I’ve been using TanLuxe for years and I really like most of their products. They are all non-toxic, cruelty-free and they don’t believe in color guides (bronzer) because they say the dyes break down tanning actives, cause streaking, uneven fading, clog pores, and can dry out your skin. They also claim their products have no smell. All of the products have raspberry seed oil, vitamin E, and aloe vera to provide all-day hydration. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, in this post I’ll break down all of the top TanLuxe products for you and share which are worth it and which you should skip.

I apply self-tanner all year and I’ve tried so many! What’s important to me in a self-tanner is that it dries quickly, doesn’t make me smell bad, and I only need one coat to give me a deep color. I also prefer ones that don’t have bronzer because they can be messy and stain my clothes/ sheets/ mattress- this is one of the reasons I prefer to do my own tans instead of getting professional ones- but IF YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED GO TO A PRO! LOL I went to a tanning salon and got a Versa Spa and it definitely wasn’t deep enough. For regular daily use though, at home works just fine for me!

In this video, I review the most popular TanLuxe tanning products and show you the consistency of each- I also review the Superglow Hyaluronic Acid tanner that I don’t go into detail with on this post:

Let’s get into the product breakdowns:

First up, TanLuxe’s The Butter

Tan-Luxe’s The Butter is a thick hydrating lotion. It is $36 for 6.76 oz and only comes in one shade. They say it’s a gradual tanner but I disagree. It gives you a decent color in just one application! Also, since it’s a thick moisturizer you can apply it daily/ nightly to maintain your color and really hydrate your skin. If you have extra dry skin you’ll love this one! But it will work well with any skin type. It has Tan- Luxe’s Cellutone Complex which says it helps with the appearance of cellulite and firms the look of skin while delivering hydration and a soft subtle glow.

The Butter has a little sheen to it so if you apply it during the day you look like you’re GLOWING. It’s gorgeous! It smells like a light oatmeal/ sunscreen scent and is very subtle and luxurious. This one is definitely one of my top favorite Tan-Luxe products!

TanLuxe’s The Gradual

The Gradual is an oil and lotion hybrid that provides your skin with softness and hydration in an ultra-light, quick-drying formula. It’s $33 for 8.45 oz. This product is formulated with Cellutone Complex (like The Butter) to firm the look of skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite while delivering hydration and a soft subtle glow. This also comes in one shade.

The Gradual dries the fastest. It’s a watery feeling lotion that’s easy to rub in but whenever I use it I end up streaky. The smell is subtle a little musty after it dries. This one isn’t my favorite Tan-Luxe product but if you’re looking for light color and quick-drying hydration you’ll love it- just be sure to really apply it evenly.

The TanLuxe Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

Tan-Luxe’s The Face is a tanning concentrate that transforms any moisturizer, serum, or face oil into a custom self-tanner. It comes in 2 shades- light/ medium or medium/ dark. I always use medium/ dark because you can determine how dark you get by how many drops you add to your skincare. I usually add 1/2 or more of the dropper and it’s perfect. I use it in the AM or PM and- it works very well!

I LOVE this for all skin types- even acne-prone! This is one of my all-time favorite products from Tan-Luxe. It’s $49 for 1.01 oz and lasts a while. This won the Allure Best of Beauty award and I completely see why. It’s great!

*Pro-tip- Applying a self-tanner to your face actually makes your skin tone look more even. Buh-bye obvious pigmentation & red spots!

The Body- THE BODY Illuminating Self-Tan Drops by TanLuxe

The Body is similar to The Face but it comes in a larger bottle and has the Cellutone Complex. It’s $59 for 1.69 oz and comes in two shades. They claim this is a firming tan concentrate that lets you customize your glow. It’s really easy to apply with any body lotion- I use half to a full dropper- not the few drops like they recommend. It can take a while to dry, especially if you add it to a thicker lotion.

I will say this isn’t my favorite Tan-Luxe product. It ends up splotchy and streaky on me and it’s expensive for how much you get. I’ve also never noticed any difference with my cellulite when I use it.

The TanLuxe Water Hydrating Self-Tan Water

The Water was the first Tan-Luxe product I ever tried! I was so intrigued by the fact that a clear spray could tan you – It literally looks like water and it works! It comes in two shades and is $47 for 6.76 oz. The water is vitamin-infused tanning water that combines purified water, vitamins B, C, and E, raspberry seed oil, aloe vera, and organic tanning actives to illuminate and hydrate. The Water dries fast and smells refreshing!

The spray bottle can be frustrating because it sprays such a small/ fine amount at a time. So I put the liquid into this bottle that provides a more continuous (read: foolproof) spray. You could also spray it directly onto your self-tanning mitt (be sure to spray a lot) and then wipe the mitt all over.

TanLuxe Wonder Oil Illuminating Self-Tan Oil

The Wonder Oil is so insanely expensive but SO GOOD. It’s $68 for 3.38 oz but since it’s an oil a little bit of product goes a long way. It comes in two shades and has a rollerball applicator that makes applying it so easy. It’s foolproof! This one has Supersculpt complex that slims and stimulates the skin to improve elasticity and texture it’s also hydrating for up to 48 hours.

The color on this one lasts the longest and wears off very evenly. It is an oil so it can stay tacky a little longer than the other products but it’s not sticky, just oily. Does that make sense? This is one of my all-time favorite self-tanners. If you have dry skin I highly recommend this one.

TanLuxe Instant Hero Skin Perfector- $33 5.07 oz

Instant Hero This isn’t a self-tanner but it is a must-have if you’re running out the door and forgot to tan. It’s a quick-drying skin perfector that glides effortlessly onto skin to deliver a full-coverage, no-commitment glow. Basically, it’s A Wash off makeup/bronzer- it has a subtle shimmer to it and it is gorgeous! It also has skin-loving ingredients vitamins B, C, and E, aloe vera, and caffeine. It’s hydrating and blurs imperfections by reducing the appearance of redness, cellulite, and spider veins and provides you with a glow that lasts for up to 24 hours.

INSTANT HERO adjusts to all skin tones for a tailor-made tan. The custom-designed, integrated sponge, means a drama-free application experience but you need to blend it in fast because once it dries it’s not budging. A less expensive but equally amazing option would be the Sally Hansen Leg Makeup– the lotion in color light is the best!

Now that you know all the details which one do you want to try? My go-to is always The Face. I also love Wonder Oil, and Butter.

xx,

Lauren