We try before you buy: The face-tanning mist for lazy makeup wearers
Despite using self-tanning products for a number of years now, I've never known the answer to the question: do you put it on your face?
For most of my life, I've been firmly in camp no, too nervous about patchiness and lines. So, when Coco & Eve's Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist came across my desk, I was excited to see an option that might give me an evenly tanned and glowy face, without having to judge how much 'excess' was on my mitt, or if it would blend with the colour of my neck and shoulders.
As a pale girl who very rarely wears a full face of makeup – hardly ever when it comes to the workday – I was ready to treat this mist as a bit of a solution to my lack of interest in an 'everyday' look. But would it work?
I can safely say that this tanning mist is now one of my favourite products, and one I'll get plenty of use out of – especially as we enter the winter months.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist
Using the mist
I decided to first apply the tan at nighttime and allow it to develop overnight, given there's no requirement to wash it off. I sprayed it across my face and neck, but as it comes out as a colourless mist, there was no way to tell if I'd applied it evenly. I allowed my face to dry in front of my fan, flicked my light off and went to bed – hoping for the best.
I'll admit this could have gone terribly, and I absolutely recommend patch testing instead of going fast and loose. However, when I looked in the mirror in the morning, the tan – although darker than I'd expected – was definitely not unnatural. While I'd been tired and pale the morning before, I now looked like I had a refreshed glow about me.
My colleagues noticed immediately as I walked into work, commenting on how "sun-kissed" I looked despite the rainy day outside. I realised pretty quickly I was onto an excellent product, and I was excited to keep using it regularly.
Pros
It's a great makeup substitution
The tanning mist will likely be replacing most of the makeup products I'd use on a daily basis. To be honest, this isn't much to begin with, but it's nice to know I can save my more expensive foundations and my Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter for special occasions.
The first day sporting the tan, I decided to forgo any makeup products and simply apply SPF and fix my brows, which saved me a heap of time in the morning.
It's easy to use and apply
The tan is very easy to use and apply, and five spritzes to my face and neck had me entirely covered. However, like most tanning products, you will notice lines if you're intentionally not tanning certain parts of your skin. For me, the tan ended and became patchy around my chest, which was easy to cover with a high-necked dress. I suppose the idea is to tan the rest of your body with Coco & Eve's Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, but if you're using the mist to replace makeup or just give your face some glow, you can spray it over your décolletage to ensure the lines are covered by your top.
Cons
Your makeup may not be the right match
The only con I could think of when I saw the results of the tan is that my usual makeup wouldn't match it. While I am admittedly lackadaisical when it comes to makeup, I usually at least pop some concealer under my eyes and on any redness my skin might be manifesting. But my very light concealer would no longer match my skin tone. While I'll take any excuse to buy new products, I eventually decided that the mist was all the coverage I would need, and ended up going bare-faced.
The Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist was a game-changer for me, and the perfect product for anyone looking to tan their face to match their body, or substitute makeup for something easier, with an equal amount of glow.
Cost
The tanning mist costs just $44.90 from Adore Beauty. While it's only a small bottle, you also only need to spray a small amount. If you use it roughly once a week, it'd easily last you two or three months, working out to be under $4 per tanning session – much more affordable than a trip to the beautician!
Grab yourself a bottle here.
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