[AD] BRONZED & GLOWING SKIN WITHOUT THE SUN | BALI BODY

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We all love that beautiful bronzed glow for summer, but around these parts we obviously aren’t going to bake out in the sun to get it! Luckily, there are some amazing tanning products on the market these days and the Bali Body Gradual Face Tan Hydrating Cream | £28 | is one of them. Today I’m going to walk you through how I prep my skin for this product, how I like to use it and my other tips and tricks for getting that sun-kissed look without any of the damage…

This combines a gradual tanner with a moisturiser and it's pretty much the perfect formula for this use. When I've used tanning drops before, it can be hard to find a simple but effective moisturiser to combine them with (and not everyone wants to go out and buy something new just to use with tanning products), because you want something that's going to get rid of any dryness, soften and smooth the skin but that doesn't contain anything 'active' that's going to interfere with your tanning results. This all-in-one takes the guesswork out and is formulated with Vitamin E, cocoa butter, aloe, shea butter, soybean oil and fatty alcohol to give that nourishment. At the same time, it's a light lotion so it's moisturising with zero shine. I honestly think any skin tone can enjoy tanning, and it's something I've been a lot more into this year. Firstly, I think we all do love that 'have you been on holiday?' or 'you've caught the sun!' kind of look. Secondly, regardless of your skin's depth, it's more about about bringing that warmth to your complexion. And, thirdly: if you suffer from uneven skin tone (melasma, hyperpigmentation etc.) then you'll know that sun damage is your worst enemy, however using self-tanner can actually even out the appearance of it. A gradual tanner like this is a great option if you - like me - use a lot of products that increase skin cell turnover and exfoliate the surface of the skin, because a traditional tan that you're using maybe once every week or two isn't going to last as long under those circumstances.

Now, let's get into my routine! I actually like to use the Bali Body cream overnight; I guess I just like waking up in the morning with that glow. What I really like about this is that it's very subtle, non-streaky and comes with all those moisturising ingredients to give you a really flawless finish; you can decide how often you want to use it. For me: I like a natural look so go for a couple of times a week, but you can use it daily if you like a really deep bronzed look. I start prepping in the morning by exfoliating my skin. I personally don't like physical exfoliators, so I use a chemical formula (paired with sunscreen, of course) in the morning to allow it time to work throughout the day before I do my tanning in the evening. I personally like the hydrating formula of the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner | £31. It provides deep, skin-clarifying exfoliation but the PHAs are great at a surface level to take care of any dry, dead skin cells. This leaves my skin super soft and smooth, making it the perfect base for self-tanning.

That evening, I keep my skincare routine pretty simple: a double cleanse followed by a gentle serum that's going to hydrate and not get in the way. The Monday Muse the Juice Serum* | £40 | gives my skin a fresh, juicy glow and is packed with hydration and soothing ingredients. It's very lightweight so layers really nicely with the tanning face cream. After that, I go in with the Bali Body and I'm done!

The next morning I just use a gentle water-based cleanser like my Fresh Soy Face Cleanser* | £36 | and the Monday Muse serum is amazing for a dewy glow. Then - if you're looking at your skin and thinking you could happily go a little bit deeper - you can actually go back in with the Bali Body moisturiser to act as your day cream and further develop your tan. 

My other top tips for getting that bronzed glow are around your makeup. Obviously sunscreen is a must: we don't need to be exposing our skin to UV damage when we've got our tan from a bottle. I apply a base layer in the morning under my makeup and top up throughout the day with a mist. I love the Hello Sunday The One That's a Serum SPF 45 Drops* | £20 | because they're broad spectrum and provide the perfect glowing, lightweight base for makeup. I also really recommend mixing a luminiser in with your foundation or tinted moisturiser. I appreciate the soft pearly-gold sheen of the Versed Mood Lighting Luminising Glow Drops in Sheer Golden* | £14.99. They're nothing 'tin man' but give my skin an extra glow boost. I'm also obsessed with the Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer in Medium | £20 | at the moment. It's that perfect warming shade on my skin tone. I recommend applying it around the hairline and across the cheek bones, and I like to just take whatever's left on my brush across my nose and on my upper cheeks where my freckles are. This is where you'd naturally catch the sun so it's a great tip to add that sunkissed look to the skin.

And, those are my top tips for getting this subtle bronzed glow all year round using the Bali Body Gradual Face Tan Hydrating Cream! Let me know: have you ever tried a gradual tanner?

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