Instant, natural tan on a budget

Summer is right around the corner and soon enough everyone will be after that sun-kissed, golden glow. Today I’ll tell you all about my new favorite bronzing mousse that gives a very natural-looking color (even for someone as fair as me), and best of all: it won’t cost you a fortune.

I first heard of Tanwise products when I came across this post on Cara’s blog where she raved about their bronzing mousse. I decided to pick up their wash-off bronzing mousse in shade Medium a few months a go and I’ve been absolutely loving it. Tanwise Wash-off Bronzing Mousse gives a streak-free color that washes off with soap and water. You don’t have to wait for it to develop color, the results are instant, but also temporary. The color washes off when you take a shower, which means that this is a perfect option for when you want a little color, but don’t have the time to wait for it to develop or you don’t want the long-lasting effects of a regular self-tanner.

I always apply this mousse using a tanning mit- I also always make sure to exfoliate and moisturize my skin prior to the application of the product. This wash-off bronzing mousse blends really nicely into the skin and provides a smooth and streak-free coverage. I usually go for about two or three layers, just to make sure that I get a nice and even coverage. Even though I’m quite fair, I went with the shade Medium (it also comes in Light) and despite using two-three coats, I still always end up with the most natural color. After applying this all over my body (I usually avoid applying self-tanners or bronzing products on my face), I immediately wash my hands and wait a few minutes before getting dressed, to let the product dry completely. This mousse does not have a weird smell, it doesn’t feel sticky and does not transfer very easily into clothing (it’s much more likely to transfer to lighter clothing though).

Before and after (please note that both photos where taken on a different background).

I was really surprised at how much I liked this bronzing mousse, especially since one of my favorite self-tanning products is St. Tropez Self-Tan Bronzing Mousse (after loving it for so long I didn’t think that something else would impress me just as much). A 207ml bottle of Tanwise Wash-Off Bronzing Mousse sells for around $12.99 and you can usually find it at Sally’s Beauty Supply or on Amazon. I’m also definitely going to get my hands on their Dark Bronzing Sunless Mousse, which in addition to giving instant bronzing effect, also develops color overtime (so unlike the mousse that I’m using right now, it’s not a wash-off product).

Have any of you guys heard of Tanwise before? What’s your go-to self-tanning product?