Summer may be fading away, but that doesn’t mean your golden glow has to! I’m referring to self tanning products like these from Karora, a company that specializes in faux tanning products to give you a year round glow.
To be honest I have had some terrible, downright ugly, experiences with self tanning products in the past. Luckily, the industry has come a long way since my first trial periods in the 90’s and early 2000’s. I should note that the 2 things that bother me the most with self tanning is, of course, the possibility of being stuck with an uneven/streaky tan for days and the smell…you know that “self tan” smell I’m talking about! Lets see how these products from Karora stack up.
Karora Tinted Self Tan Mist in Light /Medium:
This tinted mist promises to deliver a “golden honey dipped tan” that fully develops in a just a few hours. It is supposed to last seven days, fade like a natural tan and have no faux tan smell. “It contains skin caring botanicals like aloe, acai berry, argan and coconut oil to help keep skin in top condition.”
My Thoughts:
Use- This spray is pretty easy to use, you spray it onto the mitt and apply in quick circles to your skin. The mitt is “one size fits all” so it is slightly difficult to control while rubbing onto your skin, I have to keep my fingers spread out to prevent it from slipping off.
Results- The results were decent. (Photo L is before and R is about 2 hours after.) I am pretty pale in areas where I get no sun (like my tummy) so I think my results looked more natural on places where I had a slight base tan like on my arms. I had some difficulty getting this to apply perfectly (with no streaks) to the fronts of my calves some reason. I also noticed a moderate self tan smell on my skin afterwards. After applying once, my results lasted about 4 days, make sure to moisturize to extend the life of your tan.
Tips- I have learned through testing this that there are a few tricks to using it and getting the best results. 1.) Keep the spray further away from them mitt when you spray so there isn’t a large concentration of tanner in 1 area. This will ensure a less streaky result. 2.) Use baby wipes to apply it to dry areas such as elbows, knees and ankles so it is less concentrated and you don’t get that “dirty knees” look. 😉
Karora Gradual Tan Lotion in Light/Medium:
“The Gradual Tan Lotion replenishes and conditions the face and body with botanical boosting hydrators while turning it gloriously golden. KARORA Gradual Tan jump starts your tan after one application and builds into a deeper golden colour after just 1-2 further applications. It is also fused with a fine tuned blend of jojoba, coconut oil, rosemary leaf extract, vitamin E and essential oil of argan to soften, soothe and condition the skin.”
My Thoughts:
Use- This lotion is very easy to use, just apply it like regular lotion! This is a great option for those who are nervous about “instant” self tanning or for those who want more control over the intensity of their results. This was my favorite of the 2 products.
Results- After applying this lotion for 2 days I started to notice some color, on day 3 it was maybe 1-2 shades darker. It is hydrating and sinks into skin leaving no residue behind. This lotion also smells great and has very minimal “faux tan smell” when it dries. It smells like a tart fruity candy, very summery and fun!
Karora offers many other kinds of self tan products, so take a look around their shop to find something that fits your needs!
Product received from PR for editorial consideration, all opinions expressed are my own.
Do you use self tanners? Do you have any favorites you’d like to share?
The lotion looks like a good way to go. I haven’t used self-tanners since I was a teen. My tan is fading now, so this could be an option. However, I can hardly wait for my foundations/CC creams to be the right shade again!
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