No matter the season, a glowing tan can work wonders for how you look and feel. While some of us can jet off to sunnier climes for an enviable winter tan, others may not be as lucky. Cue: Bondi Sands. A true tanning icon, the Bondi-born brand boosts a golden glow all year around with its signature sultry selection of self tanners, sun care and skin care.
Hailing from Aussie’s sunny shores, Bondi Sands first opened its doors back in 2012 in a bid to share its signature Australian glow with the rest of the world. Inspired by its motherland’s most iconic beaches, its covetable collections enhance salon quality formulas that promote an even, hydrated and naturally looking finish. Whether you’re a special-occasion kind of tanner, or prefer a daily gradual gleam, Bondi Sands’ has you covered – from head to toe!
Become a Bondi Sands’ buff and join our Cult Concierge expert Ryan as he uncovers everything you need to know about the brand. Discover the bestselling products, how achieve that all-over sun-kissed glow and so much more…
Ready, set glow...
BUT FIRST, PREP YOUR SKIN...
Yes, when it comes to tanning, the formula and application is important – but real results heavily rely on the prep work. Let’s face it, applying fake tan to dry and depleted skin will consequently lead to a patchy, uneven and a (we hate to say it) streaky finish. But fear not, Bondi Sands’ skin care selection is here to save you from these troubles. Keep scrolling to uncover all the products you need to prep and prime your skin – whether you're bronzing up or not!
BEST BONDI SANDS SKIN CARE PRODCUTS
Start (and end) your day the right way, with Bondi Sands' Fresh'n Up Gel Cleanser. Gently and effortlessly melting away any impurities, it leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean. Enriched with a cocktail of Australian natural botanicals, then infused with aloe vera, chamomile and calendula, this featherweight formula works hard to reduce redness, flood your complexion with moisture and diminish dirt and debris.
Quenching your complexion’s thirst, Bondi Sands’ Thirsty Skin Hyaluronic Acid Serum is designed to revive dehydrated dermises. Flooded with hyaluronic acid, this dew-boosting formula intensely hydrates, locks in moisture and leaves skin feeling soft, supple, plump and perky.
A weekly treat for even the most sensitive skin types, Bondi Sands’ Bondi Babe Clay Mask is centred around blue clay to refresh and restore irritated, blemish-prone skin. What’s more, the addition of matcha boosts a bestowing glow everyone will be envy off.
Eye spy with my little eyes… a skin care saviour that will rejuvenate tried eyes. Yes, we’re talking about Bondi Sands’ Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream, of course. Hitting snooze on signs of a lacklustre sleep regime, this peeper protector blends brightening vitamin C with Kakadu plum and green coffee beans to de puff and brighten your under eyes all day and night.
Made with everyday use in mind, Bondi Sands’ Daydream Whipped Moisturiser delivers up to 72 hours of hydration. Enriched with antioxidant-rich botanicals (like sunflower seed oil, desert lime extract and rosehip oil), this powerful elixir grants you nourished and rejuvenated skin.
It doesn’t matter if you’re choose to bathe in the sun or stay indoors, Bondi Sands’ Sunny Daze SPF 50 Moisturiser keeps you protected against UVA and UVB rays. More than just your typical sunscreen, this hardworking hybrid feeds your skin with nourishing vitamin E, zinc oxide and hibiscus sabdariffa fruit extract to remove dead skin cells and make way for new ones. The result? A a plump, healthy and gleaming complexion. Now, all that’s left to do is re-apply and bask in the incoming compliments…
WHICH BONI SANDS TAN IS THE BEST
Everyone’s skin is different, so it’s all about finding the right tanning product for you. Bondi Sands does a great job of catering for every skin tone and type, so you can unlock your inner bronzed goddess.
BEST BONDI SANDS TAN FOR PALE SKIN TONES
Powered by innovative jewel-inspired undertones, Bondi Sands’ Technocolour 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam Sapphire is specially designed to counteract tell-tale orange hues. Instead, it serves up a deep, even and natural looking glow. What’s more, carefully curated through cutting-edge research and laser skin analysis technology, the formula blends a broad spectrum of colourful shades while boosting electrolyte hydration for a silky and seamlessly spreadable finish. Bronzed bodies incoming in T-60 minutes…
Want a lightweight, buildable tan and complete charge of the coverage? Perfect for pale skin, Bondi Sands’ Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk can be applied like a lotion on dry skin after a shower. It doesn’t need to be washed off, and you can build the product up daily until you reach your desired colour – without an orange streak in sight!
BEST BONDI SANDS TAN FOR MEDIUM SKIN TONES
Enriched with aloe vera and infused with the sweet scent of coconut, Bondi Sands’ Self Tanning Foam Light Medium leaves your skin glowing like you've spent the day (or week) on Bondi Beach. The perfect partner for first time tanners, this featherweight foam can be left on for a minimum of one hour, all the way up to six hours, to help you customise your perfect faux glow.
Bridging the gap between skin care and tanning, Bondi Sands’ Tinted Skin Perfector Gradual Lotion works hard to deeply nourish while keeping streaks at bay. What’s more, brimming with low-tanning actives to develop a gradual glow day by day, this silky solution is infused with bronzing pigments to bestow naturally radiant results.
Providing a tailored tanning experience for results that are unique to your skin tone, Bondi Sands’ Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam Magenta is supercharged with high-level bronzing actives primed for olive skin. Spotlighting a red-violet colour guide, it counteracts the development of cool hues to enable a sun kissed sign off. Who needs the Med when you’ve got this holiday in a bottle?
BEST BONDI SANDS TAN FOR DEEP SKIN TONES
Blending low-level tanning actives with electrolyte hydration Bondi Sands’ Technocolour 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam Caramel is primed to boost a warm and even glow. Powered by a yellow-golden colour guide, this formulas can be washed off after just one hour of wear for enhanced, natural results.
Customise how dark you go with Bondi Sands’ Pure Concentrated Self Tan Drops. Simply drop it into your moisturiser and go. For a ‘day spent at the beach’ kind of glow (we’re talking Ibiza, not Skegness), add four drops. Or add a couple more to achieve the look of a green-eyed-monster-inducing two-week holiday in Mexico.
Designed for deeper complexions, Bondi Sands’ Ultra Dark Tanning Foam lets you customise your colour. The darker you want your tan to go, the longer you should leave it on for — the choice is yours! Apply, then leave for a few hours before rinsing it off in the shower for a head-turning glow.
BEST BONDI SANDS TAN FOR THE FACE
You can use any Bondi Sands tan product on your face, but we’d recommend the face-specific tanners for a longer and more even coverage.
Apply Bondi Sands’ Pure Self Tanning Sleeping Mask evenly over your face and neck, settle down for a night’s beauty sleep, and wake up to a just-stepped-of-the-plane sun-kissed glow! What’s more, this product contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E, so your skin will feel lovely and smooth too.
Looking for a customisable, bronzed glow without the faff... or sun damage? Well, look no further that Bondi Sand’s Self Tan Drops. Created to help you customise your tan, the formula deepens your glow with the increase of drops. So, whether you want to look like you just spent the weekend in the South of France, or as though you’ve just got back from a two-week holiday in Bali, they’ve got you covered.
Fusing the brand’s iconic golden tanning technology with a cocktail of skin-quenching ingredients (we’re talking hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and E), Bondi Sands’ Pure Self Tanning Face Mist builds your glow – without the any dreaded transfer. Colourless and cooling, the quick-drying formula develops over six hours and continues to do so for 24 hours after application. Oh, and did we mention it’s subtitle for all tones and types as well… Yes, even sensitive skin.
HOW TO GET THE PERFECT TAN WITH BONDI SANDS
Cult Concierge expert Ryan is on hand with some top tips to help you achieve the perfect golden glow…
PREP YOUR SKIN
Ensure your fake tan looks its best by prepping your skin at least one day beforehand. Exfoliating, moisturising and hydrating your skin will allow for an even application that lasts as long as possible.
- Begin with a Bondi Sands tan remover like the Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser to gently and effectively exfoliate the skin, using the Bondi Sands Reusable Application Mitt on more stubborn and flaky areas.
- After rinsing, apply a thin layer of Bondi Sands Thirsty Skin Hyaluronic Acid Serum on to wet skin to hydrate, then finish with a moisturiser.
- To prevent any product build-up, apply a small amount of cream or thicker balms on dry areas like your elbows and knees before application.
APPLY YOUR BONDI SANDS FACE TAN
Once your skin is prepped, it’s time to apply your tan:
- For an even and well-applied tan, a tanning mitt is key. Grab your favourite Bondi Sands self tanner and apply a small amount to your Bondi Sands Reusable Application Mitt.
- Use long strokes to evenly sweep the tan over your body, working in small sections to make sure the tan is nicely blended.
- Start small and then build up! Once you’ve applied the tan to your entire body (or the areas you want to do), you can then return to areas that need touching up. Fix any patches before they dry by buffing them away with your mitt.
- Now it’s time for the best part: sitting back and doing absolutely nothing. Allow your Bondi Sands tan to completely dry before putting on loose, dark clothing that you don’t mind the tan transferring on to.
- It takes Bondi Sands tan at least four to eight hours to develop, so give it some time before you jump in the shower. Some people like to tan before bed so they wake up glowing!
- It’s time to see the finished results. Hop in the shower and rinse your skin with lukewarm water. Once the water runs clear, pat yourself dry with a towel and admire your new tan!
If you’re using any of Bondi Sands’ instant tans, then you don’t have to shower. Simply apply your tan using the first three steps above and then enjoy that newly bronzed feeling.
KEEP YOUR TAN LOOKING GREAT WITH AFTERCARE
Preserve your golden brown skin and stay bronzed for longer with some aftercare and general upkeep. To keep your tan lovely and smooth, moisturise daily and gently exfoliate your skin every three days while you shower.
Avoid hot baths, as hot water can dry out the skin and cause it to shed, taking your golden tan with it!
HOW LONG DOES BONDI SANDS TAN LAST?
Your Bondi Sands tan will last on average around five to seven days—though with the right preparation and aftercare it should last even longer!
