Shopping Writer Meghan has switched out her normal foam self-tanner for this innovative tanning milk that’s left her skin ‘looking and feeling so smooth’
This year, I’ve tried a range of self-tanning products, from celebrity-loved foams to drugstore classics, but I think my latest tanning find takes the cake. From the iconic brand Bali Body comes this Self Tanning Milk, which switches the traditional foam or moisturising formula for a milky consistency that feels more like skincare than my normal tanners.
With no sticky residue, long drying times, or even any colour cast, this self-tanning product doesn’t feel like any product I’ve tried before—and at first, I was very apprehensive.
Other tanners I’ve tested that don’t have a colour cast have been a little bit of a let down, with poor pigment or patchy results. Not to mention, the chances of mistakes when applying skyrocket when you can’t see where you’ve applied the tanner. But this tanning milk was far from disappointing – in fact, I don’t think I’ll be using any other tanner for the rest of the summer.
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As the name suggests, this tanning product features a milk formula that looks like a creamy serum rather than a moisturiser, foam, or mousse. It’s still recommended that you use a tanning mitt to buff the liquid into the skin, though it’s instructed that you apply the milk straight to the skin and then use the mitt (or brush, if you prefer) to spread it around.
Like I said earlier, at first, the milky formula made me a little apprehensive. This only increased when I began to buff it in, and the thin serum-like tanner began to soak into the skin without leaving any colour cast behind. But I had faith in the band known for producing impressive self-tanning products.
I applied all over, which was easy enough thanks to its thin consistency, though I was slightly worried about streaking or missing patches as I couldn’t be entirely sure everywhere I wanted covered was evenly saturated.
More akin to a gradual tanner, this milk doesn’t have a designated time that you have to leave it in. Thanks to the lack of a colour cast, it also doesn’t require rinsing off. So I chose to leave mine on overnight (roughly 8 or 9 hours).
One thing that instantly earned me points was that, by the time I had finished applying, the tanner was already beginning to dry down without leaving behind a tacky texture. My skin felt instantly hydrated and nourished, in a way I’ve never felt with a tanning product before, and it was soft to the touch already. Plus, my skin wasn’t sticky or still damp with the tan – something I love, as I tend to leave my tan on overnight and don’t like feeling tacky when I go to bed.
Now, if I’m being honest, when I first woke up, the tanner hadn’t done a huge amount; a fact that’s slightly disappointing as I used the medium to dark variety. I had a noticeable glow to my skin and a healthy tinge of colour, but nothing that screamed ‘I’ve just come back from a holiday on the coast’.
That said, my skin felt incredible. It was so soft and smooth, and didn’t feel weighed down from the tanner. I felt rejuvenated and super hydrated. But the colour wasn’t what I had hoped; it’s worth noting that I prefer to tan darker when I’m using fake tan, so this may first layer that would suit someone who fancies a subtle, sunkissed look without going three shades darker.
Rather than give up, I decided to try the tanning milk again to see if it changed anything—and I’m so glad I did. When I woke up, my skin was just as glowy, looking healthy, and somehow almost blurred on my arms and legs.
My hands and feet didn’t look absurdly darker than the rest of my body (which I’ve found with typical tanning mousses), and even dryer areas like elbows, knees, and armpits aren’t significantly dryer or patchier, something I can only attribute to the fact that this milk definitely hydrates the skin while tanning.
The colour is stunning and just what I was looking for, and the end results are unbelievably seamless—no streaking, patches, or weird pigmentation. My skin looks flawless and feels so healthy. I’ve already received comments from friends and family who’ve noticed how smooth my skin looks and feels.
Though I can’t comment on the longevity of the tan since it’s only been a week so far, something I have noticed is that areas where my tan normally lifts first (feet, hands, armpits, around the bra area), whether it’s from sweat, clothes, or washing, have not yet budged. Even after a gym session, the tan didn’t appear to have moved. And when showering, I noticed very minimal colour rinsing off, which is reassuring. Plus, thanks to the lack of colour cast, there are no stains left behind on clothes or bed sheets.
Truly a blend of skincare and self-tanner, I don’t think I’ll go back to using other tanning products this summer, and it’s quickly become a firm favourite of mine. Plus, for 240ml, this tanning milk is relatively affordable, selling for £27 from Boots, ASOS, and select supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s.
Bali Body doesn’t stop with this tanning milk. If you’re looking for alternative hydrating tanners, check out their line of hydrating tanning serums, which cost £28.95 at Selfridges or £21.71 at Lookfantastic.