Johnson’s Holiday Skin was the first gradual tanner-cum-body moisturiser to hit supermarkets back in 2005, and it created a sensation when first released.

It was revolutionary for its sub-$10 price tag, its ease of application and the fact that you could build a tan graudally as well as keep your skin moisturised at the same time (the product is essentially moisturiser with a little fake tan included).

In fact, Holiday Skin quickly sold out soon after its arrival in supermarkets and was difficult to get hold of for a couple of months.

But then competitors quickly followed suit and Holiday Skin lost market share, largely due to the fact that several of the newer formulations were considered slightly better.

I originally gave up on Holiday Skin because of the strong smell of the product, the slightly orange tinge after a few days and the fact that the cream was a little runny. Dove Summer Glow proved to be a better option on all fronts.

The other day I couldn’t get hold of any Dove so decided to give Holiday Skin another go. The product has been reformulated since it was first release and overall, there has definitely been improvement.

The colour is much better now - the normal to dark formulation gave me nice and even brown coverage. In fact, Holiday Skin may slightly outperform Dove Summer Glow in this respect. But the cream is still fairly runny, which I don’t like, and my God, the smell - I think it’s gotten worse.

One caveat with fake tans and smell: just like perfumes, different lotions smell different on everyone so it’s best to test it out for yourself. For me, Dove still comes out on top.

Click here to find offers on Johnson’s products from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes