Fake tanning has stepped up its game since you tried it last as a teenager - which most likely ended with bright orange hands and feet and nowhere near a natural, deep glow.

Whether you're from a summer-all-year-round country like Australia or a more weather-moody one like Germany, bronzed, glowing skin minus the harmful sun rays is something we all wouldn't say no to.

We are so excited to speak to the two inspiring creators behind the most hyped Australian fake tanning brand - Luna Bronze.

(Did we mention all their products are all cruelty-free and vegan?)

the bare sea | Hey girls, spill the secret - who is behind Luna Bronze?

Rhi | Hi, I’m Rhi! Maddy & I are besties from high school, we met in the year 1999 and have been constants in each others’ lives ever since. We’ve grown up together, travelled together, had some amazing times and some shitty times. We’ve organised & celebrated Maddy’s wedding to her husband Matt in 2015; now we’re onto my wedding to my amazing fiance, Dylan; I’ve become fairy godmother to Maddy’s fur baby (& our Luna Bronze office dog), Mindy; and top it all off, we’re running a business together - what next?!

the bare sea | What made you start a self-tanning brand and not, i.e. a clothing brand?

Maddy | I was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer in 2015. After that scare, we knew that our time spent under harmful UV rays was at an end. We were sun worshippers and lovers of bronzed skin, but we didn’t want it to come at the expense of our health anymore. After searching high & low, we weren’t able to find any self-tanning products that were ecological, good for the skin, easy on the eye, beautifully-scented and contained high-quality ingredients so we set out to create it ourselves! 

the bare sea | What separates Luna Bronze from fellow self-tanning brands?

Maddy | We set out to create natural looking sunless tans, so we’ve kept the color profile toned down in order to ensure that we achieve that. We love hearing about our customers being asked by friends or family if they’d recently been on a holiday as their tan is so realistic! The fragrance is also an important aspect to our brand. We blended natural essential oils of Lemon Myrtle, Orange Blossom and Ylang Ylang for a fresh, vibrant and totally unique scent. Our customers love not having the tell-tale “fake tan” smell they are used to with other tanning products.

Rhi | I love the fact that our customers do not look at Luna Bronze as another “fake tan” brand but as a skincare range that has the added benefits of tanning. A big difference between us and other products out there is the nourishing ingredients which assist to combat cellulite, improve the skin’s texture and work to restore hydration. We regularly receive feedback from our customers about how our products don’t dry their skin out like previous products they have used.

the bare sea | Which product of yours would you recommend to first-time fake tanners?

Rhi | Glow Gradual Tanning Moisturiser is the holy grail for tanning newbies and the lazy girls dream tanning product. It is the perfect day-to-day beauty staple and was designed to be a fuss-free product because ain’t nobody got time to be spending hours applying fake tan, right?!

Maddy | It is IMPOSSIBLE to achieve bad results with Glow Gradual Tanning Moisturiser. I apply it just as I would any moisturiser. The best part is that you can wear it all day and not have that tell-tale fake tan smell following me around. We have also included a bunch of hydrating natural and organic ingredients so my skin stays feeling smooth and hydrated for hours after applying.

the bare sea | What are your ultimate tips on how to use the ECLIPSE tanning mousse?

Maddy | Eclipse Tanning Mousse is definitely a fan-favourite in our LB Galaxy and for good reason too; it’s super easy to apply, and the results are beautiful. We recommend exfoliating and doing any hair removal around 12-24 hours before applying. Pump the mousse onto our tanning mitt and apply in a circular, sweeping motion, paying attention to one area at a time.

Rhi | I think one of the best things about Eclipse is that your tan will continue to develop over the next 24 hours after you rinse. I leave mine on for 4 hours, have a rinse and wake up the next day with the perfect tan.

the bare sea | How long does the fake tan usually last - and how do you get rid of all the leftovers? What are your ultimate tips on how to make the tan last longer?

Maddy | Your sunless tan should last anywhere between 7-10 days. We recommend using Glow Gradual Tanning Moisturiser to extend the life of your tan and to also give your skin a hydration boost which is super important when you want to keep glowing.

Rhi | One thing that we and our customers love about Luna Bronze is that our products fade evenly and are easy to remove when gently exfoliated. We will be launching an exciting new product very soon that will help with your tan on/tan off.... watch this space!

the bare sea | What are your absolute favourite spots in Australia?

Maddy | My local beach, North Curl Curl (or Curly) is my favourite weekend spot. I love heading down there and spending hours alternating between from under my umbrella and into the waves. The water is so crystal clear and it’s not as crowded as some neighbouring beaches. Follow that up with an early dinner and cocktails at Hugo’s in Manly and there’s my perfect day!

Rhi | They say there is no place like home so for me it is the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. I love getting back to where we grew up and spending time at Mt Martha beach, visiting friends and family. I also absolutely love the beaches over in Western Australia - they truly are the most beautiful beaches in the world. BREATHTAKING!

the bare sea | Where are you travelling to next - and what will you be up to there?

Rhi | I am off to Canada again soon and then Maddy and I will be travelling there together mid year. Canadians absolutely love Luna Bronze and we have a wonderful distributor over there. It is also a gorgeous country to visit so we are very lucky.

Maddy | Yes, Canada next - very exciting for me as I haven’t had a chance to visit before! Hopefully a little holiday during the year with my husband, we’ve just got to start planning it. No doubt we’ll leave it to the last minute again and we’ll end up in Bali as we seem to do every year! We love Bali and always end up going back there every year.