Face tan v body tan - what's the difference?

With fifty million tans on the market these days, choosing one can be confusing. When it comes to face tan and body tan, let's see what the difference is.

Tan has come a long way from 15 years ago when the only option was Rimmel Sun Shimmer. Since then you've probably been totally tangoed a couple of times, or you might have paid €30 for a spray tan and come out whiter than you went in. Most of us have lived through lots of tan disasters but through trial and error we have come out the perfect shade of bronze at the end of it all. So when it comes to tanning your face why do you need a separate tan? What's the difference between face tan and body tan?

In order to choose the right tan, you need to consider your lifestyle, skin type and some other factors. For instance, if you have dry skin you are better using a lotion; if you want something that dries quickly you are better off with a mousse. If you sweat a lot or play sports you might go with a fast developing tan that comes up in an hour before you sweat it off. It's the same theory when it comes to face tan versus body tan. Our faces generally have different needs to our bodies.

You might find your body is generally grand. No problem areas, it can be a bit dry, a bit sweaty but in general you whack tan on and it will be fine. Your face, however, might be a different story. Lots of us have problem skin. You might have acne, rosacea, dry skin or oily skin on your face. Or you might have pigmentation that you don't want to make more noticeable. A good face tan will generally be in a smaller size than body tan and have better skin ingredients. It will still have the DHA in it that all tans have to develop our golden skin colour. But it will also have nourishing ingredients for your face too.

James Read Overnight Sleep Mask Tan face €34

This gorgeous face tan has Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera and Algae extract to soothe and hydrate your skin while it tans. It's also got cucumber to remove excess oil. This is ideal if your skin tends to be dry or you have an oily T-zone. It will smooth over and hydrate dry patches to that the tan doesn't develop more in those areas. It will also control oil so your tan doesn't under-develop in the T-zone.

St Tropez Gradual Tan plus Luminous Veil €22.05

This is another gorgeous face tan. St Tropez is ideal if you hate the feel of greasy fake tan on your face. It dries down so it doesn't stay greasy and shiny on your skin. It also has calendula extract which gives you a luminous glow and adds radiance to your skin.

These are both gradual face tanners so they are ideal for novices or if you just don't want a really dark face. You can just apply one layer for a natural glow or apply it a few nights in a row to build up to a deep tan.