13-05-2025
I've bought countless bottles of this brilliant fake tan - and it's currently only £2.09 from Boots
I was listening to a history podcast the other day, where they explained that once upon a time, being extremely pale was considered the height of beauty, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a bit sad that I wasn't around in medieval times.
Unfortunately nowadays my pasty skin is not the most desirable look going, but I can't be bothered with the effort of tanning naturally, let alone the risk of sunburn, skin cancer and premature ageing that exposing my skin to the sun's rays can bring.
I do, however, want a tan. But many of the fake tans I've tried (and believe me, I've experimented with a lot) are far from foolproof. They require meticulous application with a tanning mitt, generally in front of a mirror, where I can contort myself into weird positions and check I haven't missed a spot. Afterwards I have to spend ages wiping the product off various areas where it can look dodgy – the heels of my hands, elbows, knees and so on – so that I don't end up with bright orange patches the next day. The results are good, but to be honest the process is too much of a faff.
This is why I love gradual tan. It's a particular genre of tanning product that's part moisturising body lotion, part fake tan, and crucially doesn't leave dramatic streaks or cling on to dry patches like mousses and sprays occasionally do. Also, despite the name, I don't find the process of tanning with one of these products is too gradual – after one application, you definitely looking more bronzed.
I've tried a lot of gradual tans – the St Tropez one is gorgeous – but if we're talking value for money, then I cannot rate the Dove Gradual Tanning Lotion highly enough. It delivers a lovely, natural looking colour, is extremely easy to apply and is available in two shades – light to medium, or medium to dark – so you can decide how deep you want your tan to be. I've got through countless bottles of the stuff, normally applied haphazardly while I'm watching telly, and never had a tanning disaster with it.
Dove Summer Revived Gradual Tanning Lotion For Face & Body
£2.09 Shop
When I popped to Boots yesterday, I noticed that this brilliant tanner is currently even more of a bargain, as it's on offer half price at £2.09 (normally £4.19). Having stocked up on several bottles myself, I decided it was only fair to share the news – especially when I noticed the product has 449 five-star reviews online, so I'm clearly not the only one enamoured. Happy bronzing.
