I recently attended an awards ceremony and beforehand, in the makeup room, an actor sitting five inches away asked me which fake tan I’d been using. I confessed I hadn’t – my brown, even legs were entirely down to Falke’s cool and practically invisible Shelina Tights in Brasil (£10). She was so incredulous that she touched my knee to check, before tapping a note on her phone to buy some, pronto.
Others are still appalled at the idea of flesh-toned tights and stockings – those thick, naff biscuit-beige things your nan wore with slippers in the 1980s – but the vastly improved (and racially inclusive) modern versions can be a lifesaver if, like me, you anticipate bare-leg weather with more dread than delight. The Falkes are great quality and seem to resist snags better than cheaper tights, but with an approximate cost-per-wear of £2 (not to mention one’s inability to wear them with sandals – those special toeless tights are absurd), few can justify them daily.
Fake tanning is more frugal, but I find the process, complete with preamble of thorough exfoliation, so tedious and labour-intensive for a much less convincing tan, that I instead opt for wash-off tints that take seconds to apply and stick around all day. My favourite has always been James Read Wash Off Tan (£12), but I’ve recently found that the competition has improved dramatically.
Vita Liberata’s Fabulous Illuminate Wash Off Body Bronzer (£9.95) is a corker: it goes on like a dream, and looks extremely natural despite its (very subtle) golden shimmer. It doesn’t rub off with normal wear, either, though I don’t think I’d put my best white sheets on the bed, just in case. Also impressive is Fake Bake Beyond Bronze Wash Off Tan Matte (£7). Unlike traditional tanners (containing DHA), this one doesn’t smell of wet dog biscuits and can be slathered quickly over arms, legs and even face before a night out. Older, but dependable, is Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs (£13.99), which comes in several shades (there’s also a spray, though it’s less convenient than it looks).
The key to easy, convincing application of any of these products is a microfibre mitt. It gives a much smoother, quicker tan without the hangover of orange palms. One should also forgo body lotion. Wash-offs go on much better, and last longer, when applied directly over bare skin.
