MY MUST-HAVE BRONZING ESSENTIALS THIS SUMMER.

With summer just around the corner and the weather already seriously turning up the heat, now's the perfect time to get prepped for British summertime and begin to switch up our routines a little. And for me, there's no better place to start than with a good old fake tan overhaul.

Fake tan is actually something that I use throughout the year, not just in summer, but I would say that I rely on it more frequently during the warmer months. Naturally, I get lots of freckles on my face, my stomach and back tan amazingly and everywhere else kind of burns a little, and then tans. I do think that natural tans look amazing, but the truth is, while that golden glow looks gorgeous, it's actually not good for you at all...

We are all constantly being reminded of how dangerous the sun's UV rays are, and I think it's amazing that there's now so much amazing press coverage on this topic. Back in the day, people would lie outside for hours, burning pretty much to a crisp, without using any SPF. I know, it's terrifying, right?!

Now, things are much different, and these days, there actually isn't even any need to lay out in the sun for hours to get a rocking hot tan. The 21st century has seen the launch of tons of amazing new beauty products, but if I had to choose one to mark as the most revolutionary, it would have to be fake tan. Not only is fake tan incredibly easy to apply, over the last few years, the quality of colour has vastly improved, too. When fake tan first launched, orange, streaky legs were almost inevitable, but those days are long gone. After a golden, natural looking tan without the unsightly patches? No problem.

Of course, fake tan isn't for everyone, and there's nothing wrong with having fair skin and loving it, but for me, nothing boosts my confidence more than a gorgeous, glowing tan. I feel best when I'm bronzed, and there are a few select products in particular that I rely on to give me that golden goddess glow...

In this blog post, I am going to share with my must-have bronzing essentials this summer to give you guys a little tan-spiration. So, get ready to layer on the factor 50 and swap those harmful UV rays for a risk-free tan that you'll love.

St Tropez Classic Bronzing Mousse

Loved by red-carpet regulars and catwalk models alike (Kate Moss herself is a brand ambassador for this stuff!), the Classic Bronzing Mousse from St Tropez is rarely ever absent from a must-have tanning products feature. A beauty cult classic in its own right, this tan has well and truly earned its stripes, but leaving you looking stripey is the one thing that it won't do. Super easy to apply and guaranteed to give you the most gorgeous, natural-looking tan perhaps ever, this stuff will transform you into a golden goddess in a matter of minutes. The indicator layer means that you can see exactly where the product is going, and the lightweight, mousse formula dries almost instantly. I adore this tan, and I'd recommend it to anyone, no matter their skin-tone.

Palmer's Natural Bronze Gradual Tanner 

Great for creating a natural, healthy-looking glow, this amazing moisturiser smells fabulous (just like all Palmer's products do!) and it'll leave you looking gorgeous, too. I apply this tan as soon as I get out of the shower for a quick burst of moisture. Some tans can be quite drying, so if you have dry skin, applying the fake stuff can be a little off-putting, but this stuff is perfect for dry skin. Not only does it give you a burst of colour, it promises to leave your skin feeling smooth, supple and hydrated, too.

Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face

Tanning the face can feel particularly nerve-wracking. Sure, we can cover up any mistakes with makeup, but surely, one of the best things about having a healthy face tan is that we don't have to wear as much makeup? I've tried tons of face tanners over the years, but for me, nothing even comes close to the Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face. This gorgeous tan comes in an innovative oil formula that blends seamlessly with your moisturiser and develops over a few hours to reveal a stunning, natural-looking tan. For best results, I blend this tan with my trusty Clarins Lotus Oil. This combination promises to leave my skin looking smooth, flawless and bursting with the most beautiful, healthy glow. I love it.

What are your ultimate fake tanning essentials? Or do you prefer to rock a fairer look? Please do let me know! I really enjoyed writing this blog post and I can't wait to share more with you soon!

Lots of love,
Grace x