The only way is...Lauren's Way

Everything screamed to me I shouldn't like this product. My better judgement told me that the slightly lurid packaging and the 'celebrity' endorsement was a one-way ticket to a truly dire product. But, it seems, I stand corrected. 

Lauren Goodger, tanned TV star of The Only Way is Essex, has launched her very own tanning range consisting of a lotion and a mousse. I opted to try the lotion as I seem to get along a lot more favourably with lotions rather than mousses. This product, catchily called "Gorgeous Tanning Lotion - Beach Bronze Colour: Dark" (and breathe) comes emblazoned with Lauren's unmistakable pink branding and a pump dispenser. 

Firstly, smell-wise, you are greeted with a fresh kick of cucumber, making a welcome change to the usual overly-sweet aroma of vanilla or marzipan. The lotion is thick and extremely dark, a very similar colour and consistency of Xen Tan’s Dark Lotion. It dispenses at quite a leisurely pace from the bottle which I found really helpful as I could moderate the amount I wanted to use. 

Applying this tan was pretty easy and certainly didn’t raise any problems that I haven’t encountered before with other fake tans. As you are all aware, it is essential to exfoliate well before fake tanning, paying special attention to dry patches on your elbows and knees. Lauren’s Way tan is very dark and dries almost instantly, meaning it will latch on to any dry areas and stay there…as I well discovered the first time I used it. The lotion does dry very quickly once applied onto your skin so you need to be liberal and work speedily to avoid it streaking. It is a tan that is suited to the more experienced tanner! I never use a tanning mitt or gloves when I fake tan, mainly because I have never found one I think is any good. So if you happen to know any good ones, do let me know. I just used my hands, which I always lightly moisturise before applying the tan, just so it creates a slight barrier between your skin and the lotion. I am pleased to say that the tan washed off my hands absolutely fine, and didn’t leave any staining or orange-hand-syndrome!

1. Pretty pasty

2. Applying the tan

3. Instant colour after one application

4. Developed colour after 12 hours

The reason I love this tan so much, and I really do love it, is that it gives you an instant golden colour, which then develops into a really dark tan. This makes it perfect for a last minute application, if you are heading out and can’t quite bear to expose the world to your pasty legs. I have only ever needed one application of this tan. I would be fearsome to apply another layer as I think, dare I say, it would be TOO dark, even by my standards. It is probably the darkest tan I have used to date. The longevity of the tan is pretty average and comparable to other fake tans, 2-3 days and then it starts going patchy and needs a good scrub off.

I would recommend this tan to those who are after an instant colour, and also a tan that will develop and leave you looking very bronzed. If, however, you are after a more natural-looking tan, then I would steer clear of this. Sidestepping many an Essex joke, this tan is a real triumph and is anything but orange. For £15.95, it actually is a very competitive price in this ever-growing faux tanning market. The only thing that I think lets it down is the packaging, which I think sadly markets this product to a mainly younger demographic. This unfortunately alienates a large potential group of customers who would really enjoy this product.

Lauren's Way consists of two varieties of fake tanning products...
Gorgeous Self Tanning Bronzing Mousse - £17.95
Gorgeous Tanning Lotion, Beach Bronze Colour: Dark - £15.95

The range can be purchased from Lauren's facebook page or her official website.

This tan, in one word, is REEM!