Wouldn’t it be great if you could really get that post-holiday glow without having to take the holiday, too? Because as lovely as a beach getaway is, sometimes we just want to fake the glow with zero sun damage, and without having to battle through an airport, booking system or crowded beach. Right?
As a self-confessed self-tan addict, I’ve battled instead through the beauty shelves in order to find such a thing. And reader, I can call off the search, because I think I’ve found The One. It’s called First Light TT Serum and it’s been created by professional tanner to the stars and Self Glow brand founder, James Read. His mission? ‘To create a flawless, natural glow with zero compromise on skin health.’
James made his name giving flawless spray tans to everyone from Lady Gaga to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and has always put skincare at the heart of his self-tans. He recently retrained as a facialist and has developed a new pro facial to sculpt and brighten the complexion, and then, rather brilliantly, leave you with a touch of glow-getting self-tan, too.
I was lucky enough to preview his soon-to-launch Self Glow facial, which was bliss, and then even luckier to enjoy the lingering benefits of his hour-long massage and delicate layering of self-tan. It gave me a post-facial glow that lasted for days.
The issue then became getting access to that same kind of treatment whenever I needed it. Which is exactly where his TT Serum comes in, offering the same hydrating, glowing and tinting effects. Think of First Light as James’s facial in a bottle.
Is it a self-tan, is it skin cream, is it makeup? Well, all the above, kind of, which is why it ticks all the grown-up self-tanning boxes for me. (In my 20s, I’d happily spend a night in self-tanning myself from top to toe; today, I simply want to tan and go.)
How to use First Light TT Serum
This easy-to-use self-tanner goes on between my cleanser and SPF, bringing with it a delightful healthy glow and some brilliant skin boosting ingredients. The formula comes with hydrating hyaluronic acid and protective antioxidants, so you don’t need to load on skincare (beyond sun protection) over the top, at all.
In fact, the only thing you might want to load on over the top is another layer, as this tinted gel is buildable. ‘TT’ stands for Tinted Tan, with a guide colour that means there’s less room for error when you’re applying and intensifying your glow.
What First Light TT feels like
Where most tanners leave stickiness (c’mon, they do), this lightweight, breathable serum leaves behind a wonderful sun-kissed glow that’s had my colleagues commenting. So good are the skincare ingredients, First Light also imbues a clarity of complexion that lasts for a week.
It’s a time-saver, too. I’ve used it in place of my serum and tinted moisturiser, as a one-fits-all wonder that bridges the gap between skincare and suntan.
I like to apply a tiny dot of the tinted gel, massage it in well, then repeat until I have the desired dewy finish. The colour will gently develop throughout the day, so bear in mind that less is most definitely more realistic.
The verdict
Could TT cream be the new BB cream? It wouldn’t surprise me; like BB a decade or so back, this is a smart skincare newcomer that makes light work of achieving real glow. If you’re someone who’s afraid of self-tan, particularly on the face (I get it), this is as foolproof as they come for a gentle golden glow.
Every time I use it, someone inevitably comments on how well I look, so this is staying on my skincare shelf all summer… even if I do end up booking that holiday.
The James Read Self Glow facial will launch nationwide at SpaceNK on 18 Sept for a month
