Mirror’s shopping writer Grace always struggles with fake tan looking too orange, so she tested out utan’s brand new instant tan designed for those with cool undertones
As a fair-skinned girl, achieving a natural tan can be a bit of a challenge. It demands a lot of hours of sunbathing, and with the UK’s famous lack of sunshine, coupled with the possibility for skin damage, it’s just not worth the hassle anymore.
So I’m constantly on the hunt for a bronzing product that can mimic that natural sun-kissed glow. However, the majority of fake tans always ends up looking too orange on my cool-toned skin.
When I saw that utan had launched its Instant Tan Cool, labelled by the brand as “the world’s first instant tan designed to suit your undertone and enhance your perfume”, I knew I had to test out and see if it actually worked on my skintone.
Utan is known for developing innovative and first of it’s kind formulas, not to mention it’s loved by major celebrity A-listers like Sofia Richie and Sienna Miller.
We have had gradual fake tans in the past that have been specifically designed for certain undertones, such as Bondi Sands’ Technoolour Range, but finding an instant tan (reasonably priced at £18) that can do so is pretty great.
READ MORE: Isle of Paradise’s ‘easy to use’ fake tan drops are less than £10 in flash beauty deal
READ MORE: My face never tans but Iconic’s new bronzer made me look like I’d spent two weeks in the sun’
Pros
- Evens out the skin tone
- Easy to apply
- Natural-looking
- Buildable
- Smells amazing
Cons
- Doesn’t give a really deep tan
utan Instant Tan Cool review
The first thing I noticed after using this tan was how easy and honestly foolproof the application is. The forumla comes out in a airbursh spray that blends so seamlessly into the skin. There’s not hard work or intense rubbing required. Simply spray the formular directly on to your skin or mitt and softly blend it in for the perfect finish.
It’s probably the easiest-to-apply fake tan I’ve ever tried.
Initially I was unsure if the colour was dark enough for my liking. I don’t like anything too deep but the first spray showed up with very minimal colour. However, the great thing about this product is that it dries down fairly quickly so you can build it up to get a deeper colour.
I will say that it does act more like body make-up, as described by the brand, so it’s ideal for smoothing out uneven tones and adding some natural colour into the skin. But if you’re looking for a deep, intense tan this is probably not the one for you.
Personally, I know this is a product I will reach for all the time. I love anything instant as I’m often too forgetful to actually prep out my bodycare routine in advance. And this handy spray can easily slot into my handbag for emergency top ups on a night out.
Additionally, it does not have that traditional fake tan smell at all. In fact, the scent is organic vanilla and tonka so not only does it give the skin a littel bronzey glow, it makes you smell amazing at the same time.
The brand has also launched the same product but created for those with warm-tones, and actually recommends mixing both together if you’re neutral to get your perfect, bespoke shade.
If you’ve not been convinced by an instant tan, my favourite gradual tans are: Tan Luxe The Gradual Illuminating Self Tan Lotion, currently £22 and Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water Medium, £18.95.