Luxe Tan Tonic Drops by ST.TROPEZ

Today we bring you the review of the Luxe Tan Tonic Drops product from ST.Tropez, a self-tanning facial serum loaded with active ingredients, to develop a sun-kissed glow effect.

What is it and why do we use it?

This serum is a complement to our beauty routine, which will help us to provide a tan tone while helping to improve the tone thanks to its content of Vitamins E and B3.

What assets do you own?

The main active ingredient in this serum, without a doubt, is DHA, or also known as Dihydroxyacetone. It is a self-tanning agent that, in its monomeric form, reacts with the amino acids found in the stratum corneum. As a result of this reaction, brown compounds are formed that make the skin appear tanned.

When this “tan” occurs as a result of a chemical reaction, it can NOT be removed only with water, it is necessary to break these bonds formed with specific products, or through the normal skin regeneration process. We can accelerate this to a certain extent with the use of exfoliants (physical or chemical).

Other assets that accompany DHA are:

• Daisy Extract: it is obtained by pressing the leaves of daisies. This extract has detoxifying properties, since it stimulates the natural elimination system of pollutants that accumulate in the skin. In addition, it has comparative studies to kojic acid, where its depigmenting action is demonstrated.
• Echinacea extract: high antioxidant capacity, and widely used in the treatment of sensitive skin.
• Niacinamide: also known as vitamin B3, one of the most demanded active ingredients due to its high efficacy and competitive cost. Among its many properties we find: Protection against blue light reduces the oxidative stress produced by this radiation. It improves the barrier function thus avoiding the loss of transepidermal water, protects against external agents and against contaminating agents. Helps prevent photoaging. And it reduces the production of sebum and imperfections.
• Two types of hyaluronic acid: two different molecular weights, which will penetrate to different depths in the skin, achieving not only hydration , but also a filling effect, thus reducing wrinkles.
• Vitamin E: very effective antioxidant, both for the formula and for the skin.
• Acerola extract: natural source of vitamin C, which gives it antioxidant properties, in addition to being rich in malic acid, producing a slight keratolytic effect.

How should it be used?

Like any self-tanner, it depends on the homogeneity of our stratum corneum to achieve a homogeneous tan. To achieve this, what we must do is an exfoliation prior to the application of any self-tanner.

If we use a physical exfoliation, it will be the easiest and most effective way to remove the outermost layers of corneocytes. This type of exfoliation is very useful when the self-tanning product is for the body.

If we use a chemical exfoliation, it is where we have to have a little more patience, although it is much more recommended for this serum than facial. WHEN exfoliating with acids or enzymes, we simply have to let the product act, but we don’t have to worry about the different thicknesses of our skin, since that will condition the final tan.

As this serum has moisturizing ingredients, we should not worry too much about the dryness that exfoliations can produce on our skin. But if we have dry skin, or we notice it is dry, it is always convenient to moisturize it well before applying any self-tanner.

If we focus on the use, itself, of this serum. We must take into account the number of drops that we apply, since the greater amount, the greater the color we will obtain:

• 2 drops for a light shine. Alone or mixed with your usual serum/cream.
• 4 drops for a medium golden tan. Alone or mixed with your usual serum/cream.
• 6 drops for a darker tan. Alone or mixed with your usual serum/cream.

The tan develops over the next 4-8 hours. So we must leave the product to act without applying any product afterwards, to avoid spots or welts.

Last but not least. Once you have applied the serum either directly on the skin or mixed with your usual product, you must wash your hands well, if you do not want them to tan. And keep in mind that the area of ​​the palms, the thickness of our skin is quite large, so the color will develop much earlier and will have a dark tone.

How is the St.Tropez serum?

It is a yellowish serum, due to the dye that has caramel color. And that it will hide the possible degradation of DHA over time, since it ends up turning the product brown.

What ingredients does the St.Tropez serum have?

Opinion @inside_cosmetics. Cristina’s opinion

This serum has been a real discovery for me. My skin tone is quite fair, and like almost everyone, I like slightly tanned skin, but not the sun.

With this serum I can achieve a very natural tone on my skin, without the need to mistreat it by exposing it to the sun.

I use it alone or mixed with my usual serum, depending on how long I have. If I have 4 hours, I apply it alone (about 6 drops), so the color it develops is more intense. If, on the other hand, I don’t have that much time, I apply it together with my usual serum (about 2-3 drops) and leave it on all day.

As it is a serum that also has moisturizing, antioxidant and depigmenting active ingredients, I can use it perfectly during the day or at night.