Piz Buin Summer Sensation Lotion

...tan I was drawn to Piz Buin. I have always considered Piz Buin to be a posh brand of suncare products, I don't know why exactly, but it could be due to their product packaging which stands out compared to all the other products out there and also they are more expensive than most sun products. Piz Buin has a good reputation and have been around since 1938. What I didn't realise is that Piz Buin were the first company to introduce the Sun Protection ...
...their field.

Piz Buin Summer Sensation Tinted Lotion retails around £10.99 for 150ml and is available in two shades: MID for fair to medium skin and MAX (which I am reviewing) for medium to dark skin. The tanning lotion provides a natural looking colour and had a light sun-kissed scent. Other products within the self tan range are: Summer Sensation Spray and Summer Sensation Foam, however the Foam is pricey at £14.99.

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Gone are the days when I would spend the whole weekend sunbathing at the slightest bit of sun shining. As I have become older, I have realised that covering yourself in baby oil and literally baking in the sun is not good for your skin. Also, I don't seem to be able to stick the heat as much as I used to, which for me makes sunbathing incredibly boring. As mad as it sounds, I do feel that little bit healthier with a tan, even though my skin will suffer for it in the long run. So as the winter is looming, the safest way to have a tan is to fake it.

I have always been terrified for self tanning lotions. Why? Because I have seen so many celebrities looking Orange and have always thought they had overdone it slightly with the fake tan and also wondered if they actually have any true friends, as surely those who are genuine friends would tell them not to leave the house looking like a Jaffa! After using Johnson's holiday skin and Nivea gradual tanning lotion, I felt the need to progress to the more hardcode of tanning lotions - yes the ones that last for a while and if you have made a mistake you are left with two options: 1) you end up exfoliating your skin until it is raw to reduce the tan or 2) trying desperately to bleach your skin using Lemon juice and crying when it gets in your eyes!

In my search for self tan I was drawn to Piz Buin. I have always considered Piz Buin to be a posh brand of suncare products, I don't know why exactly, but it could be due to their product packaging which stands out compared to all the other products out there and also they are more expensive than most sun products. Piz Buin has a good reputation and have been around since 1938. What I didn't realise is that Piz Buin were the first company to introduce the Sun Protection factor (SPF), sunscreens with UVA and UVB and the first to develop water resistant suncare products. So I suppose you could say that they are the leaders within their field.

Piz Buin Summer Sensation Tinted Lotion retails around £10.99 for 150ml and is available in two shades: MID for fair to medium skin and MAX (which I am reviewing) for medium to dark skin. The tanning lotion provides a natural looking colour and had a light sun-kissed scent. Other products within the self tan range are: Summer Sensation Spray and Summer Sensation Foam, however the Foam is pricey at £14.99.

Summer Sensation Tinted Lotion comes in a bronze coloured box with 'Piz Buin' in large Cream letters on the front. The lotion itself in is a shimmery Cream bottle which has a flip up lid. The consistency of the lotion is like yogurt, not to runny or thick. It works into your skin very well and I use about a 20p size blob for each arm and calf.

The tanning lotion is tinted and is a light mocha colour. Being tinted it is very easy to see where you have applied the lotion so that you don't miss any parts, which is a lot easier than using a clear lotion, as is ensures even coverage. This makes it easier to judge how much you are using, so making it last longer. What is novel about this lotion is that it actually has a fresh fragrance. The majority of tanning lotions, even the gradual tanning ones, tend to stink. Don't get me wrong there is a little hint of a tanning smell to it obviously; however the fresh fragrance overrides this smell.

With all tanning lotions you are recommended to exfoliate your skin first; however I can't be bothered to do this and apply it straight to my skin. You need to make sure that you skin is dry before applying the lotion. If you apply to your skin when it is damp you will end up with streaks. As far as I can see (unless my Husband is being really mean and not telling me) I do not have any streaks.

When applying you need to be careful especially around your hairline and eyebrows. You must also remember to apply it to your neck and behind your ears; otherwise it looks a bit odd if you miss these parts.

A bit of useful advice - do as the box says and wash your hands in 5 minute intervals. Believe me, if you don't the palms of your hands will look very Orange (a bit like the episode of 'Only Fools and Horses' when the water is contaminated with toxic waste and when Del Boy and Rodney wave their hands at Denzil their hands are glowing!)

It takes a good 5 minutes for the lotion to dry and will take over 30 minutes for the tan to completely dry and develop. It is recommended that you leave it a full hour after applying before taking a shower. Personally I prefer to apply in the evening and let it absorb into my skin overnight.

So why am I giving this lotion 4 stars and not 5? I love this lotion and will definitely be buying it again. I like the way that it gives your skin a sun kissed look, doesn't make your skin look Orange, has a nice fragrance; however there are a few points which prevent it from getting 5 stars.

Firstly, Piz Buin claims that it lasts for up to 10 days. If you are the kind of person who doesn't wash/bath/shower, then I could see it lasting this long, but for those of us who like to keep clean the tan will only last for about a week. This is still good but doesn't live up to Piz Buin's claims. Secondly, Piz Buin also says that it completely absorbs in 30 minutes, however after applying it in the early evening and letting it soak into my skin overnight, my white bed sheets were slightly tainted in the morning. I am happy to say that when my sheets were washed all traces of tanning lotion had disappeared.

Overall, I recommend this tanning lotion. It is on the pricey side compared to the gradual self-tans available but it does work. The self-tan doesn't makes me have spots (which is good), smells nice and leaves your skin looking a lovely sun kissed colour.

Thanks for reading xx 

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