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Ever since I discovered self tanner existed, it’s been a part of my beauty routine. Naturally, I have super pale skin – seriously, all of my makeup is either labeled “ivory” or “porcelain.” Although I’ve come to accept (and occasionally appreciate) my natural skin tone, nothing gives me a confidence boost like a good tan. And, unless I want to face *serious* sunburn, my only option for that sun-kissed look is to turn to fake tanners, which sounds easy enough. Unfortunately, my skin is also acne-prone, so I have to be extremely careful about any products I’m putting on my face. Otherwise, it becomes a choice: glowing skin full of breakouts or clear, pale skin. What’s a girl to do – especially in the summer months? Hint: find a tanning product specifically made for the sensitive skin on your face. To me, TAN-LUXE The Face seemed like the perfect place to start.
TAN-LUXE THE FACE Illuminating Self-Tan Drops ($49)
How it went
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I tried The Face with high hopes, and was not disappointed. But one thing to keep in mind: it's buildable color. That doesn't mean it's not noticeable after your first application fully develops, but you shouldn't expect to see spray tan-like results instantly. The color is customizable, and you can add as many or as little drops as you want. The more you add, the deeper your color will be.
If you do have acne-prone skin like me, I'd suggest starting slow (1-2 drops). Although The Face worked great for my skin type (combination and acne-prone), everyone is different. If you have especially sensitive skin, a patch test is always a good idea. Then, once you feel good about the product and its impact on your skin, you can up the amount of product.
Besides that, the actual application of the product could not be easier. You don't need a mitt, glove, or even a brush. Instead, mix in some drops of The Face into your regular moisturizer, serum, or face oil. Then, apply your skincare as normal. Whether you use it in the morning or at night is completely up to you, but I do tend to use it at night because I apply more acne-fighting products in the morning. There's just more room for additions in my nighttime routine. Plus, I love waking up to a sun-kissed glow, sans the breakouts.
One important reminder: wash your hands after applying! Seriously, nothing gives away a fake tan like orange palms. Use all of that hand washing practice you've gained over this year (20 seconds, please!) to avoid the problem altogether.
Don't just take my word for it
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I'm not the only fan of The Face. I actually first heard about it from Sweats & The City (SATC), a go-to destination for health, wellness, and workout class reviews. Elizabeth Endres, one of the SATC founders, cannot say enough good things about the product – and one of her comments really stood out to me. Besides it being an amazing option if you're looking out for something that won't stain your sheets or clothing, Endres says it's also a fantastic choice for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin. "The Face has not caused any skin problems, and you guys know how important that is to me," she explained. Considering how open Endres has been with her skincare journey in the past, this testimonial definitely resonated.
Plus, she isn't the only one with a *glowing* review of the product. One Sephora customer wrote, "This is THE best sunless face tanning product I have ever tried . All others break out my skin, but this one never has. It leaves a warm sun-kissed glow. I love the ease of application with my nightly cream. New staple in my skincare routine for sure."
Another reviewer had a similarly amazing experience with The Face. "I’m obsessed with self tan.... [Before] I could never find the perfect one for my face, they [would] either [make] me breakout or would darken some areas way more than the others — even if I exfoliate[d] regularly and hydrate[d] my skin properly. When I tried this one, [it was a] life changer," they wrote. Although they weren't a fan of the smell, they didn't mind it too much either. "I do find it has a smell though, but I honestly tried so many different brands and never found a self tan that smelled good, so it doesn’t bother me."
Personally, I think that if you are super sensitive to smells, applying The Face at night is the perfect solution. The Face smells great going on, so you will only really notice the self tanner smell when you wake up in the morning (AKA the perfect time to wash your face).
Still Unsure?
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If you're new to the self tanner game and feeling nervous about trying The Face, TAN-LUXE's product line has another option that might be the perfect way to dip your toes into the waters of glowing skin. TAN-LUXE Super Gloss Face is a bronzing serum that acts more like makeup than traditional self tanners. In other words, you can easily wash it off. Perfect for newbies!
It has a similar application process to The Face: add a few drops to your daily makeup or skincare routine for a buildable tan. You can mix it with your foundation, use it as a bronzer, or even add some to your eyelids for a sun-kissed eye makeup look (FYI, this is my personal favorite – it's just SO glowy!).
That's not all: This formula doubles as protection from the sun. With SPF 30, you should still be applying your sunscreen as normal, but this is an extra boost – perfect for summer! If you want to look tan without actually getting tan (or, in my case, burnt), this is a great, low commitment go-to. Plus, once you feel comfortable with it, you can always add The Face into your routine to give your base a deeper color.
