Despite the chilly weather, we all want a little golden glow - especially since plenty of us are still enjoying festive soirees.
Christmas is done and dusted for another year, but New Year's Eve is just around the corner. Whether you're venturing out to a busy, booming bar or rocking up to a house party, a bit of a tan works very well with sequins and sparkles.
This is where fake tans and tinted moisturisers come in handy. For a budget-friendly price, pasty pins and deathly pale arms can be transformed and give the illusion of a Christmas spent in a much warmer climate.
READ MORE: What's the period between Christmas and New Year actually called?
With that in mind, we decided to put a range of fake tans and tinted moisturisers to the test to see which came out on top. With so many options on the market, we assessed which ones look the most natural, offer the best price - and avoid that grim biscuit scent so commonly associated with tanning products.
We tried products from Boots, Superdrug and LOOKFANTASTIC and here's what we thought:
Garnier Summer Body Hydrating Gradual Tan Moisturiser Dark 400ml
Despite being quite pale I still love to try and get a tan in the summer months, but generally have to top up with a bit of the fake stuff, especially on my legs. I'm quite low maintenance when it comes to beauty and just can't really be bothered with faffing around with proper fake tan and all the exfoliating that goes with it.
So for me, fake tan moisturisers are a godsend when I need a bit of extra colour, too. I tried this Garnier Summer Body Hydrating Gradual Tan Moisturiser in 'Dark' to get a good bit of glow on my legs and arms and was really impressed with the results.
I've tried these moisturisers in a lighter shade before but they didn't really cut it, so I opted for the darker shade, hoping it wouldn't make me look too orange. It went on really nicely and was quickly absorbed, leaving no sticky residue on my skin. I hate it when you get a moisturiser that just won't rub in, but that wasn't the case here and I made sure I really worked it into my skin so I didn't have any unsightly streaks.
It had a pleasant fruity scent and didn't have that awful biscuit smell, thankfully. The colour came out quite quickly and after a second application it had developed into a really lovely shade that lasted about three days. I did get a bit of orangey-ness around my toes and ankles, so you really do need to take care to apply it evenly.
At £9.99 it's quite a lot to pay for a moisturiser, but you do get a really big bottle for that amount. You only need to apply a small amount as well so it should last you a good few weeks, depending on how often you use it. For how easy it is to use, the results you get and the nice smell, it's definitely one I'd buy again.
Price: Usually £9.99, but currently £6.66 at Superdrug
Rating: 4/5
Where to buy: Boots, Superdrug and other high street stores and supermarkets
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser
After many ill-fated attempts at tanning naturally, I've just accepted the fact my complexion is reminiscent of Casper the Friendly Ghost's. Though, I do want my legs to look a little less deathly pale when I go out.
Gradual tanning moisturisers, in my opinion, work best - especially if you're spectacularly pale like me as you can have more control over the colour. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser is a budget friendly tanning option that's easy to add into your daily routine.
The formula goes on effortlessly and absorbs pretty fast while still leaving the skin looking dewy and fresh. I've been using it for a while, and though I think no tinted moisturiser is without its downsides, this one is pretty darn good.
Whenever I use it, I wake up with a natural, sun-kissed colour on my sickly pale legs which gives me a much-needed confidence boost. The colour lasts a few days and I only need to apply it every other day to maintain my desired complexion.
The only downside is the product sadly still has that trademark fake tan biscuit smell and even after thoroughly washing my hands after each application, the hint of orange palms still lurks.
Price: Varies depending on store but it's usually around £5.75
Where to buy: You can buy Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser from Boots, Superdrug, Feel Unique and more
Rating: 4/5
St. Tropez Express Bronzing Mousse 200ml
I've got to be honest, I love a bit of fake tan. This time of the year I'm usually incredibly pasty and pale, so I love to add a bit of a bronze glow to my body - especially if it's a special occasion.
I've had a lot of fake tan mishaps in the past, from streaky legs to patchy elbows, but I honestly think I've found the perfect fake tan that's definitely worth the price. I never used to like spending a lot of money on fake tan, until I realised that you sometimes really do get what you pay for.
I'd heard a lot of rave reviews about the St. Tropez Express Bronzing Mousse, which has been praised for its 'natural bronzed look' that 'doesn't streak'. Available for £25.50 on the LOOKFANTASTIC website, the tan is also available to purchase from Boots and Superdrug.
The 'express' mousse is said to give you a tan after just one hour of applying, or if you'd prefer a darker tan, up to three hours. I decided to wear this tan for the three hours, and I was amazed at the results.
I had people asking me what tan I used and how I applied it, which was amazing for me, because I'm honestly the laziest person when it comes to fake tan. I shamefully don't exfoliate beforehand or have any meticulous routines, but this tan made me look like I did.
It gave me an absolutely gorgeous glow with zero streaks, and I basically looked like I'd just got back from a holiday abroad. I've almost ran out of this bottle, and although it's pretty expensive at £25.50, I'll definitely be purchasing it again because it's so worth it.
Price: £25.50
Rating: 5/5
Where to buy: LOOKFANTASTIC, Boots, Superdrug and other high street stores or supermarkets
Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived Fair to Medium Self Tanning Body Lotion 200ml
I have very pale skin, so have always been a bit wary of fake tan - especially after a few fake tan disasters in my teens. However, I decided to give it another go, especially with the festive season in full swing.
I headed to my local Boots store and picked up a bottle of Dove's DermaSpa Summer Revived gradual tan in the shade fair to medium. This is a gradual tanning lotion, which was exactly what I was looking for, as I feel like it's less daunting to apply.
My first impression of the lotion was that it had a lovely smell, which is a real bonus. The product was really easy to apply and felt nice and smooth on the skin. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with Dove products, and this one certainly didn't disappoint.
In terms of the results, I was really impressed. I was left with the natural, healthy glow I was looking for. I'll definitely be using it again and would really recommend it.
Price: £8.50
Rating: 5/5
Where to buy: Your local Boots store or online
Receive newsletters with the latest shopping news, deals and honest opinions from the Liverpool ECHO Shopping & Reviews newsletter by signing up here
READ NEXT:
