Review: Tanologist Self Tan Water, Dark
price: $17 at Ulta
type: a clear self tanning water
product call-outs: vegan, organic, and cruelty-free
key ingredients: pink grapefruit for brightening, goji berry to smooth and hydrate, and juniper to tone and reduce the appearance of imperfections
texture: a light, fine mist
dry time: around 7 minutes
scent: unscented
(hot) take on the tan: It’s rare to find a clear solution self tanner that lives up to its rapid development claims, but Tanologist’s Self Tan Water definitely does. After about an hour you will see a deep bronze tan developing. The water is perfect for the customer who realizes at 8 a.m. that they need a tan by happy hour, yet still needs to go about their day. You can spritz on the tanner, wait for it to dry, get dressed, and watch your tan develop throughout the day — without it rubbing off on your clothes. When it comes to using a water vs. a mousse on the body, I prefer using a mousse as I feel like mousses penetrate the skin more resulting in a deeper, darker tan. However, Tanologist’s Dark Tanning Water gives results identical to that of a mousse. What’s more is it acts as a refreshing mist and makeup set spray, thanks to its hydrating properties. I love to keep mine in the fridge and spritz on my face before I run out the door.
how we applied: On the body: spritzed on the skin from about six inches away, totally saturating the skin until it was noticeably dewy. Then, used a tanning mitt to blend in circular, sweeping motions. I’ve applied in the morning and watched the color begin to develop in as little as an hour, and have also applied at night to wake up to a golden glow (without bronzing my sheets). After letting the tanner develop for eight hours, skin is about four shades darker.
On the face: applied a layer of daily facial moisturizer, did a full makeup beat, used the water as a set spray, and watched my complexion glow throughout the rest of the day.
Tanologist Dark Tanning Water
A fine mist that leaves a dark bronze tan.
brand background: Prior to launching Tanologist, founder and beauty influencer Lottie Tomlinson tried just about every self tanner under the sun, but none gave her the clean (application and ingredients), streak-free, odorless, noncomedogenic glow she was looking for. Thus, she took it upon herself to develop Tanologist. The brand launched in 2018 and in less than two years, it’s quickly become a favorite among influencers and beauty-lovers alike.