A few of us here at MooGoo use self tanning creams (especially with the cooler weather approaching) as we try and avoid sun damage but don’t want to light up dark rooms either. We thought it was time we made our own self tanning cream as we wanted one that was genuinely natural and healthy and moisturising.

We didn’t want SPF chemical filters, and we have never been big on [Parabens or Benzoates] used to preserve a lot of commercial creams. Our in-house tanning queens have given it the thumbs up for colour and also moisture.

[Enjoy!]

[Self tanning] ingredients themselves are actually pretty natural. They are either canola oil, glycerine or sugar based ingredients that combine with the amino acids which are part of the keratin on the skin. Various amino acids combine differently, producing different tones of coloration from yellow to brown. The ingredients can take a day or two before they turn brown. So very simply, the self tanning ingredients make a tan coloured pigment on the skin that looks like a tan, but is not a genuine skin tan which happens when our skin is exposed to UV. Because the colour is made by using the outer layers of skin, the colour will gradually disappear over a period of time as the skin sloughs off. So to keep the colour, it should be re-applied every now and then. So we must admit we cheated a bit. We simply used our Full Cream Moisturiser formula as the base. Our Full Cream is an all natural moisturiser right down to the preservative which is based on Hops.

We LOVE our Full Cream, especially in winter. All we did was add the two self tanning ingredients to the Full Cream which are pretty standard across all self-tanning cream. The first is DHA which can be from a variety of sources, we are using a Canola Oil based source. Secondly, in order to get the right colour tone, especially for pinkish complexions, we added Erythrulose which as the name suggest is a sugar based tanning ingredient.

We didn’t add any UV Filters for SPF as we personally prefer to stay all natural. We made some samples to make sure it smelled nice as some tanning creams can smell a bit. We also wanted to check that it was moisturising and healthy for the skin. [Those of us that use self-tanning creams here now wouldn’t use anything else.] We also added purified EGCG. EGCG is the compound within Green Tea that seems to be responsible for Green Teas amazing benefits. But Green Tea itself doesn’t really have a high enough concentration of EGCG to make a difference. So we use the purified Green Tea Extract which is 90% concentrated EGCG and is actually a white powder. If you would like to know why we add EGCG, we invite you to Google search “Topical EGCG Anti-Ageing” to see some studies on its effects. We also invite you to read through and compare our ingredients (we are proud to list them all, not just the pretty sounding ones) and try it. We are sure you will enjoy ☺

[Healthy Ingredients:] Milk Protein for Skin Elasticity. Purified Green Tea Extract (90% EGCG) for Anti-Oxidants.

 [DIRECTIONS:] Apply the Self-Tanning Moisturiser daily for a gradual light tan. Tanning creams work best after exfoliating. MooGoo Is Proud to List ALL its ingredients on our website, not just the ones with nice pictures.

 [INGREDIENTS:] Aqua (H2O's Fancy Name), Cetearyl Alcohol (Plant Based Emulsifying Wax), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Squalane (Olive), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Dihydroxyacetone (DHA Canola-Based Tanning Agent), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Lecithin (Soy), Erythulose (Glucose-Based Tanning Agent), Polysorbate 60 (Food Grade Emulsifier), Piroctone Olamine (Olamine Salt), Allantoin, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera), Pyrus Communis (Pear)Fruit Extract, Hydrolysed Milk Protein (For Skin Elasticity), Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (ECGC Green Tea) Leaf Extract.

[MORE INGREDIENT INFORMATION:] [Aqua (H2O's Fancy Name): ]When we were told that we have to call our purified water “Aqua” we thought they were kidding, but we can’t fight bureaucracy. We aren’t trying to be fancy, but we do need to call our water “Aqua” sometimes. If we used only oils and actives, the cream would feel hot on the skin as the oils coat the skin and it becomes an occlusive. By making this cream with water, the cream penetrates the skin better which is more moisturising, soothing and cooling. [Cetearyl Alcohol (Plant Based Emulsifying Wax):] Cetearyl alcohol is a Plant-Based Emulsifying Wax emulsified, stabilised and produced from the reduction of plant oils and natural waxes. It’s used for combining oil and water. [Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil:] Sweet Almond Oil is extracted from almond kernels. It’s high in minerals and vitamins, and the types of fatty acids needed for troubled skin. [Squalane (Olive):] Olive squalane is produced from olives. Squalane enhances skin elasticity and moisture retention. It is also a unique antioxidant that protects our skin from free-radical damages. Olive squalane's composition is very similar to human sebum (oil) and can penetrate our skin very quickly to help our skin to fight dryness. Squalane is not to be confused with squalene, which is a form of shark liver oil and tends to quickly oxidize when exposed to the air. [Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil:] Coconut oil is a natural oil extracted from the meat of the coconut fruit. Coconut oil has the distinction of being rich in a crystalline fatty acid called lauric acid, and the medium chain fatty acids give raw coconut oil its soothing properties. Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, and is an excellent nourishing moisturiser which can also penetrate hair better than other oils. Coconut oil on its own is a bit greasy and uncomfortable, in a cream it is perfect! [Dihydroxyacetone (DHA Canola-Based Tanning Agent):] Dihydroxyacetone is derived from plant sources high in sugar and by the fermentation of Glycerin. DHA combines with the Keratin on the surface of the skin to turn gradually brown. This ingredient does not penetrate past the very outer layer of skin (the horny skin layer) which is why the natural tan will gradually slough off over an (approximately) 5 day period. [Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil:] Olive oil is derived from the ripe olive fruit. It’s packed with antioxidants and has a balanced fatty acid composition which restores moisture and nourishment to compromised skin. Olive oil is a great addition to natural and edible skincare. [Lecithin (Soy):] Lecithin is a fat found in Soya beans. It’s a natural antioxidant, emollient and emulsifier which helps hold the cream together. [Erythulose (Glucose-Based Tanning Agent):] Erythulose is a glucose-based tanning ingredient that combines with the skin cells on the very outer layer of skin (horny skin layer) and turns a golden brown. We use this in combination with the DHA to give a natural colour. No orange smarties for us. [Polysorbate 60 (Food Grade Emulsifier):] A lot of our customers are small. So small in fact that they have sometimes mistaken the creams their mums or dad’s put on the nappy change table for food. So we always choose the most edible ingredients we can. Polysorbates are used in a lot of foods like Mayonnaise, Ice-cream etc to hold the cream and water together. We use them to help with the same thing. [Piroctone Olamine (Olamine Salt):] Piroctone Olamine is an organic compound. It is a non-irritating anti-yeast ingredient which helps keep the cream free from bacteria and mould. [Allantoin:] Allantoin is a skin conditioner that has been purified from comfrey. Allantoin is thought to help maintain healthy skin by encouraging the removal of dead skin cells and stimulate the growth of healthy skin tissue. [Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E):] Natural Vitamin E can be sourced from a variety of plants and seeds, as they are common natural compounds. It has up to twice the bioavailability of synthetic forms. Vitamin E has antioxidant action as well as free radical scavenger properties, and in-depth studies from diversified medical fields have shown that this can slow the aging process. We use the more expensive, natural Vitamin E in our creams, not synthetic. [Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera):] Aloe Vera is a flowering succulent plant that stores water in enlarged fleshy leaves, stems, or roots. The leaf juice contains many minerals vital to the growth process and healthy function of all the body's systems, and particularly known for its healing and soothing benefits (including skin and oral health!). [Pyrus Communis (Pear) Extract:] We've learned over the years that although Essential Oils can be great for some people, some are highly sensitive to them. For this reason, we tend to avoid them in our creams. We still want them to smell nice, so we've added a Pear extract which blends with the ingredients to smell great! [Hydrolysed Milk Protein (For Skin Elasticity):] Hydrolysed Milk Protein is one of the most nutrient rich proteins due to its complete amino acid content. Studies have found that milk protein in a cream increased skin elasticity by around 20% compared to the same cream without. Skin elasticity ensures lines and wrinkles are minimised after any movement of the skin. [For people with Lactose intolerance this is no problem, however for people that are allergic to Milk Protein itself, this ingredient would not be suitable.] [Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract:] Skin Care needs to stay pure from yeast and mould. That is why ingredients like Parabens etc are used by a lot of companies. These work great at achieving their aim, but a lot of our “customers”prefer products without parabens. We worked for over a year to develop a preservation system based on Hops Extract. All our creams have now been checked for preservative efficacy using the British Pharmacopeia test. We are very proud that we are probably one of the first companies to develop this natural and edible anti-bacterial system into our creams. [Camellia Sinensis (ECGC Green Tea) Leaf Extract:] Camellia Sinensis is a herbal derivative of green tea leaves. It has anti-ageing and antioxidant benefits that can help delay signs of skin aging, sun damage, age spots, fine lines and wrinkles. Green tea is well known for its strong antioxidant and anti- irritant actives.

It is our aim to offer a fast and reliable delivery service, using the method specified in the checkout procedure. The cost of your delivery is automatically calculated depending on the total value of your order. Any order £30 and above is free of charge.

We will endeavour to despatch all orders within 24 hours. If some or all items are unavailable, then we will contact you before shipping.

It is always best to allow up to seven working days for delivery but unfortunately this can sometimes take longer and we cannot guarantee delivery dates for overseas delivery dates as they are sometimes subject to customs clearance in the destination country due to the quality of postal services from country to country.

Other Important Information

Where it is not possible for Royal Mail to deliver your order, it will be held at your local Royal Mail office for 5 days before being returned to us. To contact your local sorting office to arrange re-delivery or collection, please call 08457 740 740 in the UK.

We would advise that you check your local sorting office before contacting us if delivery has taken more than seven working days in the UK and Overseas, although overseas customers may have to wait up to two weeks.

If your order has been 'lost in the post’, it will only be investigated 17 working days after it was shipped because it is only after this period that the Royal Mail regards postage as officially lost.

European customers should note that in some rare occasions parcels do appear to take longer than usual to arrive and in such occasions it may be necessary to wait longer before further action is taken. This is largely because of the varied quality of postal services throughout Eurozone countries.

After the post office has completed its investigations, it will subsequently refund Elixir for the value of the parcel and postage and package. Upon receiving our costs from the post office your replacement parcel will then be re-sent, or your costs reimbursed if the product is no longer required. Customers are therefore advised to request signed for deliveries to ensure full tracking opportunities.

Depending upon the weight of your consignment we will inform you of the price separately.

For deliveries within England, Scotland and the Channel Islands our charges are as follows:

Overseas Deliveries

We are delighted to be able to offer international once again however there are still certain items that we can no longer send to certain countries.  If this is the case for your order we ill notify you and a full refund will be given.

Every order we send is despatched either first class Royal Mail, or if the parcel exceeds 1kg, at our discretion, send the goods by parcel post, which can take a few days longer to reach you. On any recorded delivery, a signature may be required on delivery. In the case of recorded deliveries which fail to be delivered an acknowledgement card will be left stating the time and place for you to collect. International orders will take a little longer.

Please Note: If orders weigh more than two kilos we will often send packages in two separate boxes in the interests of security and safety.

As an online retailer, we are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our delivery schedule is governed by the Post Office who are open six days a week from 9.00am - 5.00pm. Please also consider Public Holiday closing.