This one unassuming body brush changed the way I apply tan

Who knew a body brush would have such an impact? I never thought I’d find a better way to apply tan than with a mitt – how wrong I was. Here’s why a fluffy brush changed my mind…

I started out in the old days (and god this makes me feel old) using a clean sock – I KNOW – to apply instant tan. When that no longer cut the mustard, I bought plastic disposable gloves. Uneven, patchy, missed bits ensued – I wasn’t happy. But then I discovered tanning mitts, around the time tan really took off in Ireland, and haven’t considered my options since.

Consider me converted

That was until I tried the Big Body Brush from Amanda Harrington London. Amanda, and her eponymous brand, are famous for body contouring, body finishing and making an art out of tanning and bronzing. She knows (and tans) all the celebrities in London, and I heard great things about her formulations.

Those aside, when I got her products, I wondered what the giant, fluffy, white-haired brush was for exactly – it didn’t occur to me that it might be what you use to apply the tan with.

 

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A post shared by Amanda Harrington London (@amandaharringtonlondon) on Sep 14, 2019 at 11:30am PDT

Body brush forever

Of course, it was. I looked on her Instagram page just to be sure, and saw that not only did she use the body brush, she had an array of different shapes and sizes of brush from small kabuki (to be used on the face) to angular and medium sized (to draw more detailed tan contour on the skin).

 

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A post shared by Amanda Harrington London (@amandaharringtonlondon) on Sep 12, 2019 at 12:02pm PDT

I got to work using the body brush. My thoughts are as follows:

• You’ve to work a bit harder for your application – it’s not as quick as putting tan on with a mitt – but it’s worth it
• The finish is flawless. With a mitt, the tan seemed to catch in places like my hair follicles and pores, not with this
• The product went further. I didn’t realise just how much product the mitts absorb, but it turns out it’s quite a lot

I’m a convert to the body brush for when I’m applying a layer of developing colour tan. It can’t be beaten. However, I think I’ll have to stick to the mitt for instant tan – speed is usually of the essence in those instances. Would you give the brush a go?

Read more: Future icon: The He-Shi instant tan flying under the radar

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Read more: The tan that works in just nine minutes

Photo from Instagram @amandaharringtonlondon