PRODUCT
Coco and Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, £29.90
THE HYPE
When Coco & Eve first burst onto the Instagram scene in 2017 with its Like A Virgin Hair Masque, the feeds of beauty lovers far and wide were flooded with carefully curated shots of the pretty pink and green tub. But as months passed and five star reviews took over the internet, we soon realised this hair mask was no social media 15-minute famer. And it’s true, if you want soft, luscious locks, the Like A Virgin Hair Masque is about as good as hair masks come.
As news spread that the brand (which up until this point was strictly a haircare brand) had launched a new fake tan with accessories, fans of the hair mask got seriously excited. Not only does the new tan promise a tropical scent with zero notes of biscuit, it also dubs itself as anti-ageing and anti-cellulite, with a development time of just two hours. Plus it’s vegan and free from nasties. Sounds a bit too good to be true, right?
REVIEWER
Shannon Lawlor, Contributor
BEAUTY BIO
I love fake tan. Seriously, I live for it. However, just because I’m absolutely obsessed doesn’t mean I’m any good at applying it. In fact, tanning my body head to toe always turns into a military operation. It’s time-consuming, messy and I always end up with some sort of dry patch on my knees or ankles.
It’s also worth nothing that I am a loyal fake tan user. I don’t jump from brand to brand and I would never be without a bottle of my favourite. I like a foam (with a guide colour, please) that goes on smoothly without any smudging or pilling. I also like a deep colour. Although I’m not particularly naturally tanned (as you can see below), my legs don’t hold onto fake tan very well so I always opt for a dark or deep shade.
The main reason I opt to fake tan is because I find that when I’m pale, my skin always looks dry (even if I’ve moisturised the hell out of it) and it draws attentions to my lumps and bumps. While I’m all for embracing the body in its natural glory, I’m just not there when it comes to total body confidence. A good tan that blurs away my insecurities is an instant confidence boost for me, so this one sounds right up my street.
THE REVIEW
First up, let’s address the smell. When I see a fake tan that promises a ‘no biscuit smell’, I usually ignore it because after a couple of minutes on the skin, no matter what fragrance is used, the biscuit smell reigns supreme. However, with the Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, the tropical fruit scent sticks around. So much so that an hour after I’ve finished applying it, my boyfriend asks me what perfume I’m wearing – adorbs.
While it’s going on, the first thing I notice is just how moisturising it is. Formulated with orange and mandarin oils, orange and lotus flower, raw virgin coconuts, amino acids and natural antioxidants, this stuff provides a glow way beyond pigment. My limbs look silky, sheeny and gloriously bronzed. Whereas some tans can leave skin looking a little dry and lacklustre, Sunny Honey is like a shot of life for sad-looking skin.
I opt for shade ‘dark’ because when trying a new tan I’m never quite sure how it’s going to layer, and (as mentioned) I like an intense colour. I apply the first layer seamlessly with no hiccups. I notice that not even the guide colour is sticking to my usual problem areas (knees, ankles and elbows) and get a little scared that maybe it’s going to develop as time goes on. I allow it to dry for 10 minutes and go in with a second layer. Two coats does the job, and I’m happy with how tanned I’m looking (assuming that roughly a third of the colour will wash off).
It is worth noting that in comparison to my usual tan, this one takes a little longer to dry. I’m tacky for around an hour before it’s fully dry. The directions recommend leaving it on for a minimum of two hours before washing it off. After two hours I can see that the colour has developed well and I toy with the idea of washing it off. However, in order to compare formulas like for like, I always tan before bed and wash it off in the morning so end up leaving this on for roughly eight hours, as I would any other.
Come morning, I expect my sheets to be looking worse for wear, as they usually do, and my expectations were met. Just like any formula with a guide colour, this stuff has painted my white bedding a muddy shade of brown. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a necessary evil – and it comes out in the wash anyway.
First impressions, I’m definitely looking a lot darker than I would with my usual tan and I notice that it hasn’t pooled in my hair follicles quite as much as normal (no one likes strawberry legs). I notice some staining on my heels and knees and pray to the tanning gods that it rinses off.
And it does. A quick splash in the shower and the guide colour is off, revealing an even, bronzed, healthy-looking glow.
THE VERDICT
So besides the fact that Sunny Honey provided the easiest tanning experience of my whole entire existence, the reasons that I love it go well beyond ease. The finish is deep, natural and insanely glowy. My legs in particular look perfected – not airbrushed – and a million times healthier than my usual dry pins. My cellulite definitely isn’t as noticeable and I’m putting that down to some serious levels of hydration. Overall, I’m so impressed that I’m off out to stock up in case it sells out.
