If you know me or have been reading my blog for very long, then you probably know that I am a long-time fan of self-tanning. I burn easily in the sun and have a family history of skin cancer (including melanoma), so the only tan I've sported in the last 20+ years is a faux one.
You probably also know that I have several issues with my skin that makes self-tanning and makeup application tricky - like mature skin with lines, sun damage from many years ago, and my latest issue, rosacea. (Here's the link to read more about my skin.)
I've become pretty proficient at applying a natural-looking faux tan over the years, but for whatever reason, my face is one area that doesn't want to cooperate. It doesn't tan evenly, and most self-tanners I've used cause breakouts. Anything that contains erythrulose (an ingredient that "tans" the skin) causes my tan to fade in splotches. So I need a product that contains DHA (dihydroxyacetone - the ingredient that "tans" the skin) for tanning, and very little else, including no added fragrance or color. This isn't easy to find.
Then I discovered Eco Tan Face Tan Water! The ingredient list is perfect for me. Organic and natural ingredients, no added fragrance (other than the organic essential oils) or color, cruelty-free, non-comedogenic - and it's 100% vegan-friendly! I used to make my own facial tanner, and this ingredient list is very similar to mine, so I knew it was going to work for me.
Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Glycerin*, Dihydroxyacetone**, Lecithin*, Fusel Wheat Brain/Straw Glycosides**, Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate**, Sodium Cocoyl Glutatmate**, Glyceryl Caprylate**, Coco Caprylate**, Sodium Hyaluronate**, Dehydroxanthan Gum**, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate**, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*.
*Certified Organic **Natural
And it's exactly what it says it is - Tan Water. It has the consistency of water, which I like very much. There is an orifice reducer in the bottle which is supposed to allow the product to come out one drop at a time. Unfortunately, mine didn't work (I've frequently encountered this issue with this type of dropper), so I removed it and used a glass dropper to dispense the product. Another option would be a spray top, but I didn't have any the same size as the bottle.
I use about 1/2 - 1 tsp per application, and one or two applications give me my desired color. Once that color is achieved, I apply every second day to maintain. Depending upon your starting color, how dark you want your tan to be, and the products you use in your skincare routine, you may need to use more with each application and/or apply more often. Since my face doesn't tan evenly, I tan it to a lighter shade than the rest of my body and use foundation and bronzer to bring the two shades closer to the same. I also find that a lighter tan needs less maintenance and is more flattering to my mature skin.
Before applying, I mix my facial tanner with a pea-sized amount of Pearlfection Cream in the palm of my hand. For me, it makes application easier and more even. It's not necessary to mix it with anything, I just like to do it that way. Be aware that if you do it this way, your resulting color will probably be a little lighter because you have diluted the self-tanner.
One application of Eco Tan Face Tan Water changed my color about 1 level, which is where I like it. It doesn't really look like a tan compared to other people - it just makes me look less pale. I like that this product tans gradually because you can stay with a lighter tan like me or build to a darker one. I will use it two days in a row to get a little darker during the summer, then continue with maintenance application every second day. Keep in mind that I am naturally very pale, so it might take you a couple of days longer to reach your desired level of tan.
As you can see in the photos below, a little bit of color makes a huge difference. These photos were taken less than 24 hours apart. The first is my natural pale, pale self - you can see the evidence of the recently diagnosed rosacea in the red areas. This photo was taken in the morning, and my face always looks a little puffy when I get out of bed.
The second photo was taken in bright natural light about 12-14 hours after one application of Eco Tan Face Tan Water. I'm only wearing a lightly tinted BB cream, a little blush, a little mascara, and lipgloss. (For those who may be wondering, I did not enhance my eye color, and I'm not wearing contacts. I have weird gray/blue/green eyes that change with how I feel and the color of my eyeshadow and clothing.)
The last photo was taken in filtered natural light after I applied all of my makeup (about 16-18 hours after self-tanning). The color of my face is about 1.5 shades darker than my natural color and just a hint darker than my tanned skin above. You can see by comparing the color of my face to that of my shoulder that it's a pretty good match. Also note what a difference a little color makes - my face looks much younger and thinner. If I use makeup this color on my natural pale skin, it just looks weird - especially if it starts to wear off in places.
I can't even begin to tell you how pleased I am to have found a facial tanning product that works well for me. I don't know the percentage of DHA, but I'm pretty sure it's less than 10% (I'm guessing around 5%). Eco Tan Face Tan Water comes in a 100ml (3.38 fl. oz.) amber glass bottle for $34.95 at Natural Healthy Concepts.
Do you use self-tanner? What's your favorite facial tanning product? I'm all about trying new ones, so let me know in the comments or snap me (I'm enjoythevue on Snapchat)!
Natural Healthy Concepts (NHC) is a vitamin and supplement website with a blog that features articles by a certified nutritionist on the most important topics in the natural health industry, such as essential oils, turmeric root and chyawanprash.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love reading your comments!!