St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse

Great lotion and application instructions

Of all the self tanners I have used this one is by far the best! I love it. It doesn’t turn you orange and no one knows it’s fake. I get compliments all the time. I read a review of another product last year or the year before and these instructions were given. And have been invaluably helpful in this process. I have modified it some as I have found better and more efficient or long lasting ways to self tan since. This is how I do it and I have never had an issue.

Shower and shave in the morning. If you do the tanning right after this you’re pores and folicles are more open and exposed and you will get dots.

That night shower and rinse off. Use your most abrasive loufa. Make sure you exfoliate everywhere. Even if you don’t think you’re going to tan that are. (I tan my entire body). Exfoliate your face as well. Make sure you hit the elbows, wrists, hands, privates, knees, ankles and feet twice.

After you dry off lotion you entire body with a non greasy lotion. I use Lubriderm. Now for this areas I just mentioned. For your feet using a small amount of coconut oil make sure to get your heels and whatever is left on your hands rub over the toes and up towards the ankles. On all the other parts (elbows, wrists, hands, privates, knees, and ankles) moisturize those with a slightly more emollient lotion (I use the bath and body works paraffin lotion).

WEARING GLOVES start with your legs using 2 pumps for each leg run this between your palms and pat on your upper leg and lower leg avoiding the knees. Rub in one are such as your lower leg and then your upper leg. When the lotion is mostly rubbed in go over your knees and in a sweeping motion go over your feet from ankles to toes.

Continue moving up your body ensuring the lotion is completely rubbed in.

Use the technique used for the legs on the arms. You will only need 2 pumps total for both arms. And yes you want to sweep over your arm pits. Otherwise you will have streaks. You will do your wrists and hands later.

Taking a small amount of your face moisturizer (about half of what you usually use) mix it with 1 pump of tanner and apply to your face a sweep down your neck. Whatever is left over apply to your ears and behind your ears. The bottle will teall you to avoid your hairline. Gently sweep into it. If you don’t you will have a steaky line.

At this time if you want you can repeat the application process. I usually do depending on the time of year. If it is in the beginning or end of summer/tanning I apply less. Remember the idea is for it to look natural.

Now for the hands. At this point I wash my gloves so I can save them for next time and remove them. Using a cotton ball (you should only need one) place a small pea(ish) sized amount of tanner. Starting with the underside (palm area) of your wrist start at just the base of your palm where your first bend wrinkle is. Sweep the lotion in small strokes up your wrist and then apply to the top of your wrist. Repeat this on the other wrist. Apply another very small drop of tanner to the cotton ball and allow it to soak in. Rub this on the back side of your hands up your finger tips and slightly between your fingers on the webbing.

At this point you will feel sticky. Depending on how much time I have I will wander around in my robe or throw on loose fitting clothing and a t-shirt bra.

Also depending on how deep you want your tan (I always go the full time as some will wash off in the shower). Keep it on the full 3 hours. I’m usually tired by the time I get off work go through this step and relax so I sleep in it. I have never had a problem.

When you shower the first time it is best to simply gently wash with soap and do not scrub. Yes you can shave but don’t be rough. Pat yourself dry.

I have found that most people have the issue of their tanner fading splotchy. I will tell you this is a lack of proper moisturizing. Every day after your shower use coconut oil. Not a lot just enough on your arms, legs and feet. Then go back over your entire body with lotion. After I discovered this technique by accident I have continued this year round.

I hope this helps! Happy tanning! — Kristal Brooks reviewed

Amazing!!!

Love this stuff. Used it as soon as it arrived and 3 hours later I was bronze. For those saying it is greenish, well it is supposed to be as that cancels out the normal orange tones. If you look at the other reviews besides from Amazon they will tell you it does have a green tone. Hope this helps as I posted pictures before, during and after. Will purchase again! — Kristal Brooks reviewed

Deserves more than 5 stars!

I’m going to start out by saying I managed a chain of tanning salons for years, went to the tanning expos, tried EVERYTHING and have always had an interest in the industry so I’ve tried MANY products throughout the years. I had a small bottle of the shower tanner by St Tropez years ago and it didn’t work for me so I never gave any of their other products a shot. This week I was going to test out one of my many untouched tanning products and decided to watch Jaclyn Hill’s tanning foam video. LOVED IT. Was amazed. Thought hey why not give it a shot. Looked up her product she used, Loving Tan, and wasn’t impressed with the reviews but this St Tropez product was recommended. I bought it. Got myself a tanning mitt kit. Gave it a try today. THIS PRODUCT IS INCREDIBLE IT DESERVES MORE THAN 5 STARS. I won’t be visiting my olds salons to use the spray booths anymore this is phenomenal, much cheaper and FASTER! — remssemac reviewed

I have never been much for self tanner – its …

I have never been much for self tanner – its too fiddly, you have to wear it for a day, you smell, it transfers – UGH! As someone who works in an office all day, and then horseback rides in her free time, my legs never see the light of day. This stuff is my godsend. I can put it on after I get home from work, cook, clean, watch TV, and wash it off before bed. It gives you a deep tan, stays for at least a week (except my face, but I use a glycolic face wash), and is never orange. — Dana reviewed

Long lasting!

I was using the St. Tropez "light" tanner for about a year and I was very happy with it, especially during the winter months to give a bit of color to my skin. Now that summer is here, I want to be darker to sit out by the pool. This bronzer went on very easy and somewhat forgiving just like their regular tanner, however I loved that the bronzer is ready quicker AND lasts much longer. The regular tanner lasted about 2-3 days. This bronzer lasted a week and even at a week, it’s not completely gone, it has just lightened to the regular "light" shade that their regular tanner is. I LOVE this bronzer! — Molly Babcock reviewed

YESSSSS!!!!!!

This stuff is amazing. I am pale. Milky white normally, and this turns out beautifully! In one application I’m glowing! I get so many compliments…even by strangers. This is WAY better than the regular formula, either in the white or black bottle. Hands down my favorite self-tan product ever. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. — AmazonAddict reviewed

Best self tan

We use this all the time. Some people complain the color is green. It is until you wash it off. Put it on, leave it in for a couple of hours or overnight, then shower and your tan.
To all the people that say it’s green…just follow directions. Duh — AH reviewed

Express is the best St. Tropez yet! Proof is in the pudding….(pics)

For those who have never used this brand, yes the foam has a weird greenish brown color. Don’t be afraid… I have been using it for YEARS and always have a great result. I have very pale skin and usually do the tan before I go on a trip (remember when we still took trips?). It does NOT make you look like a carrot, it makes you look just nice and tan. I switched to the Express tan and I really like it. I accidentally left it on for 4 hrs before rinsing it (they say 3 is max)…. but the color is not super dark or freaky. It is really nice! Here is my Welsh-descent skin which has a glow-in-the-dark white quality, and my tan leg with only 1 use. You can see, I need all the help I can get! It says after you rinse it off, the tan will develop for 8 hrs, so this is me the next day.
It is SO easy to put on and dries faster than the St. Tropez I used before. And it also smells way better. I flippin’ love the smell. GET THE MITT. I have one from before and it makes it spread on so smooth with no weird lines and white spots. You can even go over elbows and knees at the end so you get even coverage without having weird brown joints. It is NOT hard or technique-sensitive to get a good result. I also used to get a spray-on tan for trips, and this whole bottle is the cost of 1 or 2 mystic tans. I am so freaking pale that I LOVE how nice I feel when I have tan purty skin, y’all. — Brent reviewed

This WILL change your skin! Possibly your entire life!

After one hour of wear, I looked like a Laguna Nigel housewife. (great for everyday!)

After two hours of wear, I looked like a deep fried pork rind. (exceptional for those special moments , or outfits, when a bit of darker color works wonders!)

After purely accidental overnight wear totaling 9+ hours, my boyfriend dumped me, because I was meeting his “completely natural” Mother that day.

That was 2 weeks ago and I am still in the “California Girl” shade range and I am still
single. The tan is fading well, at least.

Life Changing, for sure. — originaltracy reviewed

Stop reading and JUST BUY THIS!! Amazing!

THE REAL DEAL. Never in my life would I have believed that I, a pale red undertone white girl, could find a tanner that makes me look bronzed and olive toned. This stuff is incredible!! And no streaking at all or orange spots or anything! I can layer 2 layers and do it 2X a week and be dark tan and it looks natural! I’m 23, and even my mother wanted to know what it was because it looked so natural! — FEC reviewed

Perfect!!!

I’m Irish, I can’t tan, I excessively sweat & have red undertoned skin. I cannot recommend this product enough!! I’ve had a lot of bad experiences with self tanners in the past and this product solved all of them!! I use a regular rubber glove when I’m applying it with zero streaking. Sweating doesn’t cause me any issues at all !!! I leave it on for the full 3 hours then shower. I’m left with a real tan looking color that isn’t too dark for me and it lasts so long! It even fades evenly! I used it on my face (which made me very nervous from past experiences with other products) & it came out perfectly!! I cannot recommend this product enough!! — Dee reviewed

I think it looks as good if not better than spray tans

They aren’t kidding when they say that is develops fast! I have a spray tanning membership, but needed a little something for *in between.* Honestly, since I’ve purchased this, I think it looks as good if not better than spray tans. I love that it develops quickly, but I find that I can actually leave it on all day if I need to and it stops the development process after a few hours. Would suggest using the St. Tropez fit for a flawless application. — Dee reviewed

Love it and I’ve tried them all.

Love this self tanner. TBH, I usually leave it on for 6-7 hours, while I sleep. I don’t find it to be as useful after only 2-3 hours. Here’s the thing though, I’ve tried a lot of self tanners that are “fast acting” and they’re all about the same. Yeah, you’ll get some color but you’ll get a lot more if you leave it on a bit longer. The color is non orange and a realistic tan tone. What I love about this one is that it does last 4-5 days for me, while others virtually disappear or fade greatly within 2-3. I’ve done my routine long enough that application only takes about 12 minutes and it dries quickly. I’d recommend putting a little lotion on your knees, elbows, hands and sides of feet to avoid dark spots. Additionally, use a makeup brush for hands, feet, and face, that alone made a HUGE difference for me. — A.T. reviewed

Awesome!

Love this stuff!!! I love the orignal but hate sleeping in it and being sticky for so long. This one is bearable because you only have to keep it on for a max of three hours! It’s amazing and even after one hour you can see a difference! Smell isn’t tlo bad. — Aimeeanne reviewed

This one is the best, I’m telling you

I’d been using Fake Bake products for years and was happy until I found out about this St. Tropez Mousse. It goes on easily and evenly, dries quickly, and is nowhere near as pungent as the Fake Bake products. Fake Bake does, however, sell a tanning serum (comes in a white bottle) that is similar to this product, but it’s more pungent, leaves skin a bit sticky, and stops tanning your skin after 4-6 hours (I like how this product continues to work as long as you have it on). To be honest, I put it on in the morning after showering and applying lotion and then I end up just leaving it on all day because it stays on and isn’t sticky or stinky. By the time I rinse off in the evening, I achieve a deep tan that lasts for days. I really like this stuff and highly recommend it (but if anyone knows of a better product, I’m all ears). — Sabrina Foret reviewed

GREAT tanning product!

My girlfriends review: I love this self tanner!! If you follow the directions exactly, it works great and looks natural! You can choose your level of coloring in 1, 2 or 3 hours and it works. I like a darker tan, so I always leave it on for 3 hours and it’s not too dark for me. Depends on your skin tone! After 3 hours I wash it off with cool water, definitely follow the directions. You will have uneven coloring and streaking if you don’t rinse the “color guide” off. After you rinse off, your skin does look a little lighter, but then 6-8 hours later, the color darkens and looks great! The color stays for about 4 days for me and I just do the process again. It’s worth it and looks natural, highly recommend, however must leave on and rinse off for it to work fully. I also ordered the tanning mitt, so it blends more evenly and doesn’t tan my hands, love it!! — Joshua U. reviewed

It works- natural color

Can’t speak highly enough about this foaming bronzing St Tropez tanner. I personally use this for an extra boost of color in between using my St Tropez creams. I do this on weekends or weeknights, when I have the time to shower it off later – 3 hours later. 1 hour for light color, 2 hours for medium color and 3 hours for dark color. Well I am pretty pale so I go for the three hours. In the beginning I achieve light color. But after several applications and backing it up with St Tropez tanning creams I achieve a medium color. Natural color and no harsh smell. — justin johnson reviewed

LOVE this product

LOVE this product. Being that I have red hair and fair skin I have definitely tried quite a bit of sunless tanners. This is my FAVORITE on so far. The color is beautiful and not orange at all. Definitely want to exfoliate real good before application. In the instructions it says to moisturize dry areas like knees elbows ankles before hand… I forgot to do that once annddddd realized that is a VERY IMPORTANT step. I suggest buying a applicator mit also or use some type of gloves if not it WILL turn your hands orange. — Elizabeth Miller reviewed

Works like it says it does!

I’ve been so disappointed with self-tanners in the past, until St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse. Because of negative experiences with other brand self-tanners, I applied St. Tropez to an inconspicuous body part. There are three options: leave on 1 hour for a light shade; leave on 2 hours for a medium shade; leave on 3 hours for a dark shade, then rinse. I left it on for 1-1/2 hours and I was so pleased pleased with the results – no orange or streaking – that I applied the self-tanner to the rest of my body. I used the St. Tropez Applicator Mitt for my body, and used a foundation makeup brush flat top Kabuki for my face sold by Lamora Beauty (available on Amazon). — christi collier reviewed

Awesome!

This sunless tanner is awesome! It is a light foam that is not sticky. It is colored so that you can see exactly where it’s going. It has a pleasant citrus scent when you apply it. The best part is that you apply it and leave it on for 1 hour for a light tan, 2 hours for a medium tan or 3 hours for a dark tan and then shower it off, so there is no self tanner smell (or very minimal). The results are very natural an not orange. — Donna terryll reviewed

The best self tan!!!

This is the best self tan so far!!! Trust me, I have very white skin and I tried so many. It doesn’t stink, not sticky, appears so quick and last for a week. My friend recommended me. I thought it suppose to be cheaper on Amazon but then saw it in Sephora for the same price. Was quite amazed. ???? — Kate reviewed

AWESOME SELF TANNER!

Absolutely amazing after 1 hour! It looks like chocolate whipped cream. It goes on smooth and dries quickly, maybe 2-4 minutes. Looks NATURAL and even, not splotchy or fake! It stays on and working even AFTER 1 hour or overnight! Fantastic! The only thing better would be for them to send me a FREE BOTTLE, With a discount code for everyone else to try it! — Kate reviewed

Better than spray, better than anything!!! ????

This self-tanner, silly as it sounds, is part of my self-care. When I forget or get busy to put some on, when I finally do, I like my body so much better and feel oddly and amazingly different about myself and my appearance.

I was lucky enough to find St. Tropez early on in my tanning “career” haha, but really I’ve been spray tanned multiple times, used SO many different tanning products and this one is hands down THE BEST: color (NEVER ORANGE!), longevity, natural- never streaky, and you really get this sun kissed glow.

This particular product is so fast and beautiful, I don’t need to make tanning a production, I can just shower and put it on (though it’s always better after exfoliating, if you don’t have much time just scrub your knees and elbows).

Thought it was pricey at first but it’s not, considering I’ve paid way more for a crappy expensive spray tan, having many tans in the bottle is way more than worth the money! — Kari reviewed

Natural looking tan on a natural redhead!

True – no orange tinge. First time, I slathered it on and let it dry, slept all night, then showered in the morning. I did have some brown on my sheets where I’d sweated overnight, but it all came out in the wash. Once rinsed, tan color was impressive! Note – take care to be careful around ankles, knuckles, etc. Mine was a little spotty but evened out over a day or two because I wasn’t careful enough around those areas. Second use, I just put in on and let it dry for about three hours then showered. Not as dark a tan, but still very natural looking. So glad I found this product. — JESSICA FERRETTI reviewed

Beautiful

Worked very fast. Gave my Irish white skin a beautiful natural looking tan. A shade that’s would of taken all summer to get. I shaved and exfoliated before use and I actually slept with it on instead of washing off in a few hours. It gave me the same tan as if I had left it one for 2 hours. Be careful around feet and hands. If you don’t blend properly there will be obvious fake bake lines. I don’t think this is beginner friendly. Need to have a little bit of experience with self tanning. — mary k chilton reviewed

Nice even long lasting glow….less orange than most

I have had several skin cancers removed over the last year, and although I have used self tanners throughout the years, I have been on a recent search for the best self tanner for me. I have tried several, all of which worked well initially, but in 2-3 days have worn off in spots and look a bit orange. This one, so far, has worked the best for me. I did one application of the foam, about 2-3 pumps on each area (thighs front and back, calves front and back etc) and left it on about 5 hours. I did a quick rinse off in the shower and then moisturized. I had a great glow the next day…not dark by any means, but enough to wear shorts and dresses and not feel white. The tan has lasted without getting spotty for 5 days. I like that it is less orange, and just keep in mind it looks a bit greenish when applying, as that help to lessen the orange look. I also struggle with darkening of freckles and sun spots with most self tanners, and come out looking like a spotted leopard. All self tanners cause darkening of spots, but this one was less–possibly because it was a bit lighter than other I have tried. It is my favorite of all that I have tried, and worked very well for me. — scoop reviewed

No streaks, not dark, easy to use!

Two thumbs up for a quick & effective at home tan. Definitely use the tanning mit! The formula suggests leaving on for 1-3 hours but I always leave it on overnight. Be sure to exfoliate first & not use bar soap. If you condition your hair, wash your body after. Wear pjs you don’t care about to bed! I’m pasty white and can easily sleep overnight & rinse in the morning. It’s never gotten too dark. Keep it away from your heels, bottoms of feet, toes, and hands overall. I watched a few YouTube videos for this specific product to learn tricks to apply it. Don’t expect to look crazy dark, but it’s great overall. I even put it on my face & have never had an issue with acne prone / very sensitive skin. — Cynthia D. Ebertz reviewed

Perfect shade of tan

i used this for the first time five days ago. Being very fair complected, a dark tan does not work for me – just wanted enough color as to not look like a ghost. I applied with a mitt and sense it didn’t look like it was doing much, did not shower before bed. In the morning, was darker than I wanted and had some streaking. i lightly exfoliated, with more on the streaks (which was my fault in applying) and it is now perfect. Next time I’m going to use surgical gloves and cotton gloves over those. The mitt is so bulky. I’m so pleased how the color evened out and, I’m not glowing in the dark! — Mark T. Keiser reviewed

Great results!

This was my first time self tanning, wish I had taken pictures out in the sun to really show what a difference the tan made! I was white as a piece of printer paper.. I glowed when going outside.. it was bad.. but no more! Looks like I spent a week on vacation without the skin damamge. No streaks, really easy to use, a light scent but nothing that bothered me too much and it developed nicely. No orange color. I only kept it on for an hour, glad I didnt do any longer or it would of been too much color for me to jump into. — Betty reviewed

Natural looking tan, fades evenly

I haven’t used many self tanners but I love this product. I was a spray tanner before finding this and I’ve never gone back. This is so much more economical, the color looks very natural and fades evenly when taken care of- I use a loofah and moisturize daily. Yes, the color is a little green when you apply it but that’s just to see where you’ve applied I think. It does not stay that color. I have noticed that in the summer when it’s humid and I sweat a lot more working out, it tends to fade faster but that’s probably true of all self tanners. It’s worth noting, though, that the color has NEVER come off on my clothes in spite of the seemingly quicker fade. I’ve bought this several times over the last couple years I can’t recommend it enough. — Sarah K reviewed