Being pregnant means that I can’t go tanning anymore, which really isn’t a bad thing because it saves my skin. The only downside is that I am SO. PALE. Just call me Casper. Before going to NJ, I wanted some sliver of a “sunkissed glow” to start me off with, so I splurged and bought the Isle of Paradise Tanning Water.
I’ve had my eye on it for quite some time, but never got around to picking up. Vacation is the perfect excuse to buy anything that you don’t realllyyyy need, am I right?
I’ve read tons of reviews on Isle of Paradise, and it definitely seemed worth the hype. It promises a natural, even glow with no streaks. I’ve used self-tanners before, so I couldn’t even mess it up, right? Right?
You need to follow the usual “exfoliate 24 hours before using, blah blah blah, etc.”. When you’re ready to use, you simply mist over clean skin until saturated, then buff in with a tanning mitt. I applied mine after I was showered and moisturized and rubbed in the best that I could. I absolute love the smell of it – so fresh!
The tan takes about 4-6 hours to develop, like most other self-tanners. I was pleasantly surprised with the colour – it really does give you a nice, natural glow! Here’s my skin before and a few hours after one application. A bit hard to tell in the photos, but you can see a difference…
But is it streak-free? No, absolutely not. You have to be really careful when applying it that you rub it in properly and don’t miss any spots. I did such a bad job that I had SO MANY splotches and streaks all over my body. It didn’t help that the nozzle is really hard to push down – I had to use two hands sometimes. So I think that added to my little tanning mishap. Well, that and pure lack of care when buffing it in…
I mean, WHAT. IS. THAT.
Still, I can’t deny how great the colour/coverage is. I have yet to use it again, but will definitely be giving it another go when I get a chance. They have three shades to choose from, as well as several different product options from drops (which you can add to your normal moisturizer) to mousse.
It’s a bit pricey, but definitely worth it. The bottle will last a long time, so you definitely get your money’s worth. I got mine when it was on sale at Boots, so keep an eye out for future sales!
xx Lauren
