St Tropez Zelfbruiner - Een Gedetailleerde Review

My final results

I haven't gotten much sun in the past seven or eight months, so my normally olive skin was extremely pale in the picture above. But after applying the self-tanner, I look much more like my usual self.

I love how the medium shade is dark enough to enhance my olive complexion but light enough to add a gradual glow. It provides just the right amount of tan without going overboard or looking streaky, blotchy, or worse: orange.

Most importantly, in my opinion, is how versatile the lotion is, particularly because it can be blended with any other lotion or moisturizer for a faint glow year-round. It is ideal for building a base tan in the winter or enhancing my gently sun-kissed skin in the summer. It can blend harsh bikini lines, and when I want to add some definition to my legs, I can easily pair it under Sally Hansen's Airbrush Leg Spray to take things up a notch.

This lotion is the instant compliment-magnet that shows dramatic results in as little as one use. It looked as if I spent hours obtaining it, but it truly only took me a few minutes of time in my bathroom.

How to Apply: Prep correctly and use gloves

Most people who’ve self-tanned before will be familiar with the method the majority of brands recommend: exfoliate with an oil-free scrub (the oil-free part is important to the development of the tan), apply moisturizer to dry bits like elbows and knees, then use a mitt to apply the tanning mousse in upward circular motions, overlapping layers to prevent missing spots. To that, let me add a few of my own pointers.

This self-tanner has never let me down. It has a green base which ensures a natural finish—the rules of color theory mean you’ll never end up looking orange. The mousse is lightweight and easy to apply too. It doesn’t "stick" or stain the skin if you don’t rub it in quickly, which is great news for beginners. I find it more comfortable to use than a tanning lotion, but you might prefer the latter if you have dry skin. I know some people say mousses are drying, but I think the vast majority of self-tan formulas are (it’s the DHA!). To counteract dry skin, ensure you’re hydrating your skin every day and exfoliating every other day after tanning.

Like most (all?) mousse formulas, it feels slightly tacky on the skin. That doesn’t bother me because I sleep in it, but I would hate to wear it during the day. As the tan finishes developing, it can get very dark thanks to the built-in color guide. (Something to be aware of!) But once I wash that off, the color is very natural on me.

St. Tropez's Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse is one out of a few formulas I feel comfortable using as a white woman. In recent years I’ve become aware of blackfishing, and it’s always on my mind when trying out a new tanner. I never want to make my skin look darker than it would naturally tan. There’s also something to be said about fake tanned skin being part of a problematic beauty ideal because it essentially promotes the aesthetic of unhealthy suntans. (A real tan is proof that sun damage has occurred, and that’s what causes skin cancer and melanoma.) I understand that many people (of all skin tones) use tan as a semi-permanent makeup of sorts, evening out bruises and veins and camouflaging cellulite and stretch marks. Again, I don’t have the answers, but I think these points are important to consider when discussing tanning.

Voordelen van de express mousse

100% natuurlijke en vegan ingrediënten
Award winnende 3-1 express Technologie
Versoepelt, verzacht en hydrateerd de huid
Brengt gemakkelijk aan en geeft snel resultaat
Bevat een ‘guide colour’
Geschikt voor alle huidtypen
Droogt snel en voelt niet plakkerig aan
Heeft geen typische zelfbruiner geur
Bouwt gemakkelijk op naar de gewenste teint

De producten van St Tropez zijn ontwikkeld om je meer vertrouwen te geven. Iedereen heeft zijn eigen reden om een zelfbruiner te gebruiken. Daarom heeft St Tropez een uitgebreid assortiment ontwikkeld van zelfbruiners voor elke huidskleur, huidtype, schoonheidsritueel en lifestyle, van een sunkissed glow tot een diepe bronzen tan voor een speciale gelegenheid. Dus als het gaat om minder gebruik van make up, meer van je huidje laten zien of meer controle willen hebben: je kunt op de mooiste tanning met de beste ingrediënten vertrouwen.

Benieuwd naar de hele collectie St Tropez? of bekijk onze gehele assortiment zelfbruiners.
Bij Spraytanme vind je alles wat je nodig hebt voor de perfecte tanning sessie, bekijk ook onze collectie tanning mousse.

How to use the L'Oréal self-tanner

The first rule of thumb when using self-tanners is to start by exfoliating. It's crucial to rid yourself of any dead skin or potential flakes that could otherwise create splotchy patches. To get the job done, I personally turn to Dr. Brandy Micdrodermabrasion Skin Exfoliate, which easily buffs away dry, dead skin. And just a little extra TLC with this dry brush ensures I've gotten every last bit of my body properly exfoliated.

Once my skin is all smooth and dry, I start by dispensing two drops of this formula into my hands and mixing it with my everyday lotion. I've found this to be the trick that makes all the difference. While you can use a tanning mitt here, I prefer my bare hands as I can take my time and evenly distribute the lotion to each area.

There are a few specific spots that I like to dial in on, the first being the crooks of my arms and back of my knees. Both areas are susceptible to formulas settling into cracks and crevices. To alleviate any chances, I sprinkle baby powder beforehand. The second area is my elbows, front of knees, and ankles. Those areas absorb products faster, so to maintain consistency throughout, I'll leave them for last.

When it comes to my face, instead of opting to use the same body lotion mix I've concocted, I'll swap in an oil-free moisturizer to prevent any breakouts and avoid clogging pores.