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Over the next few weeks I’m going to be turning myself various shades of tangerine in the interest of testing out some new fake tanning products for the fair ladies of Beaut.ie. Anyone who knows me will know my fondness for fake tan – but my extreme aversion to ‘fake’ fake tan, if you know what I mean. I’m wedded to my St Tropez mousse – it always gets the best results and I’ve converted many a friend to its streak-proof non-orange qualities over the years.
But a recent opportunity to try out Au Courant, a new brand to Irish shores, has put my previously monogamous relationship with St Tropez on a bit of a rocky footing…
Au Courant Sunless Tanning Lotion, €28.75, has a seriously 80s bottle, but don’t let that put you off. It’s a thick dark brown lotion which has a ‘unique’ smell I couldn’t quite put my finger on until I had smeared the chocolatey-brown goo all over my pasty flesh. By Jove, I had it … I smelled like a banana. A chocolatey banana, at that!
Not entirely unpleasant – in fact I quite liked it (St Tropez can be a bit fusty-smelling) but might be too weird for some people – or banana-phobes.
It’s a very concentrated lotion, a little goes a long way. Their website recommends you put it on with a damp sponge applicator, but I went with my usual latex gloves option and used gloved hands to carefully smooth it on (finally getting a chance to try out Kirstie’s amazing tip on tanning your hands from a few weeks ago), which worked fine.
Its dark colour means you can see exactly where it’s going so you can cover yourself evenly. It goes slightly creamy and lighter in colour when rubbed in. The tan takes a while to sink in, but felt very moisturising – I’d advise applying at least an hour or two before going to bed to give it time to absorb into your skin, not your sheets!
As I drifted off to sleep, nostrils filled with the waft of banana-y goodness, I wondered what ethnicity I would be upon waking up the next morning. When I showered off the muck, I was delighted to find myself a lovely light, even golden colour. Not a trace of Oompa Loompa in sight. I had a wedding to go to, so did another application the next night to get me to the desired tan I wanted for the baring of skin in a fancy frock.
It lasted really well (four days) and wore off evenly. It’s not a quick and easy sort of tan, but it’s worth putting the effort in to get the quality result. I used the Sunless Tanning Lotion but there are also other formulations available including mousses and sprays.
You can buy Au Courant products at www.aucourant.ie or in Clery’s, Queen Beauty Emporium or at Harvey Nichols, among other retailers. Salon spray tan is also available – a quick search reveals a number of Dublin salons offering this treatment, including Kameleon, NuEssence and Pink Beauty Boutique in Dundrum.
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Cathyfly would you consider the St Tropez Mousse a ‘quick and easy’ kinda tan?? Love being tanned but just so lazy when it comes to putting it on!
you had me at banana
oh god now you’s have me all confused!!! i was set on trying St. Tropez mousse or everyday, my sis is gettin married next week and i was going to buy nice tan this weekend try it out, so now i dont know which to go for……. a girl in work eats a banana every mornign and the smell of it turns every inch of my stomach, never ever minded smell before, just since she start chomoing them every day!!
cathyfly you are a brave brave woman – imagine the various shades you might be turning in this endeavour… This one does sound lovely colour-wise though
(call me if theres any hilarious results and i’ll be round with a camera)
Chanel queen – I think I’d do the mouse before the everyday if you’re going with the st tropez…not a fan of the everyday at all really.
I seen Au Courant on Xpose. I got a full body spray tan done and it was stunning. So Natural im addicted!!
Ellie Bellie, the St Tropez mousse is a little bit easier but still needs the night to wash off the muck!
Emma, where did you go?
Chanel queen, if you can’t get the Au Courant ST is a really good choice. Just make Sure you have the gloves!
Jill – i will!
I am normally fairly allergic (i.e.scared)of fake tan but was convinced to give it a lash pre-wedding, and by golly I’m now a convert to Au Courant-it gave me a stink-free golden glow, not tanned as such, but exactly what I wanted. Fades perfectly. Queen on Aungier Street is yer only man.
Hi i got it done in Muckross park at the cloisters spa a while back and my friend had hers done in Pink Dundrum last week and they were both so stunning.
Can anyone tell me where I can get the au courant tan in Cork????
Hi Jenny if want to email support@aucourant.ie they will give you the stockists in Cork