I'm A Self-Tanner Skeptic, But This One Gives The Perfect Sun-Kissed Glow

The tanning mist at a glance:

It took me a long time to get past my fear of self-tanners. I was afraid I’d end up a streaky mess, or that my skin would be more orange than tan. We’ve all seen and heard the horror stories of botched spray tans and false-tanner mishaps. This, combined with often questionable ingredients, was enough to keep me away from self-tanning products altogether. 

Fast forward to earlier this year, when the winter months had drained my skin of its color. I was feeling a bit ghostly, to say the least. One morning I met a friend for coffee and immediately noticed her complexion. It was bright and dewy, with a copper glow that looked like she had just returned from a week at the beach. I knew she’d been braving out the New York City winter just like me, so what was her secret?

My friend proudly proclaimed that she was testing out a new self-tanning mist—and these were her results after just one spritz. Needless to say, I immediately got a bottle for myself.

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Since I’m often turned off by the ingredients in self-tanning products, I was happy to find out that the Coco & Eve Micromist is made without silicones, toxins, or parabens. What's more, the vegan formula is Peta approved and crafted with ethically sourced ingredients—including a 100% natural DHA.

The brand is also passionate about sustainability, with significant efforts to minimize waste. The packaging is 100% recyclable, and the cardboards and paper are sourced from sustainably managed forests. We love to see it!

DHA is key ingredient in self-tanner responsible for giving you a bronzed glow—but not all DHA comes from the same source. It can be derived from natural ingredients, like beet root, or created with chemicals. Coco & Eve opts for a natural source of DHA—and combines it with other active ingredients to provide benefits to the tanning formula that go beyond the tan itself. 

Cassia seed extract, a plant extract similar to hyaluronic acid, helps boost hydration, while an antioxidant complex aims to firm skin and boost collagen production. The formula is rounded out with a collection of Balinese botanicals: moisturizing passionfruit, skin-balancing watermelon, and nourishing coconut. (And they smell great, too!)

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Again, I’ve been skeptical about self-tanners in the past. With this in mind, I followed the brand’s instructions to a T—and the entire process takes less than five minutes.

First, I cleanse my face and neck, letting my skin dry completely. Next, I spray a light layer of the mist over my entire face and neck while holding the bottle about a forearm’s distance from my face. The best part? Serums, eye creams, moisturizers, and makeup can be applied as soon as the spray is absorbed. I give the formula about 30 seconds to absorb into my skin, before I move trough my typical skin care routine. 

The brand says you can use the spray as often as you’d like throughout the week, even making it a regular part of your routine. Personally, I save it for when my skin is feeling particularly lackluster, or I have an upcoming vacation. I recently applied the spray before a vacation to Mexico, and let’s just say, I’ll be using it before every beach vacation moving forward.

Need more tips on how to apply self-tanner? We've got you covered.

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I’ll state the obvious: It’s a spray. After trying the Coco & Eve Micromist, I started dabbling in other tanning drops and lotions—but no formula goes on as seamlessly as this spray. It’s the easiest to use (by far), and achieves the most even, natural results. In other words, no streaks here. 

It’s also fairly fast-acting. Results are visible within six hours from application, and my glow lasts for three or four days each time. If I use it on a Friday before work, my skin shines straight through till Monday. The best part? The color is just enough to give me a boost, without people noticing I applied a self-tanner.

When I used the spray before vacation, I worried that sunscreen and true sun exposure would interfere with the results. Thankfully, the product worked just as well as any other time, and my skin reacted to the sun (and sunscreen) the same as it always does. I love that the mist makes my face and neck feel moisturized, too.

What’s more, I’ve never had an issue with the product coming off on my clothing, sheets, or pillowcases. I’d imagine this could happen, though, if you don’t give enough time for it to absorb into your skin.

I test a lot of products, and one of my biggest pet peeves is when they don’t last long. I often fall in love with a new moisturizer, hair spray, or face wash only to find that I need to restock after just a few uses. This micromist, on the other hand, is definitely giving me my money’s worth. I only use three spritzes for each application, and the bottle holds about 300. That’s about 100 applications for less than $30—a far cry from what I’d spend on a professional spray tan.

I’d be remiss not to mention that the spray does not have the typical fake-tanner odor (IYKYK), and instead smells subtly like peach, coconut, and vanilla. I’m sensitive to scents and this one truly does not bother me at all. 

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