As a beauty and fashion influencer, I‘m always on the hunt for the next best skincare or makeup item that will give me that summer glow all year round. I‘ve tried countless high-end and drugstore self-tanners over the years with mixed results. Some left me looking more carrot-colored than bronze goddess. Others failed to blend evenly and would fade in blotchy patches. So when I started hearing rumblings about this affordable, clean self-tanning brand called B. Tan, I knew I had to get my hands on it!
My First Impression of B. Tan
I‘ll admit, when I landed on B. Tan‘s website for the first time, the cutesy branding almost had me rolling my eyes. Was this just another gimmicky Gen Z label trying to blow up on TikTok? But when I dug further into their about page and commitment to vegan, cruelty-free formulas without any nasty chemicals, they started to win me over. I also couldn‘t get over the stunning bronzed babes all over their Instagram feed! Clearly they were doing something right to get that sun-kissed summer glow in the dead of winter.
So I decided to purchase two of their best-selling self-tanning mousses – B.Tan AF and I Want The Darkest Tan Possible – along with their reusable tanning mitt. With free shipping over $50, the total came out to a very reasonable $45. Even my husband was shocked when the discreet package arrived just 4 days later. Now it was time to test if this affordable newcomer could rival my beloved (and crazy expensive) Vita Liberata…
Putting B. Tan to the Test on My Pale Skin
As someone who‘s tried just about every self-tanner under the sun to cover up my Casper complexion, I‘ve perfected a routine that prep my skin for an even application. After exfoliating with my favorite Kessa mitt and self-tan eraser, I lathered on some hydrating body lotion so my skin wouldn‘t get dried out.
Once my skin was smooth and moisturized, I pumped some B.Tan AF mouse onto the tanning mitt and started blending on my arm in circular motions. I was immediately impressed by the pleasant almost vanilla-like scent (no self-tanner smell here!) and the lightweight mousse texture that blended like a dream. I finished applying a thin layer all over my body, set a timer for 1 hour, and patiently waited for my glow-up.
An hour later, I was stunned checking myself out in the mirror. My skin looked like I just got back from a tropical getaway! The B.Tan AF mousse gave me a natural tan that was nowhere near orange, just like the photos on their website. And I was amazed by how quickly it developed from clear to bronze without any staining or streaking. My face, hands, knees and feet looked beautifully blended too thanks to their mitt.
Buoyed by the success of my first test run, I tried their ultra dark I Want The Darkest Tan Possible mousse a few days later when my initial tan started fading. Following the same skin prep and application, I left the mousse on overnight for maximum color development. I woke up with the deepest, most natural-looking tan I‘ve ever been able to achieve at home! Move over Teresa Giudice, there‘s a new tan queen in town! 👸🏼🌞
After testing two of their best-selling formulas, I can confirm that B. Tan delivers serious bronzing power rivaling high-end luxury brands…all for an affordable drugstore price!
Why B. Tan Has Become My Go-To Self-Tanner
As someone who has spent hundreds of dollars trying dozens of self-tanning products over the past decade, I consider myself a bit of an expert on what separates the contenders from the pretenders. In my experience, the ideal self-tanning formula should:
- Blend easily without streaking
- Dry quickly so you can get dressed immediately
- Develop into a natural bronze shade – not orange!
- Fade evenly without getting patchy
- Hydrate skin without drying it out
- Smell pleasant – no nasty self-tanner scent!
While many check some of these boxes, very few check all. After conducting my B. Tan experiment across multiple applications, I can safely say their products meet and exceed all my self-tanning criteria. And with the addition of being vegan, cruelty-free, naturally-derived, and responsibly packaged, they‘ve won me over as my new holy grail self-tanner! 🙌
While $15 for a 5.5 oz bottle may seem cheap compared to the $50+ I usually splurge for Vita Liberata or Isle of Paradise, I find B. Tan‘s formulas just as effective, if not more. And little touches like their reusable tanning mitt and fun packaging make building that bronzed babe lifestyle a joy.
Over the past few months, I‘ve now tried all 5 of their best-selling self-tanning products with rave results each time. So whether you‘re pale as a vampire like me or just looking to deepen your summer tan, I can‘t recommend B. Tan enough as an affordable clean beauty option that delivers serious bronzing power. No wonder it‘s blowing up all over social media!
Behind the Brand: What Is B. Tan?
As I dove deeper into the self-tanning world, I was curious to learn more about the brand behind B. Tan. Founded in 2019, B. Tan operates under parent company Marq Labs based in Tennessee. While they don‘t have a long history yet, Marq Labs has quickly made a name for itself launching affordable, Gen Z-friendly clean beauty brands that are blowing up online.
In fact, the global self-tanning industry has absolutely exploded over the past few years across social platforms like Instagram and TikTok. According to Allied Market Research, the self-tanning products market size was valued at $1.34 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $2.51 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2022 to 2031.
The report found that "consumers between ages 16 years and 35 years get influenced by celebrities and digital marketing campaigns and prefer self-tanning products to improve their appearance without harmful effects of UV rays." This younger demographic is clearly B. Tan‘s sweet spot!
B. Tan By the Numbers
116.7k Followers on TikTok \
127k Followers on Instagram \
1k+ 5-Star Reviews Across Retailers \
6.7% Projected CAGR for Self-Tanning Industry
With those impressive growth metrics, it‘s no wonder B. Tan has exploded from a small startup to one of the hottest self-tanning players almost overnight. As more and more Gen Z and Millennial consumers demand cruelty-free, vegan skincare free of nasty ingredients, B. Tan checks all the right boxes.
Their cheeky branding and playful product names like I Want the Darkest Tan Possible and Tanned AF perfectly resonate with young, internet-savvy audiences. And their heavy emphasis on influencer marketing with gifted products and affiliate codes has further catapulted their viral trajectory.
While B. Tan may have fancy Silicon Valley rivals beat in the organic social media game, how does their formula stack up?
How B. Tan Compares to the Competition
As B. Tan disrupts the legacy self-tanning industry, I wanted to see how their products compare to luxury competitors like Vita Liberata, Isle of Paradise, and St. Tropez on everything from price to sustainability initiatives. For easy comparison, I‘ve created this scorecard:
As you can see, B. Tan holds its own against these established premium brands that can charge 3-4x more! And while B. Tan may not have the fancy botanical ingredients or slick packaging that come with a steeper price tag, their straightforward formulas deliver equivalent bronzing power at a fraction of the cost.
Their fun branding, playful product names, and cruelty-free commitment also make them more relatable to young, progressive shoppers. When it comes to getting an affordable, natural glow without breaking the bank or harming animals, I firmly believe you can‘t beat B. Tan! 👏
B. Tan Best-Sellers Review
Okay, enough about the brand itself – let‘s get into the nitty gritty of what really matters: the products!
I‘ve tried all 5 of B. Tan‘s best-selling self-tanning items multiple times over the past few months. Here‘s my detailed review of each one:
B.Tan AF Self-Tanning Mousse
- Price: $15
- Scent: Pleasant, vanilla
- Color Result: Medium bronze
- My Review: This is my go-to for maintaining a natural tan year-round! Easy to apply, dries fast, develops in 1 hour. Gives me the perfect sun-kissed glow.
I Want the Darkest Tan Possible Self Tanning Mousse
- Price: $15
- Scent: Faint self-tanning smell but not overpowering
- Color Result: Ultra-dark bronze
- My Review: When I want to look like I just got back from the tropics, this extra-dark formula gives me such a gorgeous, natural-looking tan overnight! Does stain palms a bit so the mitt is a must.
B. Tan Mitt I Don‘t Want Tan On My Hands
- Price: $9
- Style: Reusable tanning mitt with thumb
- My Review: This handy mitt makes applying self-tanner so quick and mess-free! Saves my palms from getting stained too. Love that‘s it‘s machine-washable and reusable.
B. Tan Tanned AF Oil Intensifier Tanning Oil
- Price: $15
- Scent: Sweet, fresh summer
- My Review: Used this oil in place of sunscreen to intensify color on a beach trip and I was mind-blown by the results! Bronzed without burning in just 15 minutes. My new pool/beach staple all summer.
B.Tan Beach Please SPF7 Tanning Oil
- Price: $15
- Scent: Coconut lime
- My Review: Get sunkissed safely with SPF included! This oil made my tan crazy dark after just 30 mins lathered up my last beach vacay. Love the product name too lol. So cheeky!
In Summary: All 5 products made me look like a golden bronze goddess without even stepping foot in the sun! For my super pale, sensitive skin the oils are perfect for outdoor tanning while their mousses give me a seamless glow at home. Major glow-up! 💃👯♀️
B. Tan Reviews: What Do Customers Say?
Beyond my own gushing review, I also dug into reviews from B. Tan customers across the internet to see what real people are saying:
4.9/5 Stars from 49 reviews for I Want the Darkest Tan Possible mousse
4.8/5 Stars from 152 reviews for the B.Tan AF mousse
4.9/5 Stars from 109 reviews for the I Don‘t Want Tan On My Hands Mitt
The vast majority had outstanding feedback around the quality of B. Tan‘s color results, value for money, and gentle skin feel post-application.
However, a small handful had complaints around problems fully rinsing residue from hands, staining on sheets, and slight self-tanner scent.
Overall though, a <5% negative review rate for an affordable DTC startup brand in a crowded market is seriously impressive! Based on the overwhelmingly positive customer feedback aligned with my own testing experience, B. Tan has earned itself a glowing review.
How to Use B. Tan for Flawless Results
As my go-to self-tan queen advising friends, family, and followers on all things bronze, here are my pro-tips for using B. Tan products like a flawless glowy goddess:
Step 1) Exfoliate skin thoroughly before applying any self-tanner! This removes dead skin cells for the smoothest, most even application. Use a body scrub in the shower then dry off completely.
Step 2) Apply your B. Tan mousse or oil evenly using long strokes on legs and circular motions everywhere else. Their mitt makes application super quick and easy!
Step 3) Wash hands immediately and let product fully dry before dressing to prevent staining or transfer.
Step 4) Rinse with warm water only after the recommended development time to reveal your sunkissed tan!
Step 5) Extend your glow by applying daily moisturizer with Glycolic acid to exfoliate skin and prevent patchiness as your tan fades.
Follow these simple steps and you‘ll be a glowing goddess in no time! No UV damage required. 😎☀️
Does B. Tan Work for All Skin Tones?
Since I‘m Casper-level pale, I get asked often if self-tanners like B. Tan work well for deeper skin tones too.
While results definitely vary based on your natural melanin levels, B. Tan‘s selection of light, medium and ultra-dark mousses are formulated to complement a wide range of complexions – from Scandinavian snow bunny like me to Mediterranean olive beauties!
Finding your perfect match may require some trial and error to see which formula works best with your skin tone. But with free and easy returns, you can test a few until you discover your signature bronze shade.
Overall, B. Tan‘s rave reviews and swatches on diverse skin tones convince me their products can give anyone their custom summer glow!
Are There Any Discount Codes for B. Tan?
As much as I love B. Tan already wallet-friendly prices, I‘ll always jump at the chance for extra savings!
I found that first-time customers can save 20% off their purchase by signing up for B. Tan‘s email newsletter. Just scroll to the bottom of their site and submit your email under "Join the B. Team" to secure the discount instantly. 🎉
B. Tan also offers low-cost Afterpay financing options, breaking up your order into 4 interest-free payments over 6 weeks. Perfect for splurging guilt-free!
Finally, be sure to check for limited-time sales around major holidays. B. Tan recently offered a sweet Buy One, Gift One Free promotion that I took full advantage of!
Where to Buy B. Tan Self-Tanners
B. Tan products are primarily sold through their main ecommerce site at btan.rocks where you‘ll find their full collection along with seasonal color kits and limited edition bundles.
Their self-tanners are also stocked by popular retailers like Amazon, Target and Walmart where prices stay consistent with B. Tan‘s directly.
I personally prefer ordering directly from their site to avoid any third-party shipping delays or storage issues affecting product quality. But handy to know you can also grab your B. Tan restock next time you run to Target! 🎯
Final Thoughts After Testing B. Tan Self-Tanners
As someone who has tried just about every self-tanning product under the sun over the past decade, I can safely say B. Tan has won me over as my new holy grail! After testing all 5 of their best-selling formulas, I‘m blown away by how they rival pricey prestige brands for a fraction of the cost. 🤯
Their mousses blend beautifully, dry quickly, and develop into natural, streak-free bronze. Their oils intensify sunless tanning fast with the added benefit of SPF protection. And their magic mitt makes application easy and mess-free!
After achieving the deepest, most believable summer glow of my life just using their products for a few months, I am confidently declaring B. Tan as the best self-tanner I‘ve ever used! 🏆
So if you‘re looking for salon-quality results without dropping $50+ or baking your skin, do yourself a favor and visit btan.rocks ASAP. Use code FASHIONISTA for 20% off your glow up! Leave those vampire complexions and sad spray tans in the past…a radiant, bronzed goddess summer awaits! ☀️💃
xx,
Glow Girl Lisa ✨
