From tanning tablets, to tingling lotions and vitamin-enriched drinks - there are plenty of options to boost and prolong your summer tan
Few things are more daunting than the idea of stepping out in a summer dress for the first time in months, but what’s the solution? Even if you tan well naturally It’s always a struggle to maintain your glow, but there are an array of products, pills and potions to safely boost your tan and prolong it.
Here at w&h we’re always on the lookout for new ways to get that gorgeous summer glow – the healthy way. We all know too much time in the sun is bad for skin and health. Ensure you look tanned the safe way with clever beauty buys instead. Our beauty experts have gone the extra mile, choosing a selection of tan accelerator buys to give you that just-stepped-off-the-plane-from-St-Tropez glow.
Whether you prefer to stick to natural products, or don’t mind as long as it does the job, there are so many ways you can prep for, prolong and enhance your bronzed body.
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Among the many tan-enhancing tablets on the market that promise to enhance your ‘natural’ glow. These slightly cartoonish-looking Holland & Barrett Tan Tablets, £2.99 contain Tyrosine – an amino acid which helps the body to produce melanin. The idea goes, take these before and during your holiday your body will produce more melanin which not only acts as your body’s natural defence from the sun, but also gives your skin that lovely bronze glow and helps it stick around for longer (NB this doesn’t mean you can go without SPF, factor 30+ only please )
Keep reading to discover more brilliant tan accelerator beauty buys…
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Ultrasun Body Tan Activator SPF 30, £28
Totally de-bunking the myth that you need to bake in the sun in order to get a tan, this innovative lotion from a W&H favourite, Ultrasun Body Tan Activator, £28, has a robust SPF30 protection but also contains a special ingredient that stimulates melanin production for up to 40% deeper tan in ten days. This means you can spend less time in the sun, still get a nice glow on, and avoid damaging your skin in the process.
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Imedeen Tan Optimizer, £40
One of the original, and best loved tan-boosting supplements, Imedeen Tan Optimizer, £40, has an excellent rep with good reason. Take a tablet every day in the run up to your break (ideally for one month) to prep your skin by loading it up with antioxidants Vitamins C and E, which help ward of burning and other damage, plus carotenoids, to boost that bronze glow. As always this is no substitute for SPF, so you'll need that too. Combine with Ultrasun for super brownie points!
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Institut Esthederm Bronz Impulse, £42.50
Institut Esthederm make beautiful suncare, which, yes, is reflected in the price but is well worth splashing out on for a special holiday, as the results are so impressive. This Bronz Impulse Face And Body, £42.50 is a pre-holiday prep product, which works to strengthen your skin's natural sun protection,and revving up your pigments for tanning. Used along with the brand's gorgeously textured suncare (Adaptasun Body Lotion Strong Sun, is particularly good) Skin is left soft, scented, protected and with a distinct glow.
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Tan 365 Sunshot Drink, £2
Tan 365 Sunshot Drink, £2 is a pineapple, aloe vera and coconut flavoured drink. It boasts a vitamin-heavy ingredient list, including Beta Carotene - a red/orange coloured pigment found in plants and fruit. By sipping on this summer drink, you are conditioning the skin and 'prepping' it for a tanning session.
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Lovea Carrot Oil with Beta Carotine, £12.99
Lovea Carrot Oil with Beta Carotine, £12.99 is an all-natural tanning product made from carrot roots soaked in sunflower oil. It both regenerates and softens'the skin, while the carotenoid antioxidants it contains enable you to develop a deeper tan. (remember SPF though! We'll never stop reminding you)
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The ‘Green Monster’ smoothie
Health instructor Kathyrn Lurosso swears by her 'Green Monster' smoothie for a natural glow. She claims that after just one week of drinking one smoothie a day, you will see a noticeable difference in your skin. Fancy giving it a go? Here's everything you'll need:
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 frozen banana
- 5-6 chunks of frozen peach
- I scoop of vegan protein powder
- 1 tbsp of organic coconut oil
- 3 pitted Medjool dates
- 4 cups or more of chopped collards, kale, chard or spinach
Then simply blend!
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Ecotan Accelerator, £17.99
This lightweight Ecotan Acellerator, £17.99 helps to accelerate, intensify and prolong a deep, dark tan. It works by stimulating the melanin, whilst the lipsomes in the gel work on deepening the absorbtion into your skin. Fear not - this isn't a gloopy, sticky and uncomfortable kind of gel, it glides on easily and leaves you feeling ready for a day in the sun.
