Something you might be surprised to learn about me (as a veteran beauty editor with fair skin) is that I’ve long been a self-tanner skeptic. I’ve tested dozens of formulas and written several stories on the subject to find the best one for my skin. But sadly I ended up looking unnatural with the stripes. I was jealous of my mother’s olive skin tone and how easily she applied self-tanner, achieving that “just-recent-from-vacation glow” every time. But last year, just when I thought I had lost hope, a colleague raved about Salty Face Tanning Water ($42) and encouraged me to try it. Shocker: I loved it! (I also tried the below-the-neck tanning foam and was equally impressed.) Here’s my honest review.
Benefits of this self tanner
As it turns out, we weren’t the only two NewBeauty editors who loved this product, which ended up winning the 2025 NewBeauty Award. Let’s talk about why. First, this formula comes in two universal, buildable shades: Light to Medium (which is what I use) and Medium to Dark. This particular shade suits my skin tone very well and looks very natural. I look refreshed, rested and energized. If you peruse the over 1,000 reviews for this product, you’ll see that hundreds of satisfied customers have said the same thing.
DHA (the main ingredient in all self-tanners) is derived from organic sugar beet and gives a very even and gradual bronze color. I’m also thankful that it’s oil-free so it won’t cause acne. Saltyface also added hydrating benefits from aloe leaf and cucumber flower extracts. This was noticeable on my skin compared to other facial self tanners I’ve tried, but it made my skin feel dry. Another thing I like about this tanning water is that it doesn’t have any synthetic fragrances, but it also doesn’t have that stinky smell that comes with self tanners.
Saltyface Tanning Water Upgrade
Now, let’s move on to the upgrade. If you’ve used tanning water before, you know that like many traditional facial serums, it originally came in a dropper bottle. But after listening to customer feedback (the brand conducted over 800 surveys), big changes were made. (It’s also $2 cheaper.) The formula hasn’t been altered, but it comes in a more durable glass bottle and comes with a fine mist sprayer, and the majority of customers agreed that this was their preferred method of application. One thing I like about this dropper is that you can put a few drops in your moisturizer and apply it as a sort of night cream before bed.
That said, the face mist sprays evenly and is easy to use, and you can blend it out with your fingers or the brand’s No. 1 brush. Don’t forget to apply it around your hairline and ears, and don’t forget to spray it on your neck so it blends into your face. Another tip: Do not use any type of exfoliant (physical/chemical) on your skin after applying this self-tanner. It will remove the tan or at least remove the stain.
Buy now – $42
Tanning water wasn’t the only product that caught our attention. Consider this a broader rebrand. The popular Tanning Foam has been repackaged from glass into a PCR monomaterial bottle that is 68% lighter (no more leakage issues!), and Freckle Paint is now also available in PCR packaging. Saltyface says, “This rebrand aims for an effortless, natural glow with fewer steps and less waste.”
