Tan Trials '10: Fake Bake Beyond Bronze Instant Wash Off Tan Shimmer

Buying last minute essentials for Electric Picnic - hand sanitizer, hand sanitizer, more hand sanitizer - I spotted Fake Bake's newish mouthful of a product, Beyond Bronze Instant Wash Off Tan Shimmer. On offer for €8.79 instead of the regular price of €10.99, I thought it might be worth a punt. You can get these in matte and shimmer and a couple of different intensities - needless to say, I went for light.

What's good about this from my fake-tan hating point of view is that it's instant and wash off - so no stinky developing time, no DHA, and no commitment. I had an inkling that it'd be very like He-Shi's One Day Tan and it is. A coloured gel, this isn't as olive as the He-Shi version and is very easy to apply and rub in. So that's the good.

The not-so-great: the Fair version is just that - really fair. Reeeeeeeeealy. In fact, once it's on you can't really see a discernible result. It's so subtle as to be, er, unnoticeable. I don't ever want to be tangoed but sometimes it's nice to have a little small hint of something to smooth out bare arms and legs, and that's why the Hi-Shi product appealed for its subtle ease of use and immediate result. It's also why so many of you love Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs.

Instant Wash Off Tan Shimmer has a very understated amount of shimmer in it -  it's deffo not one for the sparkly vampire effect - but again, you'd have to squint. I kind of can't believe I'm saying this but it might be best to go for the darker shade if you're pale and want a little bit of a pick-me-up on bare flesh without the hassle that spray- and self-tanners entail. I also thought it was slightly tackier in application than He-Shi and took a bit longer to dry, so while One Day Tan is pricier, I would say it's a better buy for your money.