the body shop Honey Bronze self tanner
Image courtesy of The Body Shop.

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Gel for Face, $14

Maybe I watched too much “Jersey Shore” back in the day, but I assumed all self-tanners delivered an freakish orange-y hue. Nope. The Body Shop’s Honey Bronze Gel for Face is like three hours on the beach in a tiny tube, without the sunburn. It applies mess-free and un-streaky; since it’s a gel, you needn’t worry about accidentally spraying it on parts of your body or clothes.  I simply applied it with my fingers, the same way I would a BB cream, and massaged it around my face for coverage. My fingers did briefly turn brown, but I washed them off.

My face looked “glow-y” and “natural,” according to friends, and I confess that I’ve been using Honey Broze Gel for Face frequently since. As a naturally pale woman who needs all the color she can get, I say this is keep-your-NARS-bronzer-in-your-makeup-bag-for-the-rest-of-the-summer-good. And that’s good!  — Jessica Wakeman, Executive Editor

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