little white truths

It’s only been this year that I’ve started using tanning foams, as opposed to whacking on self-tanning creams after showering, and I must say that I prefer the creams overall because I find those easier and less fiddly. But I won’t let that impact my foam reviews because I know that everyone's different and there's a place for both : )

I think foams are harder in part because I can’t have a shower whenever I want to (I have a toddler and we've another bub on the way), plus I usually have makeup on so if I’m including my face in the tanning process, I would need to remove that first. All too hard! Creams just make more sense for me because there's less involved, and I'd be applying some kind of body cream after my shower anyway so it doesn't add extra steps.

Anyhoo. This particular foam was a GWP with an order ages ago but I only opened it a few months back because I wanted to use up another tanning product first. While I do like it and it works well, it’s not something I would buy for the reasons mentioned above. But if you're into leave-on tanners, this is a great option.

Mine Tan claims/product details:

• Super dark violet base, one-hour express tan with quadruple bronzers
• Deep rich hues that replicate the European sun
• Suitable for all skin types wanting a super dark tan and depth of colour
• Contains a combination of natural botanicals (including mulberry and caramel) with rich violet and dark brown bronzers 
• Easy to apply, streak free and self-adjusting formula ensures a seamless application every time
• Quadruple dark bronzers and combination of tan extending multi-vitamins, aloe vera and rich luxe oils provide an instant picture perfect tan that continues to develop into a super dark rich bronze without the fake tan smell
• To use: for an even, streak-free tan, apply to clean, exfoliated skin in a well ventilated area; allow at least a few minutes before contact with clothes; use sparingly on elbows, hands, knees and feet; wash hands immediately with soap and water after each use; shower in one hour for a natural result; leave on longer as desired, for deeper darker colour
• RRP $29.99 AUD for 200ml, but do shop around (it's 30% off at Priceline right now)

Verdict

This is a good product and I recommend it if you're into tanning foams that work well and don't cost the earth.

It's an ashy, dark brown foam that’s easy enough to apply and doesn’t smell awful (indeed, it barely smells at all), so it shouldn’t bother those who don’t like tanning smells.

It applies easily enough and it's coloured so you can see where you’ve put it, and while it feels a little sticky as it dries down, it doesn’t stay that way so you won’t have your clothes sticking to you while you’re waiting for it to develop. Having said this, I am aware of the stuff on my skin until I wash it off – another reason why I prefer tanners of the leave-on cream variety because that's standard for foams like this.

I haven’t had any streaking issues with this product, although I always exfoliate first so that may be why – and I’d definitely recommend exfoliating before using any tanning product.

It also hasn’t stained my clothes while I’ve been waiting for the colour to develop (nor does it transfer from my skin to any surface I touch), so that’s a plus but do note that I wouldn’t wear white or pale clothing on tanning days because I personally think that’s just asking for trouble ; )

The first time I used it, I only left it on for an hour (you can leave it on for one to three hours, depending on the level of colour you’re after) because I wasn’t sure how strong the result would be and I wanted to start gently. While I did get a slight tan on my medium skin, I opted for leaving it on for at the full three hours on subsequent uses because the one-hour tan was so subtle that it almost wasn’t worth the effort.

What I like about this product is that it gives me a natural, brown tan (no orange in sight) that lasts a good few days before starting to fade. It’s on day four or five that I notice the tan isn’t what it once was, and it’s mostly gone within a week although that’s partly because I do use a body scrub every few days and that never helps with longevity ; )

All in all, I think this is a good product and I recommend it. While I’m still a cream girl at heart (and probably always will be), if you’re a tanning foam person you might really like this because it’s one of the better ones I’ve used and you don’t need to leave it on too long to get results. Plus it's not the most expensive tanner on the market, so it won't break the bank.

A good product.