Product Reviews
Here you will find a full list of our comprehensive independent spray tan solution reviews. We will continue to regularly add more reviews so please check back from time to time to see what’s new. Alternatively, if there is a certain brand of solution you would like us to review which you cannot find listed here, please drop us a line at sarah@spraytanreview.com.
Aviva Labs Tan (DHA 12%)
Sunlove Spray Tanning System (Dark)
Black Magic 2 Hour Tan (Dark)
Mystic Tan (Medium)
Pros: Gorgeous natural colour, dries quickly and non-sticky, doesn’t smell.
Cons: Expensive, limited availability.
The final verdict: You get what you pay for.
Easily the best characteristic of this tan, the application is a breeze. Unlike many other brands, Aviva goes on as a very light mist which dries almost instantly and leaves no sticky residue. There is also no smell (at least not until the next day when you wake up) which means you can go out the same day or night. The colour guide is almost a perfect match to how your final tan will look, avoiding any post-shower-tan-withdrawals. The 12% colour is a deep golden brown however the intensity will depend on your own natural skin tone. This means that if you are naturally very fair (DHA resistant) and cannot achieve a real tan, the colour will only develop to a realistic level so you can rest assured that you won’t ever look like an oompa loompa.
This tan is optimized to work best on those who tan quite easily (usually people with dark hair), so if this is you, then you will look and feel like you’ve been in the Maldives for a month. Typically this tan will last a good 5 days before it starts to fade, however this is fine as it does not patch off! Provided you moisturise regularly for the duration of your tan, Aviva literally just fades away without any of the tell-tale signs of tanning such as cracking or patching. This might be due to the fact that Aviva contains hardly any ingredients (13) and is alcohol-free, oil-free, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.
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Sunlove Spray Tanning System (Dark)
Pros: Natural dark bronze colour, economical DIY spray tanning system.
Cons: Air canister gets really cold, application can be messy, not enough air canisters.
The final verdict: You’re better off using the solution with a proper spray tanning air gun.
Sunlove offers a spray tanning system which is meant to be applied in the comfort of your own home. Whilst the solution offers a beautiful green-based natural dark bronze, the shortfall of this system is the spray tanning device itself. A canister of compressed air screws into a plastic attachment which holds a cartridge that you fill with the liquid solution. There is also a button on the device which you press (in short bursts) to release a combination of the compressed air and the solution, resulting in a tan mist. One of the problems associated with this device is that the more you press the button, the colder the canister becomes, and considering it’s the canister that you have to hold, this can become quite uncomfortable depending on how much tan you use. The device also needs to be held parallel to the ground as tilting it may cause the mist to come out at strange angles or the solution to leak from the cartridge, which can be quite difficult when applying to hard to reach areas such as your back. Finally the nozzle where the mist comes out needs to be continually wiped clear during the application as after a few sprays the solution starts to clog, drip and cause messy uneven application.
As already mentioned, the solution offers a wonderful colour which lasts between 5 and 10 days and fades evenly rather than the dreaded patching. The solution features a vanilla-cherry scent upon drying (~3 mins) however this disappears after the colour guide and bronzer are washed away. The solution costs US$44.95 and comes in a 16Fl.oz (475mL) bottle which is enough for approximately 8-12 full body and face tans, however the air canister will run out before the solution does – and there are no extras provided with the kit. The application process causes a lot of overspray so it is definitely recommended to do this in a bathtub or shower, and luckily the solution washes away easily with water when still wet. Considering the nice qualities of the solution, it would definitely be worthwhile buying the kit, ditching the DIY device and using a proper air pressure gun.
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Pros: 2 hour solution, beautiful natural colour, easy to remove.
Cons: The colour guide makes you look like a zombie who has rolled around in newspaper.
The final verdict: The best express tan I have come across.
This tan is somewhat peculiar and I must admit I had doubts the first time I ever tried it. Like no other tan I have ever come across, the solution is sprayed on as a grey mist. Yes, you look like a dead person; however the best thing about it is that you only need to leave it on for 2 hours before showering off the residue. Magically, your skin slowly develops into a beautiful golden tan over 6-8 hours even though the solution is already gone! This has added benefits such as no lingering smell and the ability not only to go out in public, but also wear any type of clothes without fear of tan residue rubbing onto them or the clothes rubbing your tan off. Furthermore the rapid DHA is claimed to have anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties which we’re not complaining about!
Although the solution is intended to be left on for 2 hours, you can leave it on for up to 4 hours if you want a deeper colour (recommended for those who are DHA-resistant), however there is a warning from the manufacturer not to leave it on for longer than 6 hours. The tan lasts a good 7-10 days and fades beautifully, with no patching at all. And, just when you thought this tan couldn’t get any better, it was incredibly easy to remove in a hot shower with only body wash and an exfoliating glove. There are certainly some express tan solutions on the market which are extravagantly priced that simply don’t deliver in terms of colour and quality, however this is definitely not one of them. Easily my favourite express solution, it is not to be overlooked.
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Pros: Fast application in private, golden colour.
Cons: Expensive, difficult application process, can cause skin breakouts.
The final verdict: Steer clear if you are claustrophobic or have sensitive skin.
Mystic Tan is a spray tan which is applied in an automated booth. This is both a major pro and con for the tan. The benefits include a super fast application (we’re talking 30 seconds in total) in the privacy of your own booth. On the flipside, due to the fact that the process is so automated, there is no one around to help if something goes wrong. Sure, there is an instructional video you watch at the start that shows you how you’re supposed to stand and what to do with the barrier lotion, however if you stuff it up when the machine is on, it’s all over so fast that you can very easily be left with uneven white patches. Problems associated with the booth are that it is very small and claustrophobic, and it is quite difficult to keep your eyes closed and balance whilst holding your breath so you don’t inhale the tanning solution.
The solution delivers a nice golden colour which adheres to all skin types, even those that are DHA-resistant. The smell is bearable and better than most however this is where the benefits end. The solution seems to have ingredients which may irritate people with sensitive skin. There are lots of user reported incidents of skin breakouts after having had a Mystic Tan. Then comes the aftermath. This tan sinfully patches off, even following a strict tanning regime, it seems impossible to avoid looking like a spotted leopard after only a few days. All in all I would recommend avoiding this one due to the unpredictable results of an automated machine and the inherent patchiness.
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