Dove Summer Revived Gradual Self-Tan Review
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As someone who’s as pale as a sheet, it becomes painfully obvious when shorts season rolls around that my legs haven’t seen the sun in months. But instead of lying outside for hours in the hope of getting that golden glow, there’s a much quicker and safer option I’ve been turning to recently: gradual tan.
Gradual tan helps add some life back into your skin, giving you a soft, sun-kissed hint of colour without the risk of UV damage. I’ve tested a couple of gradual tanning lotions over the years, and still haven’t found one that I truly love… which is why I decided to give the Dove Summer Revived Gradual Tan a go.
This tanning lotion has gained a lot of popularity recently (I’ve certainly been seeing ads for it everywhere!), but I wanted to see if the hype was justified. I also wanted to find out how much of a difference it actually makes to pale skin like mine. I’ve tried plenty of gradual tanners in the past that have had absolutely no effect at all!
So, just how well does Dove’s Summer Revived Gradual Tanning Lotion work? And is it the best gradual tan for pale skin? Let’s find out!
What is the Dove Summer Revived Gradual Tanning Lotion?
Dove’s Gradual Tanning Lotion is a tanning product and moisturiser rolled into one. It’s meant to give you a healthy, holiday glow, while at the same time nourishing and hydrating the skin.
It has a lotion-like consistency which absorbs into the skin quickly and easily, meaning there’s little room to go wrong.
Unlike a tanning foam or mousse, you build up colour over several applications, giving you more control over the outcome.
This tanner comes in two shades: Light to Medium and Medium to Dark. I went for the Medium to Dark version – I’ll explain more about why below!
How to apply it
Though Dove’s Summer Revived Gradual Tan is, for all intents and purposes, a moisturiser, for best results you still have to prep your skin the way you would with any other tanner.
That means giving your skin a good scrub beforehand, to get rid of any dryness or flakiness. And going careful around places like your wrists, elbows and between the fingers, where fake tan usually tends to collect.
Here’s my step-by-step guide to avoid streaks or patchiness:
- Shave and exfoliate 24hrs before you apply the Dove Gradual Tanning Lotion – this allows time for any irritation to subside
- Optional: Moisturise dry areas (like elbows and knees) in advance – you want to stop the gradual tanner from clinging to these spots
- Use your hands to apply a light layer of lotion to clean, dry skin – there’s no guide colour so keep an eye on the areas you’re applying it
- Use a tan blending brush or an application mitt to buff the lotion into your wrists, ankles and elbows – this gives a more natural finish and prevents any harsh lines
- Wash your hands – orange palms are a telltale sign that your tan came from a bottle, wash off excess product on your hands to keep your golden glow looking as seamless (and natural) as possible
I like to apply this before bed so it can develop overnight. It doesn’t tend to stain my bedsheets but it does mark my pyjamas, so just something to be aware of!
My experience using Dove’s Gradual Tanning Lotion in Medium-Dark
Usually I’d go for the lightest shade, but I’d heard from friends and other beauty enthusiasts that the Fair to Medium shade was too light to see a difference, so I went for Medium to Dark instead.
This definitely gave quicker results, but I don’t know if they were particularly gradual!
I noticed a difference from first application. I applied it, went to bed and woke up with a really nice tan. BUT I don’t think the colour was as natural as it would have been if I’d gone for the lighter shade.
I actually felt like I was pretty happy with my tan after just one use, so I didn’t top it up or reapply until a couple of days later when the tan had worn off a bit.
If you’re using the Light to Medium version, you could probably apply this every day or every other day as you would a regular body lotion or moisturiser. I actually ended up using the Medium to Dark shade more like a traditional fake tan, getting into a cycle of applying it, waiting a few days, then reapplying when the colour had almost completely faded.
The colour is a little orange-y on my skin, but that’s probably because I’m quite cool toned. I imagine if you have warm undertones, then this self tanner will look much more natural.
How easy is it to use Dove’s Gradual Tan?
One of the best things about this gradual tan is that you don’t have to be an experienced fake tanner to get it right. The lotion spreads into the skin really easily and it doesn’t dry immediately, so you still have plenty of time to blend it out to avoid patches or stripes.
Once it does dry down, it doesn’t feel overly sticky or greasy. It’s pretty much just like any other Dove body moisturiser – nourishing yet light.
Another plus is that you don’t necessarily need to use a tanning mitt to blend it in (though it does help). You can just use your hands for application, but I would recommend using a face cloth or towel to diffuse the product around your wrist and ankles etc.
other self tan reviews
What does Dove’s Gradual Tanning Lotion smell like?
It’s no secret that nobody likes that classic biscuity fake tan smell. Opening up the tube, Dove’s Gradual Tan didn’t have a hint of that. It just smelled like a fresh, slightly fragranced body lotion – I had high hopes.
But the longer this sits on the skin, the more that fake tan smell starts to appear. It’s not quite as strong as instant tanning products I’ve used, but it’s definitely noticeable. That’s partially why I apply it before bed, so I can wake up and wash off the biscuity smell the next morning!
Before & after: Does Dove Summer Revived gradual tan actually work?
I honestly wasn’t sure if I’d be able to notice a difference after just one application – I was expecting to have to use this over a couple of nights to build up a tan. But, waking up the next day, I could already see that I wasn’t quite so pale.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a huge change. But the results are pretty impressive for a gradual tan. I’ve used instant tans in the past that have given me less colour!
Plus, the whole point of a gradual tan is that it looks pretty natural. I was pleased that it had given my skin a healthy warmth to it without that green undertone that self tanners sometimes have.
How long does Dove’s Gradual Self Tan last?
If you’re reapplying your gradual tan over consecutive days, it’s hard to determine just how long one application lasts. After all, the point of gradual tanner is that you maintain the colour, rather than waiting for it to fade and then reapplying again.
Since I was happy with my tan after the first application, I did end up leaving it about 4-5 days before topping up. I had a feeling I could end up looking pretty orange if I tried to reapply before this!
The three day mark was where I started to notice some patchiness. Then, by day five I felt I was back to the colour I started with.
I will say though, that gradual tan does tend to fade far more evenly than instant tan. So even when the colour is wearing off, it’s not quite as obvious!
Price & value
Dove’s Summer Revived Gradual Tan has to be one of the most affordable tanning options out there. The body lotion is £8.75 and the face lotion is half that, at £4.19. That’s just over £10 in total.
To be honest though, this is always on offer at Boots or Superdrug, so most of the time you’re looking at around £6.50 for the both of them. That’s insane, especially when you consider that you’re getting 200ml of product in the body lotion. Most mid-range gradual tanning lotions are double the price for half as much!
Why you’ll love it (and why you might not)
pros
- Extremely affordable
- Lotion format means tan and hydration at the same time
- Non-sticky and fast drying
- Buildable
cons
- Not easy to see where you’ve applied it and where you haven’t
- Can sometimes cling to dry patches
- Fake tan smell develops as you wear it
Final verdict: Is Dove’s Gradual Tan worth buying?
Good self tan can be expensive, so when I saw the price tag of this one, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. Having tried it, though, I am quite impressed.
With its easy application and quick results, this is a great budget-friendly option for those who want a nice healthy glow without the faff of full-on fake tanning.
The results might not be as stark as they are with an instant self-tanner, but they are still noticeable. And, if you’re someone like me who just wants a soft, natural look, this is ideal.
Is it my favourite self tanner? I think Coco & Eve’s Sunny Hunny Bali Bronzing Foam still takes top spot. But I will continue to dip into this, just because it’s so quick and convenient.
It takes me no more time to apply this after I step out of the shower than it does my regular body lotion!
For that reason, Dove’s Summer Revived Gradual Tan has definitely earned it’s place in my summer body care routine.
FAQ
What’s the difference between Dove’s Summer Revived Gradual Tan line and the Visible Glow Gradual Tan line?
These are very similar gradual tan ranges and I couldn’t actually find any sort of explanation from Dove as to what makes them different. Both come in two shade options: Light to Medium, and Medium to Dark. And both are designed to moisturise while also giving the skin a bronzed glow.
As far as I can tell, the only real difference is the ingredients list. The Summer Revived line uses the brand’s Cell-Moisturisers® technology to deeply moisturise the skin, while the Visible Glow line counts on a NutriDuo Complex. This may mean that the Summer Revived collection is a little more nourishing.
Does Dove’s Summer Revived Gradual Tan stain clothes and bedding?
This gradual tan doesn’t tend to stain my bedsheets (especially if I’m wearing long pyjamas), but if I’m wearing white or light pyjamas it does sometimes leave marks. Fortunately, it usually washes out so it’s not a big problem!
Do you need to wash off the Dove Summer Revived Tanning Lotion?
Because this is basically a body moisturiser, you don’t need to wash it off after it develops. Just let it absorb into the skin and you’re good to go. You should wash your hands after applying it though, this will help avoid unnaturally orange palms.
Have you tried Dove’s Summer Revived Gradual Tan yet? What’s your go-to gradual tanner? Let me know in the comments!
