People love sunless tanning because sun tanning has been linked to skin cancer. Right now, there are numerous brands of self-tanning products, and these products come in the form of lotions, mousses, creams, oils, drops, and water. People are often torn between going for a fake tan lotion or a fake tan mousse.
Fake tan lotion or mousse?
The straight answer is that none is better than the other. They both have attractive features, and they will both give you a nice tan. They both have their pros. For lotion, it tans your skin and also moisturizes it. Unfortunately, a fake tan mousse only gives a tan. It doesn’t moisturize. So, if you apply a mousse, you must also add a moisturizer.
Notwithstanding, a mousse has its pros too. It dries up several hours faster than lotions, and it is also easier to apply. Hence, it is not a matter of which is better than the other. Rather, it’s a matter of which of them is more suitable for you. The choice is yours.
However, we are going to compare them using the following criteria:
- Moisturizing ability
- Drying speed
- How long they last
- How to apply them
- Effectiveness
- Active ingredient
In the end, you’ll be able to select the one that suits you more. The good news is that you can combine the two of them. So, let’s dive into the heart of the issue right away.
6 Major Differences between Fake Tan Lotion and Mousse:
Both self-tanning lotion and mousse can be applied to the skin to get a tan, so they have a lot of similarities. At the same time, they have a lot of differences too. Let’s see how they stack up against each other.
1. Moisturizing Ability
It is very good to moisturize your skin before and after tanning up. This will allow the tan to last longer before it starts fading out. When your skin is too dry, your tan will also get dried and cake up into patches. You definitely don’t like that.
A fake tan lotion helps to moisturize the skin, but mousses don’t. So, if you apply a mousse, you may have to top it with a moisturizer to make your tan last longer. On the other hand, a fake tan lotion does not require any moisturizer because it has the ability to moisturize the skin.
So, on the ability to moisturize the skin, a fake tan lotion is the winner.
2. Drying Speed
After applying a self tanner to your body, you may not be able to wear your clothes or go to bed until it dries completely. This is why we all want a self-tanning product that can dry faster. A mousse dries much faster than a fake tan lotion.
It takes about 6 to 8 hours for many fake tan lotions to dry up completely, but mousses take only 2 to 3 hours to dry up completely. In addition, a mousse is easier to apply than a lotion. Therefore, fake tan mousse is the winner for this criterion.
3. How Long Do They Last?
After applying a fake tan lotion to your body, it will last for about 7 – 8 days before it begins to fade out gradually. On the other hand, a fake tan mousse lasts for only about 4 – 6 days, but when you keep applying a moisturizer to it, the tan will also last for about 8 days. Neither of them is the clear winner here.
4. How To Apply Them
This is where they share similar features. It takes the same procedure to apply both fake tan lotion and mousse. Here are the steps to apply them.
- Shave and exfoliate your body at least 24 hours before you apply your self tanner.
- Moisturize your skin a few hours before you tan up.
- Apply the tanner to your body, section by section, using a glove or a mitt.
- Wait for the self tanner to dry up before you wear your clothes.
- Apply a moisturizer to your skin every day to make the tan last.
5. Effectiveness
Both products are quite effective. You’ll begin to see results after a few hours. So, if effectiveness is your top priority, you can apply either a lotion or a tan.
6. Active Ingredient
All self-tanning products have the same active ingredient. This implies that both lotion and mousse have the same active ingredient. The ingredient is DHA. It reacts with the pigments of the skin and colors the skin based on your choice of self tanner.
As you can see, both fake tan mousse and lotion have more similarities than differences. It is a matter of suitability. If you don’t want to spend extra money on a separate moisturizer, you can go for a fake tan lotion. On the other hand, if you prefer a self tanner that dries very fast, a fake tan mousse should be your best bet.
Can You Put Tanning Mousse In Lotion?
Sure! You can combine the two products for better results. You can mix them up before you apply the mixture to your body, and you can rub the tanning lotion over the mousse. Both of them will produce great results.
Should I Moisturize Before Applying A Fake Tan Mousse?
Yes, it is important to moisturize your skin before and after you apply a fake tan mousse. You need to keep your skin moisturized at all times. Hydrating your skin makes the self tanner last a little longer.
In addition, several skin diseases thrive on dry skin. An effective way to prevent skin diseases is to keep your skin moisturized always.
Final Thoughts
Based on the comparisons above, we can say that neither of the products is better than the other. They both have their pros. Fake tan lotions also moisturize the skin, while fake tan mousses dry up much faster than lotions. Both products are recommended because they give a great tan.
