Zhuzh Tan Accelator- A Faster Deeper Natural Sun Tan?

These two Zhuzh products are designed to 'accelerate' your tan- they claim to boost natural pigment in the skin to help you develop a deep, long lasting tan quickly in the sun. The Tan Accelerator £15.99 and Best of Both Tans Luxury Daily Moisturiser £15.99 both contain the 'tan accelerating' ingredients, but the moisturiser also has a gradual self tan that aims to add extra colour on top of a quick natural tan.

I was sent these products a while ago but because of the weather I haven't a real chance to try them out until now. I was really intrigued and had high hopes for both of them as I don't tan well in the sun but I would love to be naturally bronzed.
The Zhuzh Tan Accelerator comes in a spray bottle and the product is applied to skin on top of SPF and then rubbed in. The Daily Moisturiser is also applied on top of SPF, but instead of a light mist, the product is a thick cream that needs a bit of work before it is fully blended. Both products left my skin feeling smooth and moisturised, and after a few hours in the sun I was completely... the same colour. I've tried each of the products several times, especially when wearing shorts or other clothing that would leave a visible tan line, but they really don't seem to do anything at all for me. Even the moisturiser with gradual tan didn't seem to impart any colour on my skin.

The spray and cream are both water based, and the only ingredient advertised on the packaging or website is Shea Butter. Looking through the ingredients there's a list of things I can't pronounce, but the ones I do recognise are several alcohols, parabens, fragrances and silicone. This leads me to wonder whether the products really are doing anything magical to my melatonin or whether they've been based on some kind of research that suggests skin tans faster when it is moisturised. 
While the product line is a great idea and something we could really do with in England, I was left disappointed with two formulas that turned out to really just moisturise and do little else. They both seem to have some good reviews online, though, so I'd be interested to hear if they've worked for anyone else as maybe they'd do better on different skin.

How To Fake Tan The Non-Orange Way

Summer is here! (apparently!). But for pasty girls even the hottest of heatwaves can leave a chill in the air when they remember that wearing a dress means they'll have to put their lily-white pins on display. Having tried everything from self tan oil to gradual tan, the thought of baring my skin doesn't bring me out in a (heat) rash, and I've got some tips to make you look bronzed and lovely without having to crisp up your delicate skin in the sun. Everyone knows they should exfoliate more than they do, but it really is key before applying self tan. A product like Whitetobrown Exfoliate* £7.99 is great for this as it has a gel formula which doesn't leave an oily residue on the skin. The exfoliating particles are small and scrubby but you do need to get your palms in there on tough areas like ankles and knees.

After exfoliating to get rid of dead skin cells and any previous tan you had on, applying a moisturiser will ensure that the self tan develops evenly and doesn't stick to dry areas. The St Tropez Tan Optimiser* £5.95 contains Apricot Oil, Shea Butter, Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil which make sure that skin is moisturised, particularly on the knees, elbows, hands and feet. St Tropez also say the Tan Optimiser can be used on holiday to prolong a tan (I've yet to try this out!).

Once you're smooth and prepared, it's time to self tan. I was sent the Fake Bake Original Self Tan Lotion £12.50 to try out, which is one I haven't used before, but the brand has been around since I first started tanning. The lotion comes enclosed with a pair of blue gloves, but I find that all tans apply best and fastest with a mitt so it's definitely worth getting your hands on one.
The lotion is a dark brown colour which smells to me a bit like lychee, and it smooths in easily to create an even layer. After leaving the product on overnight, you're left with a medium tan that's not orange and definitely a better colour than you'd get from a day in the English sun. You can reapply the tan the next night for a darker colour or use an oil-free moisturiser to make sure it fades evenly.

Self tanning can add a bit of extra time to your routine, but it means you'll be a nice sun kissed shade, even if you haven't faced the sun for a while!

My Favourite Simple Products

Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Day Cream- I love this cream! I think this is the perfect consistency- thin enough to sink in easily but thick enough to really give the skin moisture. I use this before I go in the shower, after I come out the shower and before I put my foundation on. The texture is really moicturising without being oily or leaving a sheen and it has made such a difference to the dry patches I get round my nose in the winter. This cream has also really helped with blemishes- since I started using it I have only had a few and theyve faded quickly without drying up horribly.

Eye Make-up Corrector Pen- I bought this on a bit of a whim because I thought it would be useful for liquid eyeliner mistakes and I was right- any slip ups are instantly removed with the soft damp tip of the pen. It needs to be wiped on a tissue or makeup remover wipe after every use (and sometimes during) I find its much easier to do that than try and remove a mistake with a wipe and end up removing all the eyeliner.

Cleansing Facial Wipes- These are so good for refreshing the skin in the morning if you cant be bothered to cleanse, and remove foundation so quickly and easily. I prefer wipes because I can really get into my lashes and remove all those layers of mascara but find some can be really drying and others leave an oily feeling. These Simple ones though I find perfect for my combination skin, I always use them before moisturising or exfoliating in the shower and they remove waterproof eyeliner etc so easily.

What are your favourite Simple products and have you tried any featured in this post?