St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse

St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse is an instant sunless tanner that develops in approximately four hours. Like all sunless tanners, it relies on dihydroxyacetone to bronze skin. It also contains glycerin and aloe for added moisture.

Tinted for easy application

Reviewers love the tinted formula, which allows users to see where the mousse has already been applied. The tint also gives an instant tan appearance, although some reviewers at Sephora.com say that it can look blotchy until it is rinsed off. For this reason, several users suggest applying the formula in the evening before bed and rinsing it off in the morning. Most say that the tan develops into a natural-looking, streak-free tan.

Heavily fragranced

Several reviewers at MakeupAlley.com, Sephora.com and Amazon.com say they prefer the scent of St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse better than other formulas. Paula Begoun says that's because the formula is laden with several fragrance chemicals -- too many, in her opinion. She says that these chemicals can dry out skin and cause unseen damage to collagen and the skin's healing ability. User reviews don't reflect this, as we didn't see many complaints about irritation.

Dries in about a minute

Like all tanning mousse products, St. Tropez Self Tan dries quickly. Manufacturers say it takes approximately 60 seconds to dry, and for the most part, users agree. Be warned: Users recommend wearing gloves when applying the mousse, since it dries too quickly to wash the formula off the palms of your hands.

The bottom line

If you are looking for a quick-drying, instant sunless tanner, St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse fits the bill without the odoriferous giveaway. Just know optimal results appear following a morning-after shower.