Even though I live in Fort Lauderdale, I almost NEVER go outside. I avoid the sun at all costs so I have been more pale than I’d like to be. I never considered using a self tanner, but when I was given the opportunity to try one through Brandbacker and thought it would be a good introduction to at home tanning.

MONTEREY BRONZING MIST SELF-TAN SPRAY ($45)

This bronzing mist claims to transform your skin with an instant, rich sun-swept tan fused with the power of an extended tan. The delicate micro-mist provides head-to-toe color for an even and gorgeous tan. The formula is gluten free, paraben free, cruelty free, non-comedogenic, and contains a combination of an eco-certified blend of green and brown marine algae. This helps to stimulate the collagen in your skin to become firmer and the amino acids in DHA to develop the most optimal color on your skin.

THE PROCESS

I definitely did see a noticeable difference, but I believe I chose the wrong color. The bronzing spray has a red undertone, while I have a warmolive undertone. Luckily I received a new foundation this week that is a perfect match, but I would still like to find a color that is closer to how I naturally tan in the sun.

I did follow the instructions about applying with your hands and washing immediately after. I would not recommend this at all. Although I washed my hands right away, it still showed up the following morning and darkened my palms. I used micellar water, exfoliating wash, and a salicylic acid to remove it but it only faded slightly on the first day. It took about 4 days to go away completely. I would absolutely suggest applying this product with their Applicator Mit.

I did not dislike this spray, I just don't think it is best suited for my extremely sensitive and dry skin. Although I exfoliated before application, it grabbed onto and emphasized dry patches on my legs. It also emphasized and darkened my pores where I suffer from keratosis. The emphasis on my legs faded, but the issues with my keratosis were still visible.

I also have the bulk of my keratosis on my back, and use salicylic acid body products to reduce the appearance. Because maintaining reduced visibility is a daily commitment, I did not spray my back because I read any products containing acids will make the tan fade quicker.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I most likely will use this on my legs only going forward. I typically wear a lot of pants, maxi length skirts and dresses while my upper body gets a lot of natural color from the South Florida sun. I will use this to get more color on my legs, but will allow my upper body to tan naturally, especially since I use so many salicylic acid products for my upper body keratosis.

Versaspa offers a variety of tanning products, including a Gradual Tanning Body Butter Lotion that may be better suited for those of you with skin concerns like mine. If you are interested in checking out their products, visit VersaSpa Online.

*I received these products for review complimentary of Brandbacker*