I like to believe I’ve mastered the undetectable fake tan.
Why? Because people are usually surprised when I say "I’m actually fake-tanned right now".
While some people like to emphasise that their tan is 'natural', I truly have no desire to cook my skin chasing a 'natural golden glow'.
In case you missed the memo on how damaging our sun can be, a tan is your skin cells in trauma.
Sunless tanning all the way.
You can learn more about sunscreen and tanning myths in our YouTube video below!
I use self tan almost every week, whether it's for a special event or just day-to-day life.
Yes, I've had a fake tan disaster like Ross in the TV show Friends. Unfortunately, I have photos to prove it.
Nowadays, I’m going for a natural-looking, seamless, streak-free tan, but I can’t always set aside a whole night, y’know?
Cue, the Bondi Sands Aero One Hour Express Self Tanning Foam.
Believe it or not, Bondi Sands have been transforming fake tans with their revolutionary formulas and coconut scented products for 10 years.
They claim to be 'Australia's #1 tan', and now, Bondi Sands is available at Adore Beauty!
But is Bondi Sands actually any good?
Keep on scrolling for my Bondi Sands review of the express tanning foam (with before and after photos), plus some handy fake tan tips I’ve gathered over the years.
Aussie-born brand Bondi Sands has been blessing us with their salon-quality formulas since 2012, with the intention to make the iconic 'Bondi tan' accessible for everyone at home.
Thanks to Instagram, word quickly spread about the golden glow in a bottle. They have now accumulated over 1.1M followers on Insta.
Bondi Sands skin care is also a thing now, we'll save the budget-friendly skincare chat for another day.
Here's a quick rundown of the different Bondi Sands tan products:
Self Tanning Foams - Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam 200ml, Bondi Sands 1hr Express Foam 200ml and Bondi Sands Aero One Hour Express Self Tanning Foam are easy to apply and super light.
Gradual Tanners -Bondi Sands Gradual Tan Milk 375ml and Bondi Sands Pure Gradual Tan Lotion 200ml are buildable fake tan moisturisers, great for those who are looking for a subtle wash of colour or to prolong a tan.
Face Tan Mists - Bondi Sands 1hr Express Face Mist 70ml and Bondi Sands Pure Self Tan Face Mist 70ml are specifically for the face, and won't break you out!
Tanning Drops - Bondi Sands Pure Concentrated Self Tan Drops 40ml are drops of concentrated tan you can mix with your favourite moisturiser.
Tanning Water and Sleep Mask - Bondi Sands Pure Tan Water 200ml and Bondi Sands Pure Tan Sleep Mask 75ml combine self tan and skin care! The tanning 'water' is actually a foam, but in packaging made from 100% recycled materials. The tanning sleep mask can be worn overnight and is made with vitamin E and hyaluronic acid.
A Fake Tan Oil - Bondi Sands Self Tan Oil Liquid Gold 150ml is a luxurious body oil that nourishes the skin while giving it a gorgeous glow. (Not to be confused with a harmful tanning oil.)
Tan Remover - Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser 200ml is for any tanning mishaps or stripping your old tan to start fresh.
For this review, I decided to road-test the express foam because it's one of the brand's best sellers.
And I wanted to try something super quick!
Bondi Sands Aero One Hour Express Self Tanning Foam is an aerated tanning foam that develops and gives you a Bondi tan in just 60 minutes.
What makes the Bondi Sands Aero One Hour Express Self Tanning Foam so good?
Aerated foam allows the product to absorb quicker and deeper into the skin.
Gives you a sun-kissed glow in just an hour, no need to wait overnight.
The formula is incredibly hydrating and weightless, it leaves no tacky or uncomfortable residue.
Natural-looking and long-lasting tan.
The most important part of makeup is skin prep, and the same thing applies to fake tan.
You want your skin to be well hydrated and butter smooth, this will make sure you get a seamless, long-lasting tan.
The night before, shave and exfoliate your body, really get in there and scrub off all the dead skin cells and remove any unwanted hair.
After that, make sure to moisturise everywhere, especially your elbows, knees, ankles, wrists and neck.
Hot tip: I also moisturise dry areas on the day I'm tanning, but I leave three hours between applying moisturiser and the tan.
This will ensure the moisturiser has time to absorb and soften the skin to prevent streaks.
Want more fake tan hacks? Watch Hannah's YouTube video below.
A tanning mitt is my favourite way to apply tan, it gives the best control and distributes the product evenly.
When you get to your hands and neck, buffing the tan out with a clean buffing makeup brush or the Bondi Sands Body Brush 1pk will blend in the tan seamlessly with your natural colour.
Now, you wait. Jump into something loose and dark (cause you will stain your clothes) and let the tan process for however long your tan recommends. Hot tip: No crying, sweating or doing anything that involves your skin being in contact with liquids in this step, as it will leave drip marks on your tan!
While marinating in the tan, it's not a good idea to watch Marley & Me.
Once your tan has developed (60 minutes for the Bondi Sands express tan), the easiest way to wash it off is in the shower.
Rinse your body until the water runs clear. Pat yourself dry - no rubbing - and slather on your favourite moisturiser to enhance the glow.
While you can if you want, I don’t use body tan on my face, so this is the point where I would spritz the Bondi Sands Pure Self Tan Face Mist 70ml or mix the Bondi Sands Pure Concentrated Self Tan Drops 40ml in with my moisturiser to let it develop over the next couple of hours.
Bondi Sands has always been one of my favourite tanning brands.
I’ve always used their Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam 200ml in 'Dark' for special events and it has never let me down.
Usually, I don’t wash my tan off for at least three hours, so I was interested to see if just one hour would get me the desired result.
The application was effortless and I love how the tan foam has a guide colour. This makes it easy to see where you have already applied the tan and where to buff out if needed.
The foam was so light and airy, it absorbed right into the skin, which cut my application time significantly.
No awkward naked ‘fanning the tan’ dance. Please tell me I’m not the only one...
It wouldn't be a Bondi tan without the coconut scent, and this tan is definitely coconutty.
Here is my Bondi Sands before and after, note my natural skin tone is naturally olive with warm undertones.
I left the tan on for an hour to accurately test the claims.
When I washed it off, it wasn’t as dark as I was hoping it would be, but about two or three hours later, I noticed it had continued developing.
I was really happy with the final colour!
The tan throughout the week faded beautifully, not a patch in sight.
Here is a mid-week picture...
After a week, I used the Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser 200ml to remove what was left of the tan.
The remover smells like fruity goodness by the way!
I only left the eraser on for five minutes, but next time, I think will leave it on for about 10-15 minutes to really get rid of the tan.
Excuse my French, but the Aero One Hour Express Self Tanning Foam is now my sh*t.
The original foam is excellent, but I prefer this formula because it doesn’t leave me feeling overly sticky or tacky afterwards, and I can apply this during my lunchbreak and wash it off after work.
Bonus points: I won't have to deal with my coconut scent-hating boyfriend complaining about having to sleep next to me while I marinate.
For the price of $24.95, it is an absolute steal, too.
Bondi Sands Aero One Hour Express Self Tanning Foam would be great if you're like me and just don’t have the time to sleep in a tan anymore.
But it is so incredibly easy to use and would be great for beginners, too.
Want more tanning stories? Check out one of these articles below:
