A beauty editor’s review of St Tropez’s new fast-developing Sunlit Skin Bronzing Tint
With the high-tech fake tan innovations that are hitting shop shelves, it’s easier than ever to avoid the sun damage you get from real tanning without sacrificing on bronzed results.
This month, St. Tropez’s latest innovation has dropped, and it’s promising to revolutionise the way you self-tan your complexion. The St. Tropez Sunlit Skin Self Tan Express costs £29 full-price on Boots and Cult Beauty (where the product has already sold out), but Asos is currently offering it for £21.75 in a new-season beauty sale.
The ‘first-of-its-kind’ facial tanner promises to do so much more than just give you a glow. This little beauty claims to deliver an instant tint with a luminous, pearl-like sheen, before developing into a long-lasting tan in as little as an hour. Wear it under make-up, over make-up, or on bare skin â however you like.
Because itâs tinted, you can see exactly where you’re applying it, making it perfect for tantouring (yes, thatâs contouring and tanning in one). Just brush it across your temples, under your cheekbones, and along your jawline for sculpted definition that lasts for days. The quick-dry, no-rinse formula is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid, so your skin stays plump and radiant.
An elevated alternative to bronzing drops, you can apply the product every three days to keep your glow topped up. For the ultimate application, St Tropez recommends pairing it with the Tantouring Brush (£20), designed to help you get a precise and sculpted finish.
I had high hopes for St. Tropez’s new facial tanner, and honestly, itâs almost the dream productâjust with a couple of small drawbacks. Letâs start with the good stuff: it dries fast, develops fast (1-3 hours), and has a precision nozzle that makes application much easier (especially for something as liquidy as this). The scent is actually really niceânone of that classic biscuity fake tan smellâand as someone with sensitive skin, I had no irritation at all. Plus, the addition of hyaluronic acid is a great touch for keeping skin hydrated.
Now, the downsides. For the price, the bottle is pretty small, and the fact that the brush (which is meant to be used for the best results) is sold separately feels a bit cheeky. Also, because the formula is quite runny and dries super quickly, you have to work at lightning speed to blend it properlyâsomething I struggled with, especially since the immediate tint wasnât the most even on my dry skin. That being said, once the tan developed, it looked much better. And after I washed my face in the morning (I left it on overnight), my tan did appear more even.
As a tint, I prefer to use Elf’s Bronzing Drops, £12, which give a very even immediate tint that can be added to your moisturiser. But, as a quick-to-develop tan, I do like this. I’m going to try blending a few drops into my skin serum next time, because I think that’ll help give the tint a more even effect on my parched skin.
Final verdict? Itâs a luxe product with some great features, but if you have dry skin (or arenât the fastest at blending), be prepared for a bit of trial and error.