Before You Buy: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse

Product: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse
Price: $44
Where to Buy: Sephora

Using It:

Exfoliate well 24 hours before application. Apply moisturizer overnight and then rinse off prior to application. Use a mitt, and starting from the bottom, apply in long strokes from feet up. Don’t forget areas like ears. Use a fluffy brush to apply the product to tops of feet and hands. Wait until fully dry before dressing. Keep the mousse on for up to three hours depending on how deep you’d like the tan, and then wash off and moisturize.

St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse Review:

Before heading on a brief vacation down to Florida, I had a choice of arriving pasty or devoting a little time to developing a self-tan. I opted for a self-tan. I haven’t done it in a long time, and the formulas have come a long way. While I was intrigued by Isle of Paradise formulas, I decided to head back to ol’ trusty St. Tropez, especially now that they offer express formulas.

The 3 hour development time promises a deep tan and the ability to shower in as little as 1-3 hours, which is perfect for developing a tan without getting any rub-off on clothes or sheets. Unlike the traditional formulas, which also come tinted, the tint washes off in the shower and you’re left developing the tan overnight and beyond. I love not having any orange on my white sheets, so this was a major win for me.

The formula’s scent is still reminiscent of chemicals, but the smell doesn’t linger. There’s a fragrance additive, which helps disguise the traditional self-tanner scent fairly well. I didn’t notice any scent after rinsing off and moisturizing.

And the color? Very forgiving. I ended up doing two applications three days apart to develop a deeper glow. The first application left me nicely tanned, but nothing overly deep, which is amazing if you’re looking for a natural-looking tan. When using the formula, make sure to apply with a mitt.

First, exfoliate and shave the day before you’ll be tanning. Moisturize well before bed. The next day, rinse off the moisturizer in a lukewarm shower, and moisturizer dry areas like elbows, knees, and around ankles. Let the moisturizer sink in and apply the formula with a mitt from bottom up.

The best part? The tanner fades evenly. I noticed a bit of patchiness around my stomach and decolletage, but I considered it part of the game since I applied several layers.

Overall, I love the formula and the results. I would definitely repurchase.

Notable Ingredients

Ingredients: Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Caramel, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Melanin, Fragrance, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alpha-isomethyl Ionone, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, CI 14700 (Red 4), CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 42090 (Blue 1).

• St. Tropez is vegan and cruelty-free.
• Aloe leaf juice is naturally moisturizing.
• Added fragrance can be irritating to those with sensitive skin.

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Nataliya Ogle

Founder

Nataliya Ogle likes making sure others live to their full potential. She publishes articles on her primary website styletomes.com and works as a freelance writer for other women's interest sites. Her physical body is in New York but her presence can almost always be found online. The internet is her first love.