Self-Tanner Reviews Part 3: Luna Bronze
Luna Bronze is an Australian brand that focuses on using organic ingredients, and merging skincare with sunless tanning. They have 3 sunless tanning products and 1 body moisturizer, all at relatively reasonable prices. Here are the two I tested out:
"Glow" Gradual Tanning Moisturizer
6.8 fl oz, $25
What is it: A tanning moisturizer for the body that can be built up over daily use
Scent/Color Guide?: The essential oils in this include mandarin, lemon myrtle and orange blossom, although the scent is very subtle and any hint of it fades away quickly. The lotion is a white cream that rubs in translucent so no color guide.
Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (Organic Aloe vera) leaf juice*, Caprylic/Capric triglyceride***, Cetearyl alcohol***, Cocos nucifera (Organic Coconut) oil*, Glycerin***, Dihydroxyacetone (100% Natural DHA)**, Stearic acid***, Ceteareth-20***, Lycium barbarum (Organic Goji berry) fruit extract*, Rosa eglanteria (Organic Rosehip) seed oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil**, Triticum Aestivum (wheat) Germ Oil**, Caffeine, Saccharomyces ferment***, Citrus Reticulata (Organic Mandarin red) Peel Oil*, Backhousia Citriodora (Lemon myrtle) Leaf Oil**, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil**, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Carrageenan***, Sodium hydroxide
Application method: I apply this just like any other lotion, rubbing in circular motions onto dry skin. I make sure to pay careful attention to my feet, ankles, knees, elbows, basically anywhere that too much color could catch and make it look patchy. Don't forget to wash your hands after application!
Finish: There's no tacky feeling once this dries down, and the moisturizer dries down pretty quickly! The developed color I get with this is definitely more of a subtle glow rather than a full-on tan, so I didn't notice any patchiness or streakiness. For products like this that are more of a "gradual" tan, you can build up over the days if you want something a bit deeper, but on my medium skin tone this is on the more "natural glow" side of the spectrum. Good for those who don't want to go a full-on shade deeper, and just want to even out the skin tone a bit. Especially if you're a bit of a sunless tanner newbie and want to ease your way into it or maybe if you have very fair skin and don't want anything too harsh.
Longevity: Since the color on this is more on the subtle, natural side, this faded on me after a day. I imagine if you continue using throughout the week and building the color it would stick around longer, but I had zero issues with it fading off patchy, but it does fade fairly quick since the color is so subtle.
Eclipse Tanning Mousse
5.07 fl. oz, $33
What is it: A tanning mousse that also offers an instant tanned look, and can be built up for a desired depth.
Scent/Color Guide?: The essential oils in this are the same as the moisturizer, which includes mandarin, lemon myrtle and orange blossom, and I surprisingly don't get any self-tanner smell from this which is amazing. The mousse comes out a very deep bronze color, so yes there's a color guide.
Ingredients: Aqua, Aloe barbadensis (Organic Aloe Vera) leaf juice*, Dihydroxyacetone (100% Natural DHA)**, Caramel**, Hamammelis virginiana (Witch Hazel) flower water**, Glycerin***, Vitis vinifera (Grape) seed extract**, Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit (Kakadu Plum) extract**, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil**, Macadamia integrifolia seed oil**, Triticum Aestivum (wheat) Germ Oil**, Saccharomyces ferment***, Citrus Reticulata (Organic Mandarin red) Peel Oil*, Backhousia Citriodora (Lemon myrtle) Leaf Oil**, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil**, Decyl glucoside***, Phenoxyethanol, Cocomidopropyl betaine***, Carrageenan***, Alcohol**, Sodium metabisulfite, CI 42090, CI 19140, CI 16035, CI 17200
Application method: I apply this with my tanning mitt in circular motions, moving in sections up my leg. Since the color guide for this is a really deep shade, I was particularly careful and diligent in working around the trickier areas, like my feet, ankles, elbows, which are places I like to go over last so there's less product on the mitt. A little goes a long way with this airy, mousse-y texture.
Finish: This dries down and doesn't leave a sticky feeling, but the color is immediate and INTENSE. I was maybe 3 shades deeper than I normally am? Which was hilarious because I was testing it on one side of my body (I had the moisturizer on the other half) and I was looking very crazy. I'm impressed with the color from the mousse because it's more of a deep bronze, olive shade, and not at all orange. I felt like my legs had dimension, if that's a thing? They looked healthy and like I naturally tanned (for 3 days), not like I slapped on self-tanner. Once you wash off after letting it develop (I let it develop overnight), it is wayyy less intense and brings the shade down to normal. But if you're looking for a "get tan as hell right now" solution, this is your tanner. Just pay close attention to your application and you'll be good.
Longevity: I found this to last pretty well through 4-5 days, with it being pretty faded around day 5. This faded really nicely, and any spots where some color was clinging on it was super easy to scrub away in the shower and get it to look normal. If you're less of a harsh scrubber than me in the shower, you can probably get this to last way longer!
*both products were gifted, but all opinions are my own