This Self-Tanner Is the Best Beauty Investment I Ever Made

published 24 April 2024

I'll be honest. While I love self-tanner and never go without a bottle or two in my bathroom cabinet, I don't use it religiously. In fact, I'll only use it when I have a big event in the near future or my skin looks really dull. The latter is what drove me to use it most recently. You see, I used to live in L.A. and Austin—two warm-weather cities where I stayed sun-kissed all year round. Last year, though, I moved back to my hometown in the Midwest. That means, for the first time in forever, I spent an entire winter in the cold, gloomy snow.

Unsurprisingly, after four months of little to no sunlight, my skin started looking pretty lackluster. One morning, I woke up, looked in the mirror, and was genuinely shocked that my skin looked the way it did. I knew it was time to bring out the self-tanner. But not just any self-tanner. I'd been seeing a specific brand all over Instagram and TikTok. The before-and-after pictures were so good that I felt compelled to try it. So I did, and wow. It gave me a post-vacation glow in just a couple of hours.

I'm not just saying that either. I had not one, not two, but three people compliment me after I used it. "Your skin looks so good," "I need your spray-tan deets," and "Girl, you're glowing," were a selection of the compliments I received. Needless to say, I love this self-tanner. Keep scrolling to see the product (or should I say products?) and a pretty epic before-and-after picture if I do say so myself.

Before Using the Self-Tanner

Beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock before self-tanning

After Using the Self-Tanner

Beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock after self-tanning

What I love most about this transformation is that my skin still looks natural in the "after" picture. This isn't one of those self-tan situations where I look unnaturally bronze or (even worse) orange. My freckles were still visible, there were absolutely no streaks, and the color developed within two hours. Not to pat myself on the back, but I could see why people asked for my spray-tan artist. It wasn't that the tan looked obvious or over the top; it was that the tan looked so seamless that they thought I went to a professional.

Saltyface

Essential Tanning Set

Here are the products I used. If you're like me, I'm sure you've been seeing this brand, Saltyface, all over social media. It offers two self-tanner formulas—foam and water, respectively. Not only do they look very luxe in their packaging, but they contain good-for-skin ingredients, so they can actually enhance skin health. Cool, right? I could have purchased each product separately, but I like that this handy kit contains both, along with the brand's blending brush.

An In-Depth Look at Each of the Products

Saltyface

Tanning Water

First up, let's talk about this Tanning Water. It's meant for use on the face specifically. As such, it's suitable for all skin types (including sensitive and acne-prone). The formula is packed with "fruit and root" extracts, like tea plant, aloe, and cucumber, so it's exceptionally hydrating.

I used this on clean, dry skin. I just spritzed it over my skin, picked up the brand's handy Tanning Brush (see below), and blended it across my face, neck, ears, and chest. The color will gradually develop over 24 hours, but I rinsed it off after only four. Even though I cut it short, the effect was visible. The tan was seamless and sun-kissed.

Saltyface

Tanning Brush

This soft, densely packed brush is the perfect tool for blending it out.

Saltyface

Tanning Foam

Now for the Tanning Foam. I used this on my body. Again, I applied it to clean, dry skin. Like the Tanning Water, it will gradually develop over 24 hours and has no guide color (or bronzer). This is a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. Some people prefer clear tanning formulas because they don't transfer onto clothes and sheets. Fair enough. Personally, though, I was hesitant to use a self-tanner without a guide color in it. I thought I wouldn't be able to see where I was putting it, which would result in missed spots, streaks, and patchiness, but I pushed on in the hopes I could get as good of a result as people on social media. And, surprisingly, I did.

Maybe the lack of guide color made me blend more aggressively, but I was shocked to see a totally seamless tan develop on my arms and legs. It looked, dare I say, perfect. And I appreciated that the formula's floral, aloe, and cucumber extracts hydrated my skin while it was working.

Saltyface

Body Brush

Larger in surface area, this soft brush blended the foam across my body.

Saltyface

Liquid Bronzer

The last Saltyface product I want to talk about is this bronzer. It only comes in one shade, which might sound crazy, but it's more of a perfecting tint than a traditional bronzing formula. Add it to a moisturizer, foundation, or SPF. Or, apply it directly to the cheeks, nose, forehead, and eyelids. Either way, it provides an instant (yet still natural-looking!) glow. And, yes, it benefits the skin just like the brand's other products. In this case, it's spiked with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and a bevy of botanical extracts. That means it can hydrate, brighten, and even out the skin tone.

I chose to add this to my moisturizer and apply it all over my face for a boost of color. It instantly gave me a post-vacation look. Even though my tan has worn off, I continue to use this Liquid Bronzer as part of my daily makeup routine.

Shop More Glow-Boosting Products I Love

Supergoop!

Glow Stick Sunscreen Spf 50

This sunscreen makes my skin gleam in sunlight (and it's moisturizing).

e.l.f.

Halo Glow Liquid Filter Highlighter

Here's yet another TikTok-viral product that lives up to the hype.

Drunk Elephant

D-Bronzi Bronzing Drops With Peptides

Mix these with your foundation, and you'll look instantly sun-kissed.

MAKE UP FOR EVER

Hd Skin Hydra Glow Hydrating Foundation With Hyaluronic Acid

I'm obsessed with this new foundation from Make Up For Ever.

LYS Beauty

Higher Standard Cream Glow Blush Stick

This product is one part pigmented blush, one part dewy highlighter.

Physicians Formula

Butter Bronzer

Yep, I still back this iconic drugstore bronzer. It's so silky and blendable.

Mango People

Dewy Glow Cream Highlighter Stick

A lesser-known product, this highlighter gives skin the most natural-looking sheen.

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Kaitlyn McLintock is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Although she covers a wide range of topics across a variety of categories, she specializes in celebrity interviews and skincare and wellness content. Having lived in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, she recently relocated back to her home state of Michigan where she works remotely. Prior to Who What Wear, she freelanced for a variety of industry-leading digital publications, including InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, Hello Giggles, and Coveteur. Before that, she held a long-term internship and subsequent contributor position at Byrdie. When she's not writing, researching, or testing the latest and greatest beauty products, she's working her way through an ever-growing book collection, swimming in the Great Lakes, or spending time with family.