Product Reviews Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars
245 Reviews
Most Helpful Positive Review Best self-tanner I've bought This product is great and made my skin tan immediately. Only con is the smell because it smells like your typical spray tan/self-tanner. Other than the smell, this product is very effective and only streaked on the back of my arms which I could not reach. This tanning lotion kept me tan for a few days after just one use.
Most Helpful Critical Review Returning ASAP I'm new to self tanning and was looking to try something different after using Jergens foam tanner. It left me a bit orange and I wanted something more natural looking. After reading great reviews about the Ulta Express Tan I picked up a bottle to try. I was diligent about exfoliating, shaving, exfoliating again and even blasted my legs with ice cold water to help close my pores. I dried off very well, applied lotion to areas like my knees, ankles and elbows, etc. and used the Ulta brand one sided mitt to apply. The mitt was horrible, it ripped on me before I finished one leg. The tanner was extremely tricky to apply. It was streaky and splotchy. It took me forever to finally get it blended in. If I would go over an area that was already covered it would pull the product off. The color was strange and it left my skin looking dirty. It almost immediately sunk into all my pores. Once I was satisfied with my application I allowed it to dry, got dressed and went to bed. When I woke up I wasn't happy with the depth of color so I decided to apply one more coat and let it develop for about an hour. I hopped in the shower to rinse off and it seemed like more than just the color guard rinsed off. My legs soaked up almost no color at all, but the areas that I applied moisturizer were streaked and patchy with super dark brown pigment. Honestly, my legs and feet just looked dirty. I don't know what I did wrong because it seems like people love this stuff. I'll be returning it today and buying Loving Tan instead.
Reviewed by 245 customers I would not buy this again! It goes on even but was green 1
Ami from Morristown, Tn
If the color was better I would buy it. The actual formula went on fine.
It tans but stains 1
Crystal from Colorado
I would not buy this product. Yes it's inexpensive but not worth it!
BUY IT 5
Tay from Minneapolis
This is the best self tanner I've ever used. I bought the shade ultra dark. I apply one coat, let it dry for about 30 minutes, then I apply another coat and go to sleep & rinse off in the morning. I've tried bondi sands, loving tan & tanologist express tan and none of them last as long as this one. It lasts for about 2 weeks and doesn't get patchy as long as you moisturize everyday. This gives you that perfect glowing tan that makes you look like you've just been on vacation. No orange color at all. I am obsessed with this tanner!!! for the price, the results are shocking!
Best Tanner 5
Princess Meg ❤️ from Wi
I loved this tanner! When I started doing self tanning I was using Coco and Eve Sunny Honey Bali mouse and I hated it . It faded so ugly and patchy . I bought this tanner I was skeptical about it but omg it's amazing! The color is also on spot . In my own opinion it smells better than the coco and eve one . This one is also so affordable. It looks so good on my skin!
Great price & quality 5
Angelica S. from FL
This product was so easy to use however make sure buy an application mitt for this product. I do not recommend using your bare hands to apply any type of self tanner. Using the mitt made the application extremely simple and makes for an even tan. If you notice a streak while applying the tan with the mitt you can use a circular motion with the mitt to blend it before it essentially stains your skin over the next few hours. I totally recommend this product and you can't beat the price!
Wouldn't buy again 1
Maddie from Mankato, MN
I followed the instructions shaved, exfoliated, and put the product on waited 3 hours showered and there was no difference in my original color.
Love this product! 5
Lori from Aurora, IL
I love the color!
No smell, no orange color, very natural looking 5
Jenny from Northern Virginia
I am almost all Irish, which equals, I burn badly being in the sun for more than 10 minutes. Therefore, I never tan. I've tried lots of different brands, but this one has been the best! No bad smell, no orange color, and looks natural. I recommend applying it with a mit, moisturize beforehand, and shave your legs when you rinse it off, not before. Will definitely keep purchasing this!
Love this product!! 5
Kiki from Shreveport, LA
I am very impressed with this product! I am very pale, so I ALWAYS have on fake tan. I have been wearing the St. Tropez Express Tanning Mousse for years. However, I am tired of paying $45+ for a bottle of tan so I decided to try the Ulta brand. Here are my initial thoughts:
1. It smells soooo good- better than St. Trozpes.
2. It has a creamier texture than the ST mousse- similar to lotion. Because of this, it took longer to dry.
3. Once it finally dried, however, it was not sticky AT ALL. I fedora I had it on. I have always found the ST tan to be kind of sticky, and I wasn't a fan of that.
4. The color is dark down- no orange or greenish undertones like other tans. Once I rinsed it off, the color was very natural.
5. I don't think it continued to develop/darken after rinsing off as much as the ST tan does. Because it is so cheap, though, I don't mind apply more than I usually would with the ST brand.
With any tan, my number one concern is how long it lasts. I am excited to see how many days I can stay looking golden brown with the Ulta tan! I will also be trying the ultra-dark formula soon!
All in all, I love this product and will be switching!
Great If you're very pale! 4
Chelsea from New Jersey
First time ever trying this product and gotta say I was a little skeptical because of the price and it being a generic brand, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. It goes on nicely and left my skin very soft. I left it on for an hour for the lighter tan since I didn't want to look too dark as I'm very pale. I'm glad I did this, the color is subtle but looks natural.
I'm super pale 3
Haylee from Oklahoma City, OK
I'm super super pale, I never been able to tan so I decided I would try this self tanning since I have never tried one. I followed all the instructions including the exfoliating & shaving directions, it literally just washed off. My jergens tanning lotion works better then this.
It works but is not for beginners 3
Anne from Orlando, FL
It's a good self tanner however it is messy! You have to devote 3 hours to staying in the house letting in dry and not touching anything and then once you rinse it off the first time you can't use soap so it can/will still stain clothing. You need someone to help you put it on your back too so it's very tough to do alone. Use gloves or a mitt to apply because once it stains your palms you won't be able to get the stain off!
Also it will not make you super dark, but it will give you a glow. It's an ulta brand of a more expensive product (loving tan) so I didn't expect perfection.
Recommend 5
Corrie from San Antonio, TX
My favorite affordable self tanner. I typically leave this on overnight even though it's a 1-3 hour tan. Tends to come out with a better tan when it sits.
It was good 3
Rena from Iowa
One thing I will say about this product is unlike other self tanning mousse is that I've tried it does not stain my skin for a long period of time I showered maybe twice since applying and it's basically gone. Have not used any tan remover's yet and it's not too blotchy either. The best use for this products ; a subtle tan .
New to self tanning 5
Alliek from Akron Ohio
I usually go to a tanning bed or lay out but during the winter didn't want to have to leave my house. I really like this product especially for the price. I usually put it on before bed and sleep in it then wash it off in the morning. It leaves me with a nice bronzed not too dark color.
The absolute BEST 5
Mary from North Carolina
This stuff is the greatest self tanner I've tried yet. It hasn't stained my clothes, literally ZERO streaks, it's got tint to it so you can actually see what you're doing, it hasn't collected weird around my wrists/ankles/elbows/etc., and it's a beautiful color. TRY IT you will love it.
Loved the color but it has cons 4
Ches87 from MO
I really like it but chose to try something else after this bottle was gone because it needed reapplied daily and I'd like something that last longer. But the color was great and I didnt notice a smell at all.
Pros and cons! 4
Emily from PA
Pros: This is a natural looking tanner. It is very seamless and streak free if you apply a small amount at a time and work quickly! It also doesn't smell bad for a self tanner.
Cons: It's very sticky for the first couple of hours, and it is a pretty light tan even after leaving on overnight.
Nice but doesn't last 4
Rebecca from Denver, CO
I'm quite pale, and am looking to achieve a medium level of tan. I have tried 1 hour, 2 hours, and overnight. I definitely prefer overnight for max color payoff. Doesn't look fake. Really easy to apply, but work quickly! I don't use it on my face. It has a coconut-type scent but after a little while I dislike the scent. I just wash my sheets after. My only complaint is that the tan fades significantly after 2 showers. I don't even take long showers.
Love this stuff! 5
Kscott from Dallas
This is so good! I've been using isle of paradise for a few months now and this ulta brand is way better in my opinion. No bad smell and no streaks. Applied before bed with a mitt and no stain on my comforter/sheets. Such a pretty tan and bronze color the next day.
Makes my sheet white skin look tan!!! 4
Ella from Rockwall texas
I like this mousse but i would recommend medium because light did absolutely nothing. Good texture but it does melt right when you squirt it out. I like it.
Fake Bake at an Unbeatable Price! 4
CC from MPLS MN
I've had a lot of spray tans in my day, but quarantine inspired me to try tackling tanning on my own. Admittedly, this is the only self tanning product I've tried- however I don't have any desire to try a more expensive one with how well this works! I'm still on my first bottle, I've applied probably 5 times to my entire body and I'm not a small chick! I usually apply after shaving/exfoliating and rinse it off before bed, leaving it on for at least 8 hours, but usually up to 12-14. I'm very pale but this gives me a nice, even, tan that's not orange and not fake looking. My only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that it comes off on my sheets and I never had that problem with traditional spray tans.
Best quick tan 5
Lib from Ohio
Great color and my favorite of the ulta collection only because I hate the feeling of sleeping in tanner and I can apply this after work and shower before bed. Fades more uneven than the regular tinted mousse and is sticky but the "express"ness makes up for that for sure.
Quick, streak-free tan 4
Phoenix PDX from Portland, OR
I love that this product is an express version and works just as good, if not better than most 8 hour solutions I've used. It provides me with a decently even tan, I do notice if there are streaks or spots missed and have not attributed it to the fault of the solution versus user error yet. ;) The best quality for this product I would say, after using it for months now is the gradual fading. I do not get that speckled look, like I do when going to have an airbrush tan or with some 8h solutions. This one still smells like the average formula, as they all share the same active ingredient.
Must have for summer! 5
Stacia K from Texas
Used before a wedding and it looked so natural. Gets darker as the day goes on, but not too much. Doesn't take much either. Will purchase again.
