Review: St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan and Gradual Tan Plus Firming 4 in 1

Over the last month I have been slathering myself with lots of different tans in the hope of achieving the perfect glow that I could recommend to you all. Today, with the sun shining in London, I wanted to write about two gradual tan offerings from St Tropez that I have really enjoyed!

First up is the St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan. I used the light/medium version all over my body to give me a bit of colour. The cream feels very luxurious on application as it is rich and applies easily and smoothly. It doesn't have a strong scent, but there is a tiny bit of the 'fake tan' smell as the tan develops, though it is very subtle. This lotion is super moisturising and I loved applying it all over my body after my shower before bed, just like any other moisturiser. In the morning my skin had a nice tan and felt very soft and smooth. It developed a good colour after applying it two days in a row and afterwards every other day to keep the tan in place. This gradual tanner is so easy and pretty much fool proof as I applied it very quickly without much effort and it still gave me a really even tan!

The St Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Firming 4 in 1 Lotion is designed to tan, tone, firm and moisturise your body. It provides a very similar level of tan to the gradual tan above, but the cream has a much lighter texture. A little definitely goes a long way with this lotion so I have been using it in the morning to add a bit more colour to my limbs. The lotion also has a really pleasant scent that masks any fake tan smell so it's perfect for use any time!

I would highly recommend both of these formulations as they feel luxurious while hydrating the skin and achieve an effortless, gradual glow that requires very little maintenance!

Fitness: 1Rebel Review

After hearing a lot of buzz around the opening of 1Rebel I was not one to shy away from the challenge. I was compelled to try out the new fitness revolution for the modern age, especially with one of the studios so close to my office. I was excited to see that when you sign up online 1Rebel offers you a complimentary 1st session to try their service. As I already pay a hefty gym membership I really appreciate offers like this as it lets me review the experience before having to commit, which is perfect as the whole thought process behind 1Rebel is a modern approach with no subscription or membership fees. All you do is choose a package (a number of sessions) and use these up as you wish (though of course the more sessions you purchase the more cost effective it is).

I opted for a 30 minutes lunchtime full body Reshape session. Although these sessions are short (given all the classes are the same price) they do come with an added benefit of a Roots and Bulbs lunch or juice, which is ideal for me when popping out of the office!

I attended the 1Rebel studio on St Mary Axe (almost opposite the Gherkin) and after being given a large towel and chilled bottle of water on arrival descended to the changing rooms and studios underground. The changing rooms are among the best I have seen – smart, roomy lockers with no keys needed (and definitely no £1 coins in sight), modern brass accents, plenty of mirrors, GhD appliances and clean showers with a good range of complimentary products. I was impressed!

The Reshape class studio is split into work benches (with weights underneath) and treadmills (these were fantastic and so easy to use). We only had 4 people in our class so we had one each, but the idea is when classes are full people alternate between benches and treadmills. I understand that space in the City is at a premium, but even with so few people I could imagine the studio getting pretty full. For me personally the mat space between the benches was a little small. I wouldn’t like to be doing inchworms face to face with anyone so I would have preferred a little more room (though I appreciate I have been somewhat spoiled by my home gym where I usually have a whole area to myself). 

With one instructor keeping an eye on people using various equipment (and in club style darkness) I think it may be easy to get lost in a full class, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for complete beginners. If you are just starting your fitness journey and need to learn basic exercises with good form I think this class may be confusing as it is very fast paced. However, as I had done all the exercises before I felt pretty confident – it was still a challenge, but having learned the correct way to do them my main test was to repeat or hold for the right amount of time. As we had a small class we had plenty of attention and encouragement from the super energetic Melissa, but I guess it just depends on the popularity of your session!

Throughout the class we switched from various programmes on the treadmill (warm up jog, run, sprint, incline sprint and dynamic mode of pushing the treadmill yourself to pick up speed) to plyo work such as squat jumps, weights such as bench press and lunges with dumbbells, cardio building burpees and core strengthening dynamic planks and leg raises. The class was mainly HIIT with short rest periods so my heart rate was up throughout the full 30 minutes - burning 350 calories. Melissa was fantastic at giving us tips or encouraging us to run that bit faster or hold that plank a few seconds longer and the loud music and club atmosphere kept it fun!

After a quick shower and change I grabbed my complimentary Roots and Bulbs lunch and was back in the office with a nutritious meal, a rush of endorphins and more than a slight flush to my cheeks!

As someone who works out regularly I think these classes are great fun and a fantastic way to get a quick workout in during the day, especially if I have evening plans. I find that exercise is absolutely the best stress relief and even after 30 minutes you feel the difference. 1Rebel has fabulous facilities and a super convenient location if you work in the City and I would definitely recommend checking it out whether you are looking to shape and tone up for the summer, or fit in some exercise around your busy day without giving up your evenings or having to get up at the crack of dawn. There is also a Rebel Ride class if you are a fan of spinning. There’s nothing to lose as the first session is free!

There are various offers available at this introductory stage if you want to purchase sessions…

If you mention my name you can get a 20% discount off either a 10, 25 or 50 pack on the website using the code IWANTMORE. Alternatively there is a special offer where you can get 20% off 50 sessions and £200 worth of Charli Cohen sports-luxe range with the code 50shades.


Let me know if you try it and what you think of 1Rebel. You never know... I may be on the treadmill next to you next lunchtime!

Mama Mio Bootcamp for Arms Challenge

So ladies... hands up if you are not the biggest fan of your arms. It seems that us girls are always obsessing about the dreaded bingo wings, with over a third of women (35%) admitting to another woman’s arms being the first physical attribute they register! As much as I try to stay in shape I am not a regular gym bunny and much prefer doing some cardio (a jog) or bikram yoga to slaving away on the machines or lifting weights. Coupled with having very little strength in my upper body, and generally not being blessed with an athletic build, my arms are definitely an area that I would like to improve!

I was therefore excited to be offered the chance to participate in the Mama Mio Bootcamp for Arms Challenge. Though there will not be any camouflage or mud involved as this set is designed to make toned arms achievable for ordinary mortals like me, who do not have the steely will power or the funds of Madonna (and her ridiculously toned arms)!

The set comes with skincare products to exfoliate, tighten and tone, to reveal that illusive fit and healthy looking skin. The kit also includes simple yet effective exercises, developed by Efua Baker, to banish any hint of wobble and create arm definition . Luckily, the exercise is a mere 4 minutes a day, which I think even my weak arms and short attention span can manage!

Step 1
Omega Body Buff
This is the first stage of exfoliation to reveal smoother, more toned looking skin. Omega Body Buff is rich in Sweet Almond Oil, Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and loaded with micro-ground pumice. This should be used at least 3 times a week on dry skin before showering.

Step 2
Double Buff Glove
This glove helps to exfoliate and clear away dead skin cells as well as boosting circulation. This should be used every day with firm upward strokes for 30 seconds.

Step 3
Skin Tight Toning Serum
Skin Tight visibly tightens up saggy looking skin, improving the surface tone and texture. With daily use, its four stage action will work to visually tighten up loose skin helping to ensure that your skin looks like it fits you perfectly in your battle against bat-wing wobble. Papaya enzymes gently exfoliate (to rid you of pesky back of the arm bumps and dry elbows), Hyaluronic Acid plumps with massive moisture, Soy Protein Complex provides instant gratification tightening and wonderfully ant-ageing Uniprosyn gives you eye serum technology to reduce the appearance of crepey skin.

Step 4
4 minutes a-day exercise system to reshape your upper arms
These exercises were created by Efua Baker, renowned amongst her celebrity circle as being the ‘Turnaround Queen’. She has chosen her two favourite exercises to take the wobble out of your wings and give them a tighter, stronger more defined look. Just 4 minutes a day of simple, targeted exercise.

Let the challenge begin!

If you want to join me in the Bootcamp for Arms challenge this kit retails at £49.50 and is available from Boots here. Good luck my lovelies! *Bingo wing wave*

This is a sponsored post.