VivaSync

Bondi Sands has really taken self tanning to the next level, creating a range that caters to all skin complexions, whether you’re looking for a gentle glow or to bring out your most sun-kissed skin yet.

Living in the UK means that we’re not always blessed with sunny Aussie weather, so we often turn to self tan to give us skin that screams ‘sunbathing, beach holidays and vitamin D’ (without any of the harmful UV rays). But chances are, we’ve all had our fair share of fake-tan mishaps.

That’s why Bondi Sands has created an inclusive and diverse range with its collection of affordable and easy-to-apply products.

The Australian brand prides itself on its vegan and cruelty-free formulas, which leave your skin streak-free and with a balanced bronzed hue (no burnt orange here!). With prices starting from £14.99, the range includes Light/Medium, Dark, Ultra Dark, and the 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam for all the busy bees out there wanting to transform their skin in 60 minutes. There is something for everyone and a reason why the UK and Ireland’s number one tan brand sells a bottle every nine seconds*!

Bondi Sands’ hashtag has amassed over 360 million views on TikTok and counting, with the vast majority of users sharing their epic transformation videos. The brand clearly has a cult following and we did not want to be left out of the conversation. So, we gathered five GLAMOUR staffers, with different complexions and needs, to try out five different tans and here are their truest and most honest thoughts.

The Product

Bondi Sands tanning products, available at Boots from £10.66

Ali Pantony, GLAMOUR’s Acting Website Director

Product: Self Tanning Foam Dark, £10.66

Bondi Sands has been my go-to fake tan brand for years, but this is my first time trying the Self Tanning Foam in Dark (I usually go for the 1 Hour Express tan). The product was so easy to apply with my tanning mitt – I used a few pumps for my legs, arms, stomach and back, then used the residue on my feet, hands and face – and dries in no time at all, meaning there’s no sticky residue. I’m a sucker for a deep tan, hence going for the Dark option. The instructions on the bottle say to leave on for up to six hours – and for a deeper tan, to reapply after the first 30 minutes. I didn’t need to reapply; I could tell the guide colour was getting deeper, so I washed it off after five hours and was left with a perfectly olive, not-orange-at-all deep tan. It looks like I’ve been on a sun-drenched Caribbean holiday, rather than stuck in drizzly London. The tan did cling slightly to my wrists, elbows and knees, but that’s my bad for not moisturising dry areas beforehand. This is my new go-to tan for when I’m not in a rush.

Rating: 9.5/10

Luca Wetherby-Matthews, GLAMOUR's Associate Social Media Manager

Product: Self Tanning Foam Ultra Dark, £12.66

As a bit of a tanning novice, I was hesitant to try the Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam Ultra Dark. Not because I was worried it wouldn’t be good (I’ve heard rave reviews from friends, colleagues and social media), but because I’d never used a mousse before. I’ve tanned using tanning waters, which I’ve always found pretty straightforward, but there was something about a tanning mousse that made me feel nervous.

I had nothing to be concerned about – the tan was super-easy to apply and actually having the guide colour visible on my skin was a good guide to see where I had already applied the product. I did find the smell to be quite strong while developing, but nothing compared to the famous biscuit scent most have; instead, it had a delicious coconut scent. I left it on for around five hours (the bottle says to do six for the maximum effect) and was left with the most natural fake tan I’ve ever had. While my other tanning water gives me an orange-y tinge, the Bondi Sands tan gave me the *exact* shade my skin naturally turns after a few hours in the sun. It’s literally a holiday in a bottle – I’m sold!

Rating: 9/10

Chelsea Hughes, GLAMOUR’s Senior Visual Editor

Product: Self Tanning Foam Light/Medium, £10.66

Tanning, for me, is just as important as my skincare routine. So much so, that it’s actually become a part of my weekly routine. With risks of sunbed usage on the rise, it’s much safer to use self tan – I don’t think there’s any shame in that. Plus, there’s a slim-to-none chance of catching a natural tan in the UK. I usually stick to medium-to-dark shades of self tan – mostly because I’m lazy and can’t be bothered to gradually let it build with multiple coats – so when I was trying the Light/Medium, I did wonder whether I’d notice one coat. Bondi Sands’ Self Tanning Foam is one of my longstanding favourites as it applies really smoothly, you can visibly see where you’re applying it, it lasts forever and it doesn’t smell of digestive biscuits – always a positive. As always, the tan applied beautifully; I felt like it really nourished my skin, too. I love this about the product as some self tanning products can harshly dry out my skin. I was actually very impressed by the shade, too, which I wasn’t expecting. I could see how and where I was applying it, and the shade was darker than I thought it would be, which is good for me – although maybe not so much if you’re after a super-light coating. Overall, the product is fantastic and it will continue to be a constant staple in my bathroom cabinet, albeit a darker version.

Rating: 9/10

Georgia Trodd, GLAMOUR’s Commerce Writer

Product: 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, £14.99

I have an olive complexion and vitiligo – a condition where certain areas of my skin have lost the melanin – so finding a self tanner that doesn’t make my patches go orange is a difficult task to say the least. I think I may have found it in the Bondi Sands 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, though.

I’m usually one for gradual tanners, as I can control how dark I go more easily with them, but the bottle to this formula features a handy guideline on the back, which tells you exactly how long to leave it on for depending on the colour you’re seeking. I decided to go for an hour, which Bondi Sands suggests will achieve a ‘dark’ finish as well as that sun-kissed Australian glow we all lust after. The tan was easy to manoeuvre with my mitt and, once applied evenly, it dried pretty quickly without leaving a sticky residue. To my pleasant surprise, it didn’t seem to have that horrible biscuit smell either – it didn’t smell of anything, in fact, as the 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam has a fragrance-free formula.

After said hour was up, I hopped in the shower and rinsed myself off with lukewarm water. I won’t lie, the water went greenish-black and I immediately assumed I’d just washed all my tan down the drain, expecting that none of it had remained intact. But, when I got out and patted myself dry with a towel, I found that I still had a colour about me. Phew. The next morning was when I could see the most noticeable change, though. It had developed even more overnight, despite me rinsing it off, and I was at least two shades darker. If you’re in a rush and want a subtle tan, this product is great, but if you’re looking for a richer hue you would need to leave it on for the recommended 2-3 hours for that Ultra Dark result. I’ll definitely reach for this again; it’s earned a permanent spot on my bathroom shelf.

Rating: 8.5/10

Shei Mamona, GLAMOUR’s Beauty & Entertainment Assistant

Product: Self Tanning Foam Liquid Gold, £10.66

I confess, I’m a serious self tan sceptic. I’m a Portuguese dark-skinned babe, so I’ve just always found it pointless. I also wear a lot of white – and my precious bedsheets deserve better than rogue orange streaks. However, as a Black woman, I can immediately tell when my brown skin is in need of a glow top-up. Melanin Poppin’ is my motto all year round, so I decided to give this Bondi Sands foam a chance.

What a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t looking to get darker; I wanted the tan to give me a more-even complexion, and to give my melanin its time to shine. It was super-easy to apply, and I didn’t need to wash it off after. My all-white-everything bedding thanked me as, although I used long sleeves for precaution, there was no residue left on them. It dried to touch very fast and I got on with errands as the tan developed.

Six hours later, I looked like I’d just spent a long day at the beach and my hyperpigmentation was demoted from a leading role in my bare skin to a mere understudy. There is nothing like real sunshine, but if I could pop the Portuguese sun in a bottle, it would look like something very close to this.

Rating: 9/10

*Retailer Data Jan 2021- Nov 2021. For more information please contact info@bondisands.co.uk

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