Saltyface Tanning Water Serum Review

Something you may be surprised to learn about me (as a veteran beauty editor with fair skin) is that I was a self-tanner skeptic for years. I tested dozens of formulas and wrote several stories on the topic, trying to find the perfect one for my skin. But alas, I was left looking streaky and unnatural. I was envious of my mom’s olive skin tone and how effortless self-tanner application was for her—she achieves the “just got back from vacation glow” every time. However, when I thought I’d lost all hope last year, my colleague raved about Saltyface Tanning Water ($42) and urged me to try it. Shocker: I loved it! (I also tried the Tanning Foam from the neck down, and was equally impressed.) Here’s my honest review.

The Benefits of This Self-Tanner

Turns out, the two of us weren’t the only NewBeauty editors who loved this product, which ended up winning a 2025 NewBeauty Award. Let’s talk about why. First, the formula comes in two universal, buildable shades: Light to Medium (the one I use) and Medium to Dark. This particular shade works very well with my skin tone—it looks SO natural. I look refreshed, rested and alive. If you peruse the product’s 1,000-plus reviews, you’ll see similar sentiments from hundreds of happy customers.

The DHA (the key ingredient in all self-tanners) comes from organic sugar beets and lends a very even, gradual bronze. The formula is also oil-free and doesn’t make me break out, which I appreciate. And Saltyface also added a hydrating benefit courtesy of aloe leaf and cucumber flower extracts, which is noticeable on my skin compared to other facial self-tanners I’ve tried that make my skin feel drier. Another thing I love about the Tanning Water is that it doesn’t contain synthetic fragrance, but it also doesn’t have that typical stinky self-tanner smell.

Saltyface’s Tanning Water Upgrade

Now on to the upgrade. If you’ve used the Tanning Water before, you know it originally came in a dropper bottle, like many traditional facial serums. However, after listening to customer feedback (the brand deployed more than 800 surveys), a big change was made. (It’s also $2 less.) Though the formula wasn’t touched, it now comes in a more durable glass bottle with a fine-mist sprayer included, which the majority of customers agreed was their preferred method of application. One thing I liked about the dropper was the ability to dispense a few drops into my moisturizer and apply it as a night cream of sorts before bed.

Nonetheless, the face mist is easy to use and sprays on evenly, and you can blend it in with your fingers or the brand’s Brush No. 1. Don’t forget to blend it well around your hairline and ears, and always spray your neck as well so it matches your face. Another tip: Don’t apply this self-tanner and then use an exfoliator of any kind (physical/chemical) on your skin because it will remove the tan, or at the very least, make it blotchy.

BUY NOW – $42

The Tanning Water wasn’t the only product to get a glow up either—consider this a broader rebrand. The beloved Tanning Foam has been repackaged from glass to a lighter, PCR, mono-material bottle that is 68-percent lighter (and no more leaking issues!), and Freckle Paint also now comes in PCR packaging. Saltyface says “this rebrand is about effortless, natural glow with fewer steps and less waste.”