Beauty Bites: St. Tropez

Source: Best Health magazine; May 2014

There are so many brands of effective self-tanning creams, but one that has become synonymous with the red-carpet A-lister celeb glow is the U.K.’s St. Tropez, which debuted in 1996. ‘The look we aim for today is very natural and bronzy,’ says L.A.-based St. Tropez ‘skin finishing’ expert Fiona Locke, whose clients include Anna Gunn and Sienna Miller.

Locke typically works with her client in consultation with a stylist and makeup artist to come up with the desired effect. They take into consideration the dress that will be worn, and what depth of golden they want to achieve. She sometimes works on her clients three to four days prior to an event, ‘to allow the colour to fade a little if a celebrity wants just a hint of colour on camera.’

‘Self-tanning has evolved, and is user-friendly,’ says Locke. For at-home use, she extols the ease of St. Tropez’s mousse formula used in tandem with the brand’s application mitt; the mitt helps to give even coverage and prevents having stained palms. The brand touts its trademark Aromaguard technology to reduce the scent that can turn people off self-tanners. Its aloe-infused at-home line includes a variety of delivery options (spray and lotion along with the mousse). There are skin-polishing (prep) and maintenance products’even a wash-off option called One Night Only, if you don’t want a longer commitment.

To start, exfoliate skin and lightly moisturize dry areas like edges of feet, hands, elbows and knees. ‘Apply a few pumps of mousse to the mitt, start at the tops of your feet and work your way up,’ says Locke. ‘As long as you’re getting it all over, it doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s okay if you overlap; just do your best not to miss any spots.

‘There’s a really great feeling of self-confidence you get from looking glowing’without the skin damage from the sun or a tanning bed.’

Pictured: St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse ($50, 240 mL); Applicator Mitt ($8).

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