As someone who has pretty pale skin and tries to stay out of the sun, I've always been religious about my self-tanning routine. And this Coco & Eve fake tan – the Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam – is my most trusted formula for getting a gorgeous year-round glow.
Rewind half a decade or so, and I'd suffered a mortifying run of bad fake tan jobs. From choosing cheap formulas, to being slapdash with my application, I rolled up to far too many events looking like I'd had a run-in with a tub of turmeric. Think: dry knuckles, streaky wrists and elbows, and a metric tonne of embarrassment.
In a last-ditch attempt, I was in the market for something which cost a little bit more, didn't smell like biscuits, and left me with a tangerine-free bronzed glow. And so, my love affair with the Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam began.
Looking for a genuinely reliable self-tan formula that leaves you with naturally bronzed and nourished skin? Below, you'll find everything you could possibly need to know in my in-depth review — including my tips and tricks for application success.
Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam at a glance:
- Pros: Affordable, isn't streaky, smells delicious, gives a beautiful, natural glow – and doesn't turn you orange.
- Cons: It dries a little slowly and does transfer onto your bedsheets.
- Price: £26 per bottle – or 10% off if you buy it in a bundle.
- Our verdict: One of the best, most long-lasting fake tans we've tested. It smells divine, dries quickly, doesn't feel sticky and fades evenly. It also dubs itself as anti-ageing and anti-cellulite, with a development time of just two (!) hours. If that wasn't enough, it’s vegan and free from nasties. Sounds a bit too good to be true, right? Nope.
Meet the reviewer: Shannon Lawlor, GLAMOUR Contributor
I love fake tan. Seriously, I live for it. But 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 noting 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.
As mentioned, 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.
If you're a little like me, you might be after the best fake tan for pale skin – or shop the best fake tan for black skin.
Why is the Coco & Eve fake tan so popular?
When Coco & Eve first burst onto the Instagram scene in 2017 with its Like A Virgin Hair Masque, the feeds of veteran beauty sleuths far and wide were flooded with carefully curated shots of the pretty pink and green tub on their bath trays. But as months passed and five-star reviews took over the internet, we quickly realised this hair mask was not just a social media 15-minute famer. Nope, this stuff is genuinely good. If you want soft, luscious locks, the Like A Virgin Hair Masque is about as good as hair masks come.
News of the brand spread, and it wasn't long before they had launched one of the best fake tans of the moment: the Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing foam. Cute name; even cuter packaging. Fans of the OG hair mask got seriously excited – and years on, this self-tanner's popularity shows no sign of slowing – especially among those of us keen for a year-round glow.
Applying the bronzing foam:
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 – adorable.
While it’s going on, the first thing I notice is that it's surprisingly moisturising. A seriously skin-loving formula, it contains smoothing CellushapeTM derived from lotus extract, nourishing raw virgin coconut oil, and antioxidant-rich mango, fig, and cocoa extracts — which are rich in powerful natural antioxidants that help tackle skin tone, texture, and any signs of ageing. Providing a glow that goes way beyond pigment, my limbs look silky, sheeny — and, crucially, 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 I 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 do 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 I 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.
How to prep for using Coco & Eve fake tan:
There's no getting around it — doing the proper prep before self-tanning is key if you want an even finish, minimal clingy patches, and a gorgeous tan that lasts up to a week. And regardless of the brand or specific formula you choose, the steps are pretty much the same.
Coco & Eve recommend doing any exfoliating at least 6 hours before you're due to apply your tan — focusing especially on dry and scaly areas like the elbows, knees, and ankles. If you typically shave, now is also the time to do so — but you need to do this at least 12 hours before tanning if you want to allow enough time for the hair follicles to close back up. Otherwise, you'll likely end up with those telltale dark dots on your skin, where the tan has settled into your pores.
On the day of tanning, skip the lotions, potions, and even the deodorant if possible, and apply your Sunny Honey bronzing formula to completely clean and dry skin. However, definitely apply a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser directly to dry areas like knees and elbows, as they tend to soak up a lot of extra product.
How long does it take to develop?
Surprisingly speedy, this fast-developing formula delivers noticeable results in just two hours — so after this time, you're free to shower off the guide colour. However, if you're seeking a deeper and darker tan, go for 6+ hours. As mentioned, I typically apply it before bed and then wash it off in the morning — but if you're keen to keep your sheets crisp and clean, just apply it at the beginning of a WFH day, and hop in the shower when you clock off for the evening.
GLAMOUR Road Test: Coco & Eve fake tan before and after pictures
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 GLAMOUR verdict:
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 again.
Where to buy Coco & Eve fake tan:
Coco & Eve's complete tanning and SPF range can be found on their website — and it includes the Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, and bundles like the Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Set, which also comes with the brand's Soft Velvet Tanning Mitt, and Deluxe Vegan Kabuki Brush. Plus, Sunny Honey is also stocked by a fair few of our favourite beauty retailers — like LookFantastic, Sephora, Boots, and Cult Beauty.
