Being a golden goddess is not exclusive to summer.
'Tis the season of celebration, socialising and Christmas parties, meaning the overall general mood will fall somewhere between joy and stress. Joy being the countless get-togethers featuring mulled wine and watching The Holiday seven hundred times, and stress being the lurking sense of pressure to look your absolute best given you are pretty much guaranteed to run into everyone you have ever known over mutual festive galavanting.
If you, like the majority of us, look more like a sickly, Christmas ham than a Renaissance painting when trying to embrace your natural skin tone, tan is your faithful guardian angel. Painting on a bronzed goddess glow is the ultimate confidence booster and perfect preparation to help you tackle December small talk. Given your colouring and personal preference tan can truly transform you into the healthiest, sunkissed version of yourself - without any luggage cost or sunburn. Aside from tan being quite the win-win investment, it can be totally customized to suit which shade feels most natural to you. Whether you prefer multilayered coats for a deep caramel shade, or a light sweep of tinted lotion to even skin tone tan is not confined to the ‘use the whole bottle or go home’ mentality.
Listed below are a selection of the best self-tanners available to buy right now, for those who want a hint of a colour and those who like to go full-on golden goddess.
Bellamianta
Gradual Tanner, €18, Bellamianta
Depending on how pale you are, some self tans can look especially orange in the cool, winter light and for those who like to fake it, but credibly, a gradual tan is your best bet. Enough to lend a golden hue to blue-ish limbs but not lean into tangoed-territory, Bellamianta's gradual tan boasts a unique formuala to fill in uneven texture and fine lines, creating smooth and flawless coverage and is intensely hydrating to create a protective barrier, protecting your tan for up to 24 hours without clogging pores.
Bali Body
Self Tanning Mousse, €28.95, Bali Body
Enriched with nourishing oils and 100% natural DHA, Bali Body’s luxe Self Tanning Mousse can be catered to your preferences. Feeling like a hydrated, golden island goddess could not be easier. Bonus: the mousse has a ‘no tan’ scent and is now available in Ultra Dark.
Bare By Vogue Williams
Ultra Dark Tanning Lotion, €25, Bare By Vogue
Bare by Vogue William’s Ultra Dark Tanning lotion is formulated with Super Peptides to smooth and plump skin as well as Goji Berry, Oatmeal and Chamomile to provide that runway model, healthy glow. Long-lasting, lightweight and instant colour which develops in 4-8 hours, this lotion offers a less-fuss approach to tanning with the stunning results.
Bondi Sands
Bondi Sands Self-Tanning Mousse, €21.99, Boots
Australian brand, Bondi Sand’s Self-Tanning Dark Foam has a salon-quality formula enriched with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E for a flawless, rich and long-lasting glow. Diverging from the pungent smell of classical tan with a coconut scent its unsurprising one bottle sells every thirty seconds.
Vita Liberata
Fabulous Self Tanning Tinted Mousse, €21.50, Vita Liberata
The Fabulous Self Tanning Tinted Mousse is certified organic with natural extracts that encourage anti-ageing and skin enhancement for the perfect winter glow. Available in shades medium and dark with easy application, this mousse is ideal for novice tanners.
Tan Organic
Self Tan Lotion, €24.99, Tan Organic
This incredibly innovative Irish product has been a best-seller since its launch. Tan Organic’s Self Tan Lotion is cruelty-free, eco-certified and consists of 84% aloe vera leaving your skin hydrated with a deep and natural glow. It's also no-transfer - I guess dreams really do come true.
Loving Tan
2 HR Express Dark Self Tanning Mousse, €35.98, Loving Tan
For a natural-looking tan in minutes the Loving Tan 2 HR Express Dark Self Tanning Mousse is your one-stop-shop for a quick glow-up just in time for the evening Christmas party. With a quick-drying formula and streak-free application, obtaining a rich and healthy glow could not be easier.
Tanning Mitt
Bellamianta Luxury Velvet Mitt, €9.99, Boots
A quality mitt is essential when tanning, in order to get the most out of the product. Bellamianta’s Luxury Velvet Mitt is grip and stain-proof to provide the most professional tanning experience.
Nuxe Shimmer Oil
Huile Prodigieuse Or, Multipurpose Golden Shimmer Oil 50ml, €29, Marks & Spencer
There are no restrictions on sparkles and shimmer at Christmas time which makes Nuxe’s Golden Shimmer oil the perfect vanity dresser companion. Inspired by plants, the luxurious oil softens and illuminates skin and hair in one go. A festive cherry-on-top for your tanning regime.
Main image @matildadjerf
READ: How to Make Your Winter Tan Believable — Even When It's Grey Outside
