Saltyface Reviews: Why I Love This Brand For Acne-Prone Skin

I’m sorry, but there’s no beating around the bush here: Everyone just looks better with a tan. This is one of those Saltyface reviews that’ll probably make you a fan for life, and is also geared towards my ladies (or gents!) who suffer from acne.

In case you haven’t noticed from the millions of pictures I have of myself on this blog, I am as fair as can be (thanks, Irish heritage!). I have a fair to light skin tone that burns relatively easily, and I don’t tan very easily or often. I love to get spray tans for special occasions, but they can get pretty pricey. And they don’t last super long, either (check out my blog post about how long does a spray tan last if you’re curious!).

I’ve been using different self-tanners on my body for years. But was always hesitant to use anything on my face because I break out from just about everything. I have the most sensitive skin. When I saw that one of my favorite acne estheticians, Sofie Pavitt, recommended Saltyface to her clients, I was intrigued. Then, when I noticed that the Saltyface reviews were aplenty on their website, I decided I needed to get my hands on it and try it out.

The brand had reached out to me and offered to send me some of their products to test out for the journalism work I do for multiple publications. I’ve tried a couple of their products and I’m excited to report that this is one of those positive Saltyface reviews (with a few caveats).

Below, I dive into everything you need to know about the Saltyface Tanning Water and Tanning Foam. Plus, I cover whether I think they are worth the price.

Saltyface Reviews

I thought this line of tanning products was unlike anything I’ve ever tried before. I love how lightweight they are, and how they don’t irritate my skin or break me out. Read on to find out what I like (and don’t like) about each of these products.

Saltyface Tanning Water

This is definitely my favorite product of the bunch. It’s so damn easy to use. It comes in two shades—”Light to Medium” and “Medium to Dark”—and basically applies like a serum. I prefer to apply it at night and then wake up with a glow. I use the “Light to Medium” shade and haven’t tried the darker shade. But I can imagine that it will probably be too dark for my skin, as I find the lighter shade to be just right for my complexion.

To use, all you have to do is add one to two full droppers of the “water” into your hand, rub it a bit into both your hands, and then apply it to your entire face. Make sure to blend it into the hairline and behind your ears.

For a more natural-looking tan, apply another dropperful to your neck and chest. Then, wash your hands thoroughly and see your face glow 24 hours later. Interestingly, you don’t need to rinse this tanning water off the next morning. However, I like to use my regular morning face wash after I’ve applied this the night before.

For an added $3, you can purchase a spray topper that allows you to spray the water onto the Saltyface Tanning Brush (more on that later) and then brush it onto your face. I have both, but I actually prefer to just drop the product right into my hand and rub it in my face.

What I love about this formula is that it is super, super lightweight, and also doesn’t clog my pores. Plus, it contains aloe barbadensis leaf extract, althaea officinalis root extract, linden flower extract, and other botanical extracts to help hydrate and soothe. I don’t need to worry about it breaking me out, which is something that has prevented me from using tanning products on my face in the past.

It costs $44, but I definitely think it’s worth the money. The only downside I’ve seen with this pick is that it doesn’t last super long. It’s honestly hard for me to compare this to other face tanners, as I haven’t used a ton. I would say that this probably lasts about three days before you have to apply more.

Another thing to note is that sometimes, when I’m using this product, I will use my trusty Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum underneath the tanning water. Because the serum contains mandelic acid, I thought it might make the tanning solution come out patchy, but that isn’t the case with me.

All-in-all, I love this tanning water and it will be a staple in my tanning routine for years to come.

Available at Goop ($44)

Saltyface Tanning Foam

Okay, so there are things I like about this one, and things I don’t. This tanning foam is for the body and also comes in shades ”Light to Medium” and “Medium to Dark.” The thing I love about this product is that, again, it is hella easy to apply. There are multiple ways you can apply this pick. My preferred way is to just pump the foam into my hand and then spread it evenly on different sections of my body. Then I wash the bottom of my hands carefully, so as to not wash off the back of my hands. This is a method the brand recommends, which I haven’t really seen with other foaming tanning products.

Another way you can apply this foam is to use the Saltyface Tanning Brush for Body (which I don’t own). I mistakenly tried to apply this foam on my body using the Tanning Brush for Face. Then I realized the brush was too small for my body. I haven’t tried the Tanning Brush for Body, so I can’t really speak to how well that would work.

The “Light to Medium” shade is pretty light. Lighter than other foaming tanning products I’ve tried. I definitely notice a difference in my skin after I use this, but it’s not as “tan” as you might expect. I kinda like that it’s not super tan, though, because if you mess up for whatever reason, it’s not as noticeable.

Another thing to note is that this doesn’t leave your skin looking orange at all. Which I can’t say the same for other tanning foams I’ve tried. I might try the darker shade at some point and see how that looks on my skin.

Because the lighter shade is so light, I find that the tan doesn’t last very long. I would say that it lasts about three days. Meanwhile, the St.Tropez Classic Bronzing Mousse will last up to a week on my body, but I’m more prone to get streaks when using that formula.

This bottle is $62, which is definitely on the pricier side of tanning foams. I think if you love a clean formula that doesn’t smell and leaves a nice, subtle, natural glow, this is worth the price. If you want a little extra color, I think it won’t hurt to try the “Medium to Dark” shade, even if your skin is on the paler side.

Available at Goop ($62)

Saltyface Tanning Brush for Face

Truthfully, I haven’t used this on my face much. I tried it on my body once and realized it was too small. I prefer to just apply the Tanning Water right into my hands and then rub it directly onto my face. This brush is meant to be used with the Mist Top. I think this brush would probably give you a more even coverage than if you were to just apply the water directly to your face, but I haven’t really noticed a big difference.

Available at Saltyface ($21) | Also available at Goop ($119 for full Tanning Set)

Saltyface Before and After Pictures

Here are some before and after photos of using Saltyface tanning products. My husband told me that I should have worn a light-colored shirt for both before and after photos to show how the tan progressed. Oops!

I think you can probably still see how my face and arms look slightly tanner in the after photo. Also, keep in mind that this was only after wearing the Saltyface products for about 7 hours. The tan will fully develop up to 24 hours after you first apply it. So if you really want to get the full effects of the tan, you could apply it in the morning, leave it on all day and night, and then take a shower the next morning.