Many tans claim to give an olive glow, this one really DOES! I wouldn’t call myself a self tan devotee, but when it gets to this time of year – the summer glow has faded and Christmas party season is upon us - I do need a little sumthin’ sumthin’ to “fake it to make it”. Until now Famous Dave's (got to love that name) has been my go-to. But Xen-Tan’s earned its stripes in the tanning world and when I saw it was enriched with Argan Oil, the deal was done.
The products itself is really dark brown – think tar! Fear not, you won’t end up that colour and the dark hue means you can see exactly where you’re putting it. It’s labelled “medium” but that’s based on the American colour scale, which is darker than ours. I’d say it’s more of a medium to dark tan. The silky and lightweight texture glides on smoothly and instantly moisturisers and the Argan gives it an added richness. On this occasion I applied with my bare hands (cheesy wotsit hands). In future I’ll use a mitt. The tropical coconut scent makes a nice change, but as the colour develops, the dreaded fake tan/biscuit smell does set in, but only faintly.
Results....
The colour is dark and instant. It dries quickly, so if you want to slap it on and head out, you can and it doesn't sink into your pores or look patched - added bonus! The colour will gradually develop into a deep golden olive tan. Personally I prefer to give it a few hours to develop before washing off the excess. That way you can check your shade before you go out in public and wash away the smell. I applied one coat to my arms. I already had a bit of colour from my last holiday so I wasn’t expecting anything dramatic. Instead I got a natural, even, all over tan that’s more olive than orange! It definitely lifted my current shade a couple of notches. The tan lasts for around 4-5 days. I’ve got the first of my Christmas parties next week and can’t wait to do a second application.
