At-home fake tan? Full disclosure: I hate it. I’m dreadful at it. Even the most ‘foolproof’ formulas leave me tangerine.
But then O Cosmedics SELF Gradual Tanning Body Butter landed on my desk. The PR assured me that this was the best at-home self tan ever made. Huge call. I was sceptical, naturally. But I still gave it a red-hot go. And six months later, I’m still using it weekly.
Prep? I shaved my legs and hoped for the best
Historically, when I’ve applied a tan, I’ve gone all out for prep. I’ve now reached the age where if a tan requires any effort at all, I’ll pay someone else to apply it. Still, I was assured this would be a cinch, so I just took a quick shower and towelled off.
This really might be the world’s easiest at-home fake tan
This was so easy to apply. While it claims to be a butter, its texture is more of a cream. And that cream glides on beautifully, with plenty of playtime to ensure your knees, ankles, elbows and knuckles don’t grab the formula. I used O Cosmedics Tanning Brush, which kept the colour on my toes, hands and other joints natural and soft. The trick is to lightly massage it over any lines, crevices or bony areas soon after you’ve applied the tan.
Does this at-home fake tan smell like biscuits?
Not at all. Its subtle coco-vanilla scent is actually really lovely. Sure, you’ll get a faint self-tan smell as it develops (that’s just the DHA doing its thing), but it’s nowhere near overpowering. Your partner won’t sleep in the spare room for fear of asphyxiation, is what I’m saying.
My face on Google Meets just keeps getting better
I was sold on this tan after the first application, way back in summer last year. It was even, looked totally natural and there wasn’t a streak in sight. Since then, I’ve bought about six tubes of this glorious stuff and it’s become a weekly ritual.
As someone who spends half her work day in Google meetings, watching this tan develop is a joy. I begin the day looking pale and vaguely haunted. By 3pm I’m golden, glowing and looking suspiciously well-rested. My hair looks blonder, my eyes look brighter and I look like someone who remembers to take her vitamins.
Essential tips for your tan
Look, this formula is super forgiving, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
- One coat is enough
Truly, it’s all you need for a lovely, natural glow, like in my first picture (above, left). If you must apply a second coat, wait a day or two in between, as I did for Christmas Day last year (above, right). Even then, I felt like the colour was a little too dark for me. I was on the Gold Coast though, so it was probably passable. - Use the tanning brush
It’ll give you the most even, streak-free finish. Promise. - Buff over tricky areas
Use that brush and buff it over knees, elbows, ankles, wrists to avoid patchiness. - Be careful near your hairline
If you’re blonde or have fine hair (like me), applying a hair mask beforehand will prevent accidental orange roots.
The product details — why your skin will love it
Aside from delivering a beautiful glow, each time, this formula is packed with skincare ingredients to keep your skin hydrated and happy. It’s got caffeine to help firm and tone any smooshy spots, as well as shea and coconut butters to nourish skin (great in winter, as I’ve been discovering). Aloe vera aloe adds extra moisture. In fact, you can feel the soothing, calming action of the aloe vera once applied. I would use this butter daily, if I could. I wonder if O Cosmedics makes a tan-free version?
