Garnier's Summer Body Moisturising Lotion

Hi guys. I have never really been a fan of fake-tanning before because I find the process so laborious and time-consuming, plus most products that I have used have never lived up to my expectations. Either the end result is too light or too dark, or from time to time, patchy. However, I am a big fan of moisturisers like this one from Garnier, as it builds up a natural colour over time rather than you going from a milk bottle to a bronzed goddess overnight. This product is also a great alternative for beginners or fake tan novices, as it is less daunting to use and gives a more subtle finish. So today, I thought that I would do a little review of this product sharing what I think of it. Let's get started!

Garnier's Summer Body Moisturising Lotion is a mix between a body lotion and a gradual tanner which leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturised for over 12 hours. Summer Body comes in two shades so that it can cater for all different skin tones. The light lotion is suitable for those with pale to fair skin and claims to leave you with a light sunkissed look, whereas the darker version gives a deeper colour and is best suited to those with medium, olive or darker skin tones. The great thing about this product is that you can control how often you use it and therefore, you can control the end result too. Using the lotion for a day or two will enable you to get a noticeable colour and a healthy glow, or alternatively you can use the lotion for longer if you want to build up the intensity of the tan.

I opted for the lighter version as my skin tone is fair and even after one application, I got amazing results. My skin had a noticeable light tanned colour to it which was not overly orange (something that I know a lot of people worry about!) The colour was perfect for me and so I decided that I did not need to bother with a second application the following night! Although you would usually use your hands to apply lotion, I would suggest using a tanning mitt instead like you would if you were applying a proper fake tan product. Not only will this give you a much more even result, you will also avoid getting orange hands. The only thing you will need to bear in mind is that the lotion does go on clear, so take care not to miss any patches!

The other great thing about this product is that it does not have your typical fake tan smell, which can often have a 'biscuit-y' scent. Summer Body contains natural apricot extracts which means that the lotion is fruity and a lot more pleasant to apply than the likes of St Moritz and so on. Even though the moisturiser has a fast absorption and drying time, I still like to wait a little while before I get dressed just to be on the safe side. I usually apply this at night time too, so that I can then throw on some loose pyjamas to go to bed in. I have also applied this to my face (mixed in with a bit of my normal moisturiser) and have never encountered any problems whether it be clinging to dry patches or clogging up my pores/causing spots. I know that there are tanning products that particularly targeted to tanning your face but this method does the trick for me - and it's cheaper!

Overall, this is a great product to use if you want to gradually build up colour until you are happy with its intensity. It is both moisturising and simple to use, which means it is fuss free and does not take too long to apply. Plus, it smells divine so this lotion is an absolute winner in my books and I would highly recommend it! What do you think of this product? Have you tried it before? Please let me know by leaving a comment below!

Garnier Summer Body retails at around £5.10 for a 250ml bottle and is widely available from drugstores and supermarkets.

Butter Up: My Top 3 Favourite Body Butters

Hi guys. I have always been a major hoarder of body butters and I never seem to finish an entire tub before I've moved on to the next one. I have a never ending stash of moisturisers and my collection seems to just keep on growing, whether it be me not being able to resist an offer in Boots or receiving them as gifts. With that being said, I do have a couple of favourites that I always seem to come back to. Not only do these three of my favourite body butters get the job done in terms of keeping my skin soft but they all smell amazing too! So, I thought that I would just do a little post today to share with you all my much loved top three. Let's get started!

The Body Shop Passion Fruit Body Butter - £13.00
First up is a product that has been a bit of a rediscovery for me, as I previously mentioned in my monthly favourites post last week. I have loved The Body Shop's range of body butters for a long time and due to their thirteen pounds price tag, they are quite a treat for me. Yet, they do last such a long time and so they are definitely worth the investment. Out of the three butters that I am mentioning today, this one is definitely the richest and thickest in texture. Hence, I like to use this one right before bedtime as it does take quite long to sink in. However, it certainly does the trick and leaves my skin feeling supple and soft. To top it all off, the passionfruit scent is so summery and addictive too. This is a must have product in my opinion!

Soap & Glory Butter Yourself Five Fruits Super Rich Body Butter - £10.50 
Next up is my favourite butter out of the three. I am addicted to all things Soap & Glory and I have never found a bad product in their range that I have tried to this day (fingers crossed I never do either!) 'Butter Yourself' is a lovely fruity smelling body butter which features ingredients such as; orange waterjuice, peppermint oil and fruitliquid fig. This product nourishes extremely well without being sticky or leaving a horrible residue behind. It sinks in relatively quickly and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth, especially my legs! So far this tub has lasted me since Christmas and I still have a reasonable amount left, although I will definitely be re-purchasing this one when it runs out!

Boots Extracts Fairtrade Mango Body Butter - £8.00 for full size
Last but not least is this mini mango body butter which I received as part of a set from my friend Sarah. The Boots Extracts range has a great range of body butters for a very affordable price but this scent is by far my favourite. I do not use this product as often due to it being smaller in size but when I do, I love it! This body butter is the lightest of the three consistency wise, which means that it is excellent to wear during the daytime, as it does not stick to your clothing. The mango scent is very fresh and is a great pick-me-up too, which is another reason as to why I love it so much!

So those are my top three favourite body butters, I hope you have enjoyed reading about them. I really enjoy using all of them and as you can tell when it comes to body products, I love anything with a fruit-based fragrance or scent! Which are your favourites body butters? Have you tried any of my top three before? Please let me know in the comments below. Thank you :)