Being fair-skinned, I’m no stranger to self tanners. I’m always on the hunt for the most natural-looking tan (preferably without that tan smell or splotchy areas) and this one is the best self tanner I’ve found so far for a good summer glow. I’ve been using St Tropez for a few years now, so I thought I’d finally give it a proper review post! St Tropez has come out with more products since I started using their original formula, but I still go for the classic (which is a multi award-winning foam formula).
Note: This post is primarily for anyone with very fair skin, since that’s what I’m testing it on. I typically test out sunless tanners to see if they are easy to use, create a consistent color, and don’t create an orange tinge.
Is St Tropez good for fair skin?
I’ve tried a bunch of other self tanners, but St Tropez is the one I keep going back to.
Recently I used St Tropez without a tanning mitt and it was such a bad decision. I then had to exfoliate my hands so much that I gave myself cuts… awful. Do not recommend. So anyway, 100% get yourself an applicator mitt if you’re going to go the tanning route!
(Note: For special occasions I love a good spray tan but it gets expensive! Spray tans require that you’re exfoliating and shaving right before and moisturizing constantly. They’re harder to touch up than a fake tan in a bottle, too.)
Now when I say I have fair skin, I mean my makeup is usually the first or second color from the lightest shade. And definitely the lightest in the summer months! I have tried what feels like every sunless tanning product and St Tropez I think is the best of the best. Read on for my tips to a flawless sunless tan!
How to apply St. Tropez self tanner for the best results
- For the most natural looking tan, I like to shave and exfoliate the day before. Then use a good moisturizer.
- The next day I’ll use more moisturizer on dry areas like my elbows and knees and ankles, to try to avoid any dark patches on those areas.
- I use my tan mitt in circular motions to try to get a streak-free finish. The best thing about St. Tropez mousse is that it goes on with a guide color, so you can see where you’re putting it. Especially with fair skin, you’ll be able to see the tan bronzing mousse as you put it on, and you can look in a mirror afterwards to make sure you’re all set on your entire body.
- I give the product 2-4 hours of development time and then I’ll wash it off in the shower in warm water. If you want more of a deep color you could reapply or leave it on longer. But I’m not normally very tan, even in the summer, so I’m looking for more of a subtle glow than a true dark tan. When you’re waiting for the tan to develop, you’ll definitely have a slight smell from the product. But as far as sunless tanners go, this is definitely one of the best I’ve ever used! It’s perfect for a natural glow and is fairly easy to use, even for first time tanners.
- Make sure you PAT dry with your towel!
On their website St Tropez claims that there’s no transfer of the product, but I don’t find this to be true. Maybe they mean after you’ve showered off the formula? In any case, once you put it on and let it dry, you will probably have some transfer with bedsheets or clothes. But then after you wash off the guide color, I don’t find there to be any transfer unless I’m rubbing a towel on my arm, for example.
The website says that the tan lasts up to 10 days, which I generally find to be true. The “global best seller” on their site is the one-hour version, which gives you supposedly the same natural golden tan when waiting only an hour vs. the 2-4 (or 4-8 hours, as they suggest) hours of results time for the classic mousse version.
FAQs about using St. Tropez classic bronzing mousse
Can you use this as a gradual tanner? Yes. I don’t normally because one application is usually all I need but you could layer if you need to. I’ve also washed it off after just an hour of time, and it gave me a nice glow. Just enough of a really subtle color! I would do that again (maybe an hour, reapply, wait an hour and wash off) if I had the time.
How long does it last? When I do fake tans by myself at home (vs a spray tan), it lasts a little less than a week. I feel like it gives me a nice color that washes off gradually through the week (vs. coming off in patches like a spray tan does)
Do I need an application mitt? 100%. I tried to apply this stuff recently without one, and it was a mess. I was so worried my hands were going to have the telltale dark palms, I had to majorly exfoliate. This is the mitt I use.
Is St Tropez made from natural ingredients? The site says that it’s “100% clean, vegan-friendly & natural tanning active” but in reading the ingredients I can’t pronounce more than half of them, so I’d say probably not.
What’s the secret to getting stain-free hands? The mitt! Don’t forget the mitt.
Is St. Tropez bronzing mousse good for light skin tone? I think so! A lot of self-tanners immediately turn me orange, but this tanning mousse doesn’t.
The benefits of using self tanners
There are so many benefits to using self tanners and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun or UV rays from a tanning bed.
Convenience and affordability
One of the biggest drivers for me using self tanner for my fair skin is how convenient and affordable it is. Instead of having to make an appointment for a spray tan, I can do the self tan at home on my own schedule. A bottle of St Tropez lasts me an entire year, which would be far more expensive at a spray tan salon.
Avoiding skin damage
One of the biggest benefits of using self-tanners is avoiding the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun. (For fair skin, a lot of times sun exposure without sunscreen means definite sunburn.) Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to skin damage, premature aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer. By opting for a sunless tanner, you can achieve a natural looking tan without the harmful effects of UV rays.
Customizable color for all skin types
If you want a slightly darker color, you can leave the color on longer. If you want a lighter color self tan, you just wash it off after about an hour to see how it develops. That’s the great thing about self tanners! If you don’t love the results (if it’s too light), reapply and let it set a bit longer. Your self tan is completely customizable to what you want.
Other self tanners I’ve tried for the best tan for fair skin include Dolce Glow, Botanic Tree, and Isle of Paradise.
You can read my review of Isle of Paradise tanning drops here.
Note: There are other St. Tropez products I haven’t tried yet that are similar products but take less time to develop or might be better for a gradual tan. Those are on my list to try out this spring!
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