St Tropez • Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion

By Kellilash @Kellilash

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion

Us beauty addicts spend endless amounts of time eagerly awaiting new product launches, but this new launch from those famous tanning experts, St Tropez is one that we have all been hotly anticipating and wondering anxiously, how can this work?! Let me clarify, a gradual tanning lotion that activates in the shower all in 3 minutes? Sounds far to good to be true doesn't it .... so is it? 

The new St Tropez Gradual Tan In-Shower Lotion uses water to promote a healthy gradual tan with a streak free formula that activates on clean, wet skin in just three minutes. It can be applied daily to build a depth of color to suit you. 

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion

The aim of this seems very similar to those 'in shower' body moisturisers that are on the market (i.e Nivea) which seems to have been advanced by St Tropez to the next level to leave a streak free layer of self tan across the body as well as moisturised skin.

Application is very simple! In your shower, wash your body as normal (shave your legs, exfoliate etc) then switch your shower off. Apply the lotion all over wet skin just like you would a normal body lotion. Given that your skin is wet, the lotion emulsifies and a little goes far. Doing your back can be tricky as always with any lotion but being as this is used on wet skin it's actually not that hard to apply. It's advised to wash your palms straight away as you don't want them stained! Now wait 3 minutes. Hop back into the shower (or wait inside) and rinse off with warm water. Dry yourself and get dressed. There is no need to moisturise your body afterwards as the lotion contains sweet almond oil to hydrate the skin so it should feel lovely and soft when you dry off. 

Bear in mind you won't be tanned at this stage as your tan shall then develop over the next 4-8 hours. St Tropez state you repeat this process over 3 days or more to develop a darker looking tan. 

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion

So does it work? (drumroll.....) YES! Not quite sure how this works in water, but it does!

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion

The results are that of a very light tan so most definitely sits in the Gradual Tanner category so it means that the tanning results are not instant and very dependant on your natural skin tone. The first day I used this I developed a very faint color to my skin, second day my skin became more healthier looking and by day three I had a very healthy all over natural looking tanThe lotion itself is gorgeous, really buttery with no horrid biscuit smell but just a lovely floral scent which left my skin feeling super soft and hydrated. There was no bath or shower staining,no staining to my towels and 100% no streaking whatsoever and given that its applied onto wet skin, that's a pretty incredible result! 

The only niggle (very small) is the 3 minute wait as even though that's not a very long time, you are at that point butt naked, cold and wet so 3 minutes feels like an eternity! I shall have to make sure my wall heater is up higher when applying this! In those 3 mins I jumped out the shower and brushed my teeth, cleansed my face to focus my attention and make that time speed up. 

Given that this is a light tan that you need to work on to develop it further and not an instant dark tan, those who prefer a darker look shall find that this is maybe not enough but then you could use this alongside another self-tan for top-ups and maintenance. If you prefer subtle and natural and are maybe scared of other self tanners and the possibility of turning orange then this shall give you the perfect sun kissed look that's really natural and you shall love this. It would also be ideal for anyone wanting to maintain their natural sun tan for an all year round glow and during the winter months. 

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion

I like the fact that there is no tacky after math or that 'waiting for your tan or lotion to dry' (just the 3 minute naked cold wait) and the fact that you don't need to use a separate body lotion. It may sound like a lot of fuss but once you know what to do its super easy and to get a natural, streak free tan that's super hydrating on your body all from one product, is one worth having in your bathroom cabinet. I will still be sticking with my holy grail Cocoa Brown Tan Darkas I like the instant results it gives me being very naturally pale but I shall definitely use St Tropez Gradual Tan on those  in-between days and during winter time as it will be ideal. 
It may not be the cheapest gradual tanner on the market although coming from St Tropez I think it's a very fair price point, but its ultimately the most fun, most low maintenance and the quickest way to get a natural sun kissed tan. 
Available now priced £14.50 from St Tropez stockists in stores & online and currently on offer at Boots UK so hurry if you fancy trying it out for yourself! 
Have you tried it yet? What do you think?! Let me know if you will try it!