Shopping Writer Meghan is normally very pale, but she’s put Sabrina Carpenter’s go-to fake tan to the test and the results had her raving, ‘you won’t believe the results unless you see them’
Earlier this year, Sydney Sweeney and Sabrina Carpenter walked the red carpet at the Met Gala. The two blonde bombshells looked lit from within as they matched their golden locks with perfectly sun-kissed skin, and we know the product they both love in order to get that red carpet-ready glow. While we’re not 100% certain Sabrina used it ahead of the Met Gala, we know she’s a fan of this product, and Sydney definitely used this Loving Tan 2 HR Express Mousse, which is currently on sale at Lookfantastic.
As someone who is naturally very (very!) pale, I’ve tried a range of tanning products to make me look less like Casper the friendly ghost during the sunnier months. I don’t have a lot of time to sunbathe (and in the UK, it’s rarely sunny enough to catch some rays), and tanning beds and spray tans can be quite expensive, so I found a handful of products I’d swear by through the summer to get a sun-kissed look.
But I thought I’d test Sabrina Carpenter and Sydney Sweeney’s go-to tan to see if it would have the same effect on my pale skin and give the same sun-kissed glow as they both had while appearing at the Met. And I can’t believe the results.
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The express tanning mousse is said to offer a deep, natural-looking tan in as little as two hours, making it the perfect tan to reach for ahead of your next event, whether you’re heading out for brunch or hitting a celeb-loved gala. Normally retailing for £41.95, and now reduced to £33.55 at Lookfantastic, this beauty wonder promises a natural-looking tan in an impressively short period of time. Made for self-tan lovers short on time, the tanning mousse is said to provide immediate colour while developing into a deeper, darker tan after the initial two-hour processing time.
I tend to lean more towards gradual tanners, simply because of their convenience and versatility when it comes to getting the shade of tan you want. But I put this Loving Tan to the test, applying it as instructed while using the brand’s Deluxe Applicator Mitt (£13.95). The application was actually just as quick and easy as applying my usual moisturiser. Yes, you have to take care when it comes to any streaks or smudges, ensuring they are all even, but ultimately, the most difficult part was the centre of my back (as expected). That said, if you ask a friend or family member to smooth that area for you, the tan’s application takes under half an hour.
I originally followed the instructions and left the tan on for the suggested two hours before washing it off. Whether because I am extraordinarily pale or because of the short developing time, the tan definitely left some colour behind, but it wasn’t the deep tan I’d been hoping for. So I took a gamble, applied another layer of the tan and left it on while I slept. By the time I woke up, I looked like I’d just come back from a Mediterranean holiday.
The tan boasts a quick-drying formula that features colour guide technology. This helps promote streak-free application and ensures you can leave it on for longer periods of time without any weird textures or risk of smudging. It also does not transfer to your clothes, bedding, or furniture while you let it develop.
Plus, this tan comes with an aloe vera base that offers a boost of hydration to enhance the longevity of your tan, helping smooth areas of dry skin—something I am grateful for. I was fearful the tan would stick or become patchy in drier areas like my elbows and knees, but it didn’t.
The tanning mousse grants a natural-looking olive-toned colour, providing a medium-deep tan to someone with Edward Cullen-like skin (like me). Not only that, my skin really is glowing in a sun-kissed way – my friends couldn’t believe the overnight change.
The only thing I will say is that, while the applicator mitt works to create a seamless tan without any streaks, it can be difficult to keep on your hand if you have smaller hands (like me), as it doesn’t feature the traditional thumb like most mitts, though this was only a small thing I noticed throughout the process, it didn’t cause any issues or anything other than the occasional inconvenience when it would slip. The Loving Tan range does include a body brush for easier application if the mitt doesn’t work for you.
The Loving Tan range also includes a Tanning Face Serum (£32) that’s specifically designed to integrate with your skincare routine, keeping on top of your face’s tan as the colour shifts with skincare and makeup. Loving Tan also released a Tanning Body Lotion (£27.95) that features the same formula as the Tanning Mousse but in a lotion form, acting as more of a gradual tanner – something I’m very excited to try out.
Another standout feature that I loved about this tanning product is that it didn’t stain any of my baby hairs at the back of my head/neck, and it didn’t stain my nails. As I have bleached blonde hair, I was concerned I may have covered some of my hair that I couldn’t tie up, or that I’d gotten the tan on my white nails while doing my hands, and that this would mean my nails and hair were going to share the same tanned colour as my skin – but it hasn’t, which was a major plus when compared to other fake tans I’ve used.
The Tanning Mousse that Sabrina Carpenter, Sydney Sweeney, and I all use is available from Lookfantastic, Sephora, and Cult Beauty.