price: $21 for 100ml on Mediterranean Tan

type: a self tanning mousse with a dark brown color guide

product call-outs: vegan and cruelty-free (PETA certified)

key ingredients: aloe and rose hip oil to soothe and hydrate, and vitamin C to brighten

texture: a smooth mousse

dry time: within five minutes

scent: a decadent raspberry-vanilla scent

(hot) take on the tan: Mediterranean Tan’s Red Velvet 30 Minute Self Tanner gives the ultimate dark yet controllable tan. Within 30 minutes you can have a natural-looking dark tan or leave on for six hours (like I did) for a tan that looks like you just spent a week… well, in the Mediterranean. The mousse smells amazing (sweet but not overpowering) and unlike any other self tanner I’ve tried. It dries fast and even though it has a dark color guide, transfer is minimal. Mediterranean Tan has certainly nailed the professional-quality skin finish as the tan is rich, smooths over any and all imperfections thanks to its infusion of essential oils and collagen, and lasts around five days before it starts to fade. All in all, I love this mousse and it’s as close to a professional spray tan as you’re going to get with a mousse. My only tip: since this tanner has a large amount of DHA, be sure to moisturize daily.

how we applied: On clean, dry skin swiped three layers of the tanning mousse on each body part. I saved the hands and feet for last and used a lotion as a barrier cream on the palms of my hands, bottoms of my feet, elbows, and ankles. Then, I used a kabuki brush to apply a light layer to the tops of my hands and feet, making sure to get all creases. After six hours I showered to reveal a deep, dark tan that left me about four shades darker.

brand background: Australia-based Mediterranean Tan is the go-to tan for many of Australia’s national pageants and editorial magazines — and that’s for a good reason. Its unique, technologically-advanced solutions are all vegan, non-toxic, and cruelty-free for the safest, most ethically-sound tans. Mediterranean Tan is also home to the first-ever violet-based tan, which gives a deep, natural shade and counteracts any orange undertones. Mediterranean Tan’s founder, Andrea Taylor, has also developed a range of professional-grade sunless solutions for performers, wax solutions, and teeth whitening formulas.