I don’t often use fake tanning products in winter because I’m susceptible to the cold and so I will be rugged up in my winter woolies with minimal skin showing. But I was tempted to try out this fake tan cause I love coconut products and it was on sale. I was quite pleased with the result and so thought I’d post a review for anyone who is looking for a new fake tan or was wondering whether to buy this product. It retails for $19.99 in Australia and can be purchased at your local supermarket and pharmacy. This isn’t as cheap as Le Tans base tanning range but still cheaper then some of the other quality tan products on the market.

Before applying this lotion you should cleanse your skin and exfoliate. For exfoliation I used the Frank Body Scrub which is very effective and I will have to review this product separately another time. I also shaved my legs and under arms as shaving exfoliates the skin and can remove fake tan so do this before hand to ensure your tan lasts longer. After showering I applied body moisturiser to those drier parts of the body where fake tan tends to turn orange – the knees, ankles and elbows.

To apply the fake tan I used the Bondi Sands Reusable Self Tanning Mitt. I didn’t apply the tan directly onto the aforementioned dry parts of the body rather using the remnants on the mitt and ‘sweeping’ over these areas. I also went over the tan a bit with my hands to ensure an even application and no streaky areas. The lotion has a bronze tint to it so you can see where you are applying it and to make sure you don’t miss any spots.

Le Tan says to leave the tan on for at least 1 hour and then wash it off in the shower but the longer you leave it on the deeper the tan will be. You can also apply a second coat, 30 minutes after the first, for an even darker tan. I only did one coat and left it on for around 90 minutes before washing it off in the shower.

Now Le Tan are known for making quality fake tan products and this one is no exception. First off – the smell. Whilst it definitely has a pleasant coconut aroma, it still has a whiff of the distinct fake tan aroma. Though after application I could barely notice the smell so it didn’t bother me that much. Also, since you can wash it off after an hour, it’s not like you have to walk around all day smelling like fake tan. I don’t know how this product would go transferring onto your sheets at night because I washed it off before I went to bed so if you are worried about this make sure to time your application so you can shower before bed.

The colour develops after 4-6 hours. Due to the green base of the lotion, the colour is quite natural – no Oompa Loompa’s here! Happily I also didn’t get orange patches on my elbows or knees which often happens to me when I use fake tan. Though, even with my fair skin, the colour was not as deep as I would’ve liked so next time I will leave it on for longer or apply a second coat. My skin felt hydrated even after washing the product off. Fake tans often make my legs really itchy but I didn’t have any immediate reactions to this product. I will try and update this post after a few days to let you know how the colour lasts.

This tanning lotion is an economical and effective way to get the sun-kissed bronze look without the dangers of exposing oneself to the suns damaging rays.