Can an aftersun lotion make your tan last longer?
Institut Esthederm Tan Prolonging Body Lotion promises to do just that. Let’s see if it delivers:
What’s In Institut Esthederm Tan Prolonging Body Lotion?
MINERAL OIL TO MOISTURISE AND PROTECT SKIN
Mineral oil isn’t as bad as people think. Sure, it’s derived from petroleum, but it undergoes a strict purifying process to remove ALL its toxic impurities (it’s illegal to put dangerous stuff in skincare, you know?).
Plus, it’s super moisturising. Mineral oil creates a protective barrier on the skin that locks moisture in for hours and helps protect you from environmental aggressors, such as harsh weather and pollutants.
Related: 5 Mineral Oil Myths You Need To Stop Believing Right Now
LANOLIN TO PROTECT AND MOISTURISE SKIN
Lanolin is another ingredient with an undeserved bad rep. Back in the day, it’d be contaminated with pesticides that gave people bad allergic reactions.
These days, things have changed. Lanolin undergoes a purification process that removes all pesticides and other impurities. Phew!
But what the heck is lanolin anyway? The greasy, yellow substance sheep naturally produce to protect themselves from harsh weather. (FYI, no sheep are hurt in the making of lanolin for skincare purposes).
Lanolin is another great moisturiser. It locks in moisture, preventing it from evaporating into thin air. Now forced into the skin, all that moisture makes even the driest of skin all soft and smooth.
Related: Is Lanolin Good For Skin?
Need help creating the best skincare routine for you dry skin? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Dry Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).
GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN
Let’s start with the basics. Glycerin is in pretty much ALL skincare products for a reason.
It’s a wonderful humectant: that’s a fancy way of saying it draws moisture from the air and locks it into your skin. Once there, this extra moisture softens, plumps, and brightens your skin.
That’s the base you want to build the rest of your skincare routine on.
Related: The Complete Guide To Glycerin In Skincare
Texture
Lightweight and fast-absorbing.
Fragrance
Fragrance-free.
How To Use It
After a day at the beach (or intense sun exposure), have a shower to remove the sand and then slather this on all over your body.
Performance & Personal Opinion
I’m not these person to review Institut Esthederm Tan Prolonging Body Lotion. For starters, I don’t tan. I burn. Plus, I live in London and it’s hard to tan here, anyway. But I’ll do my best to give you a fair review.
As I complained in my article about aftersun lotions, these products are designed to soothe skin. Yet, 99% of them don’t contain soothing ingredients (I’m thinking allantoin, colloidal oatmeal, green tea, & co). This is no exception.
So, how does it soothe skin instead? It uses mineral oil and lanolin to create a barrier on the skin that protects it from further irritation. Plus, they deeply moisturise skin, leaving it softer and hydrated.
Good, but not good enough in my book.
Despite these heavy-duty moisturisers, it has a milky, lightweight texture that sinks immediately into your skin. If you have normal to slightly dry skin, it’ll keep your body soft and hydrated for the whole day.
Super dry skin like mine? The lotion keeps it happy and soft for a few good hours but I still have to reapply it a couple of times a day.
P.S. I’m not sure why they say this prolongs a tan. There’s nothing here that can do that.
Related: Do You Really Need An Aftersun Lotion?
Who Is This For?
Normal to dry skin.
Who Is This NOT For?
- Oily and/or acne-prone skin
- Very dry skin
Packaging
A bright blue bottle with a pump applicator. Sleek and practical.
Does Institut Esthederm Tan Prolonging Body Lotion Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| The Tan Enhancing Lotion nourishes and soothes the skin after each exposure to the sun. | True. |
| It has a beautiful fragrance and is quickly absorbed, leaving the skin soft and silky. | True. |
| Makes a tan last much longer, leaving the skin luminous and giving it a radiant tan. | It can’t do this. |
Price & Availability
£40.00 at Cult Beauty and SpaceNK
Do You Need It?
It’s a nice-to-have, not a must-have.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
Ingredients
Aqua/Water/Eau*, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Glycerin, Lanolin, Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Methylpropanediol, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Trilinolein, Chlorphenesin, Acetyl Tyrosine, Aspartic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Tocopheryl Acetate, Oleoyl Tyrosine, Propylene Glycol, Limonene, Butylene Glycol, Trilinolenin, Triolein, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Oleic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Sorbate, Tripalmitin, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Tristearin, Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate, Linalool, Carnosine, Coppeer Gluconate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Algae Extract, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Aminoeethanesulfunic Acid, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Dextran, Lecithin, Micrococcus Lysate. [ES818] * Cellular Water (Aqua/Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate/Carnosine/Mineral Salts)
