Terrible tanning or miracle mousse?
I gave up sunbathing for hours. Why? For the sake of my skin and because I’m just not patient enough. Will Coola's self-tanning mousse replace sunbathing? I’ve put it to the test.
What does Michelangelo have to do with self-tanning lotion? Nothing, if you ask me. But the cosmetics manufacturer Coola seems to see a connection and have decorated the packaging of their Sunless Tan Express Sculpting Mousse with a slightly modified Michelangelo quote:
I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set her free.
By the way, in the original, it says «him» instead of «her».
My frowning is followed a few lines later by this explanation: «While we can’t actually sculpt you into a bronzed goddess, we can help make you look your statuesque best in a matter of hours.» I associate many things with marble, but no tanned skin. The comparison to marble therefore seems to refer more to another promise this product makes: it's supposed to make skin appear smoother and firmer. That seems a long shot, but I’m curious. Not least because the product resembles a mosaic of certifications.
What’s in it?
Coolas Sunless Tan Express Sculpting Mousse is plastered with labels, including:
- the EcoCert logo
- the red Best of Beauty allure 2018 Award Winner button
- the Farm to Face quality seal
- a Cruelty Free Bunny
- a Non-GMO label, which means this product is free from genetically manipulated ingredients
- the vegan symbol
Furthermore, 78.06% of the ingredients come from organic farming, while 99.60% of the ingredients are of natural origin. The product is manufactured in the USA. The self-tanning mousse contains concentrated caffeine, which,as the manufacturer claims, makes the skin look firmer by constricting the blood vessels. Dermatologists don't agree, however, on how this affects irregularities such as cellulite. Green coffee, algae extracts and DHA (dihydroxyacetone) from sugar beet are also included. By the way, DHA is a controversial ingredient that creates the tan.
How it works
Shower, shave and peel – then my skin is ready. I shake the bottle and put some of the product on the self-tanning glove of another brand that I have lying around at home. I don’t recommend using your hands, as the mousse is quickly absorbed by your skin and your palms are sure to take on the colour. The mousse is colourless and smells of beach holidays. It’s a subtle combination of sun cream, coconut and salt water. In Coola's words, «natural Piña Colada». Cheers.
Starting at my legs, I work the foam into my skin with circular movements. Once the product is applied, you won’t see anything at first, as the tan only develops over time and isn’t in the product. The disadvantage of this is that I can’t see if I’ve missed any parts of my skin.
After about 15 minutes, my skin has dried and I put my clothes back on. One hour later, the tan is slowly appearing. According to Coola, my tan should have developed completely after two to three hours, and after six to eight hours, I’m allowed to take a shower.
One hour after applying the product, I decide to treat my legs to a second round to see if the product can be applied in layers without streaks. While I’m doing this, the pump head stops working. After I press it down, it doesn’t return automatically, which is annoying, as I have to lift it back up by hand every time I push mousse out.
The result
After nine hours and a shower, it's time for an interim conclusion: as far as the colour is concerned, I’m more than happy. The product has created a beautiful olive tone on my skin. Not the typical self-tanning orange. The result is also free of streaks and stains – even on my legs, where I applied two layers. Accordingly, they’re more tanned than the rest of my body. Compared to other products, however, this one dries out my skin. Despite the obligatory body lotion after the shower, my skin feels dehydrated, especially on the legs. It’s tight. Because of the second layer? I definitely recommend that you use a rich skin care product after applying this self-tanning mousse.
In particularly dry areas of the skin, the colour starts to fade after no more than five days. In smooth areas, it fades evenly. My skin looks smoother. I'm not surprised, after all, it's no secret that a tan hides irregularities. Do other ingredients of this product also have a positive effect? I don’t know. But I definitely don’t look like a statue. As for the packaging: after I used it, I left the bottle standing upright. The following day, liquid had gathered in the cap. Together with the weak pump head, that’s disappointing product design.
Function over form
The packaging is disappointing, the mousse is great. As the Sunless Tan Express Sculpting Mousse creates a tan that only appears after a few hours and can be intensified if required, this product is suitable for beginners. Especially with light skin, it’s difficult to find a self-tanning lotion that looks natural, forgives mistakes during application and is still strong enough to produce a noticeable result. If you suffer from dry skin, it will definitely not get better with this mousse. If the product wasn’t so expensive, I’d accept the packaging deficiencies for the sake of the good result. Let’s hope that Coola will be inspired by Michelangelo to redesign the packaging.
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Natalie Hemengül
Senior Editor
Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.chAs a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
