Summer is here and what lovely days we are having. Most people long to be bronzed gods or goddesses but if you have fair skin like I do then getting that bronzed look can be difficult.
I would tan eventually but would probably have to endure days of burnt blistered skin with it. For years I have been seeking other ways to look tanned. I have tried out many self tans, be it spray, gel, cream, mousse. Some of them give a great look, others not so great. They all claim to be “No streak” which is not always the case.
This Summer I am on the hunt to find the perfect self tan product. One which actually does what it says on the bottle. One which does not streak or make me gag with an awful smell and one which makes me look like I have a healthy natural tan, not one that makes me look like an umpa lumpa.
The first one I am trying is Vita Liberata and their most recent product- The pHenomena 2-3 week tan.
I am trying the medium shade tan and have been sent a bottle of the tan mousse and an application mitt.
“This tanning product claims to be the world’s longest lasting tan, giving you a tan that lasts up to 4 times longer than regular tans. Available in an extra fast drying mousse formula and an ultra hydrating lotion formula, pHenomenal has taken the beauty world by storm and has scores of celebrity fans across the globe including Gwyneth Paltrow, Sophia Vegara and Kelly Brook.”
The box tells me that if I want a 2-3 week tan, I will need 3 applications in total. I have to leave each application on for 3-24 hours before showering and applying the next.
Tanning Advice
It’s always advisable to use a tanning mitt to apply tan products rather than hands or fingers. The tanning mitt reduces streaking and keeps hands mess free. When tanning my whole body I always put a large dark towel underneath me to protect the floor. It’s also advisable to exfoliate the skin prior to tanning. Exfoliating gets rid of the dead skin meaning tan will develop on fresh new skin helping to eliminate patches.
Another obvious bit of advice is to shower or bathe before applying. I can’t think if anything much worse than applying tan products or any other products to dirty skin. I always apply mine at night and leave over night to develop.
Some tanning products require the user to moisturise the skin prior to tanning. This one however advises not to so it’s always a good idea to carefully read the label or you may end up looking like a flaky carrot.
First Application
I was really impressed by how easy this was to apply. Firstly it’s a mousse which I prefer to sprays or creams. It does not run and it seems to pump out in just the right amounts each time, not too much and not too little. Straight away it ticks off one of the claims it makes on the box and that is; there is no smell. None whatsoever unless my nose is playing up.
The mousse comes out a brown color which always helps so I can see what I’m doing and where it’s being applied.
Even tho the mousse comes out brown; the tan itself is not instant. The color of the mousse seems to dissolve when applied to the skin and the tan takes a few hours to develop.
The mousse was so easy to apply and very light and soft. I was very impressed at how fast it dried, it’s literally instant and I was able to put my pajamas on straight away following the application. I hate being sticky and tacky so was very happy with this products application.
The tanning mitt is obviously messy after use but at least my hands are nice and clean.
I am currently writing this post on Thursday June 12th. Tomorrow (Friday) I have a night out for my birthday (Sunday) I am hoping the tan turns out well. Otherwise I will be a streaky mess for my night out. Fingers crossed.
Application results!
Wow Friday morning and I wake up looking like a beach goddess. Well ok maybe not quite but I do have a nic even glowing tan. The color looks like a tan should and is not streaky or patchy, nor have I missed anywhere.
Here is a before and after shot of my leg. You can clearly see the difference it makes.
I am going to apply a bit more over the weekend just to prolong it and I will see how long it really lasts without going patchy.
