tan mode.

The gel has, in my opinion, a decent level of longevity, with the tan gradually fading over 5-6 days, so I would certainly be pleased with that, as I haven't used a self tanner other than this gel, I am not sure what the best longevity of a self tanner is. What is great about this is it doesn't go streaky, patchy or orange whilst is is fading out, ot fades like a natural tan would, which is everything you could ask for from a self tanning gel.

Just to add, if you do get orange palms or knuckles, use a coarse exfoliator and soap to get this off, it comes off fairly easily with the refiner I bought it with and that is medium coarse consistency.

As I don't use this gel in great quantities, I bought the gel after Christmas in the January sale and I still have about a quarter left after fortnightly- three weekly tanning sessions, which I feel is fine in proportion to the cost of the gel.

Overall, I would highly recommend this self tanning gel, it is really sunshine in a bottle and it is safe too. I realise the price will put some people off, but it is worth every penny and you can pick this up on ebay or discounted online beauty stores around the £12 mark.

Very easy to apply, a lovely colour with no self tan smell, you can't get a better taste of summer than this!

Thanks for reading xx

Summary: A decent self tanner to make up for the British blues!