St Tropez Zelfbruiner - Een Gedetailleerde Review

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.

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.

The Value: Worth it

To me, fake tan isn’t something I’d want to skimp on. It involves so much effort to apply and maintain that I want to be sure the product I’m using will give me a return on that investment. For that reason alone, I think St. Tropez's Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse is worth the coin. I know it’s never going to streak on me or make my skin go Fanta orange.

Elle Effect The Self Tanning Mousse: This self-tanning product from Elle Effect provides a deeper color, so it is great for those with darker skin tones. The base is red, which sounds weird but is actually extremely natural-looking. As a bonus, it smells like real roses. It also fades like a dream.

Isle of Paradise Glow Clear Color-Correcting Self Tanning Mousse: From popular self-tanning brand Isle of Paradise, this tanning mousse is such a great product at a great price—I’m a fan. This formula comes in dark, medium, and light variants, so there’s something for every skin tone. In addition, the color correctors make skin glow in the best way.

After all these years, I’m still a fan. St. Tropez's Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse is just good—it does what it says. (Aside from the bit about not having a smell, which, to be honest, I don’t think any brand has ever fully achieved.) I will continue to use it when I fake tan.

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.

The claim:

“For a beautiful, bronze glow that illuminates the skin, this ultra-hydrating body lotion is streak-free, easy to apply, and quick-drying. It delivers instant skin-perfecting coverage to blur imperfections and has no self tan smell, yet features a new mood-boosting fragrance. Reapply daily, or as desired, to build your depth of tan.”

I used it for the first time on a Friday night. If there were any major mishaps, I’d have two days to hide in my house and try to scrub off the evidence. To prep my skin I showered, exfoliated a little with a good body scrub and shaved my legs.

Easy to apply?

The formula is slightly tinted, which makes things a little easier because you can see where it’s going (on fair to light complexions). It has a really thick consistency, and takes some effort to spread evenly onto the skin.

A note: The thick lotion has an oily slip, so it’s difficult to wash it off your hands as you go. Spring for the tanning mitt*, and application should be a breeze.

Quick drying?

On the first night, I didn’t notice. I put on a ratty old robe, went to bed, and washed it off when I woke up. But a few days later, I applied it in the morning after I showered and waited.

For what it’s worth, I don’t like any heavy moisturizers that sit on top of my skin, I prefer fast-absorbing body oils for everyday hydration. If you’re cool with rich body butters and lotions, daytime application may not be an issue for you, but still be careful with the color transfer. I wouldn’t use it before going to an event, especially if you’re wearing light-colored clothing or there’s a possibility that you may have to sit on light furniture.

I’ll stick to nighttime applications.

Beautiful bronze glow?

For sure! First things first: There’s nothing gradual about this self tanner. I expected a similar color payoff to the Jergens Natural Glow I regularly slathered on in college — a slow-building “tan” that develops over several days with daily use — but the St. Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Tinted Body Lotion darkened my skin by a couple shades on the first application.

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.