Loving Tan 2 HR Express Face Tanning Serum Medium vs Dark Review and Comparison
Loving Tan has been my go-to self-tanning brand for years now. I’ve probably gone through seven or eight bottles of the 2 HR Express Mousse formula in Dark over the years. While I typically use makeup instead of self-tanner on my face, I’ve also used the mousse when I’m on vacation or want to go makeup-free for a few days, so I was really excited to see the brand was releasing a self-tanning serum specifically formulated for the face.
The Loving Tan 2 Hr Express Face Tanning Serum has been formulated with skincare in mind; it’s enriched with hyaluronic acid and B5 actives to give you a hydrating tan, which is super important since self-tanner formulas tend to be drying.
Even though I’m naturally quite pale, I tend to get the Dark or Ultra Dark formulations of Loving Tan products because I like a deeper tan, but I wasn’t sure how the Face Tanning Serum would wear, so I ended up buying both the Medium and Dark shades to test and compare.
To test both shades, I applied them as directed and left them on for exactly two hours, and then washed them off prior to bedtime. I woke up to a little bit of a difference, but allowed the tan to develop for 24-hours before taking my “after” photos. For a full review, comparison, application tips, and tips for saving money on these products, keep reading.
loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum in medium before and after
loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum medium review and application tips
The Loving Tan 2 Hr Express Face Tanning Serum honestly surprised me. The formula is extremely lightweight; it’s not thick like a moisturizer, and it isn’t sticky like a lot of tanning drops can be. It truly felt like nothing on my face, yet my skin didn’t feel dry or tight at any point of application/ wear time. In that way, I could tell that it for sure had hydrating skincare in mind, but my skin didn’t feel like it had a hydration boost after, either.
The serum has a brown tint (known as a color-guard) so you know exactly where you are applying the tanner. I used about a pump and a half, and used disposable gloves to work the product in because self-tanners always stain my hands no matter what.
The serum blends in easily, and I’d say the hardest part is remembering to not touch your face while it’s on. I left the product on for two hours, washed it off using my go-to gentle cleanser, and then followed up with moisturizer. I skipped some parts of my skincare routine (resurfacing serum) because I knew it would work against the tanner. Any sort of active will do that, so if you use any exfoliators or anti-acne products (like spot treatments), you probably want to skip them after applying the self-tanning serum.
I really didn’t notice any scent, good or bad - no heavy fragrance like the Loving Tan 2 HR Express Tanning Lotion
After washing the product off, I noticed a subtle difference, but it takes around 24 hours to see full results. Typically, I will leave self-tanners on for longer than the directed time in order to get deeper results, but I didn’t with this one - the 2 hours is plenty. The tan is natural, and didn’t look orange, but I will say it was not as neutral-toned as my bronzer/contour powder.
Wearing a full face of heavy makeup/ washing it off with oil-based makeup remover will also make the tan break down quicker, but because the tan evened out my skin quite a bit, I skipped foundation/ most face makeup and that helped to prolong the results.
The tan lasted about 5 days; the day after application I returned to my full skincare routine and the resurfacing serum made the tan fade a little quicker. I think if you have a non-exfoliating skincare routine or skip those products, you could probably stretch it to about a week.
tips for applying loving tan 2HR express face tanning serum in medium
Prep your skin by removing all makeup/ skincare - do a simple cleanse and then pat dry.
You can apply a light moisturizer if you want; this will act as a barrier cream to prevent the tanner from clinging to any dry patches. I have extremely dry skin but skipped this step as I wanted to see how the tanner applied on its own. My skin didn’t feel dry or tight like I thought it would, so moisturizing is truly optional and not really necessary.
I used about a pump and a half total.
Use disposable gloves to apply this tanner. You can use your hands, but I find that I can rub the tanner in a lot more thoroughly with gloves because I’m not worried about staining my hands.
A traditional tanning mitt would be too awkward/ would absorb a lot of the product.
I think a blending brush would also work well, but I found the disposable gloves were more effective and the brush would absorb too much of the product. The brush is better for last-minute blending.
Make sure to blend into your hairline, down your neck, and your ears - you don’t want any harsh lines and this product isn’t as foolproof as the Loving Tan mousse is. I use a blending brush for this step.
You need to be really diligent in the blending process - this tanning serum will leave streaks if you don’t. I consider myself really good at applying self-tanner, but I definitely had a few streaks the first few times I tested it.
The tan dries down well and doesn’t feel sticky or damp.
Don’t touch your face while the tanner is on! Even though the tanner dries down, you don’t want to risk any smudges.
You only need to leave it on for 2 hours to get results, so this isn’t a product you want to apply makeup over it unless you only plan on wearing it for a short amount of time.
Even if you want to leave it on for longer, don’t sleep in it or wear it overnight. This tanner is more likely to streak and crease than others, so the pillowcase will probably make your tan uneven.
After you wash it off, use just your moisturizing skincare products - anything with actives or exfoliating ingredients will make your tan fade quicker.
loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum in dark before and after
loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum dark review and application tips
The Dark formula of the Loving Tan 2 Hr Express Face Tanning Serum is virtually the same as the Medium, but it definitely gives you deeper results.
I’ve always picked the darker shades of self-tanning formulas because I want to get maximum results and hate when you spend the money on a lighter formula, but have to use twice as much or leave it on for twice as long to get any sort of color payoff. That being said, if you’re fair like me, stick to Medium. The Dark formula is definitely deeper than Medium, so unless you only want to have to leave it on for 45 minutes to an hour (instead of 2 hours), stick to Medium.
Just like the Medium formula, the Dark Loving Tan 2 Hr Express Face Tanning Serum has a brown color-guard, so you know exactly where you are applying the tanner. You want to be sure to buff out any streaks or dark spots or else the tan will streak - in that way, the Loving Tan serum is fussier and harder to use than their mousse formulas.
The Dark formula doesn’t last any longer than Medium; in that way, they’re pretty much identical.
tips for applying loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum in dark
Dark has essentially the same formula and applies virtually the same as the Medium version, so the same tips apply.
Start with a clean, dry face - remove any skincare or makeup first.
I used about a pump and a half total.
Use disposable gloves for a streak-free application that won’t stain your hands.
Use a blending brush to buff out any harsh edges - your hairline, ears, down your neck. Unlike the Loving Tan mousses, any dark spots will make your tan uneven later on, so you do have to buff everything out evenly.
The tan dries down well and doesn’t feel sticky or damp, but make sure to not touch your face while it’s on.
Skip makeup and wash the tanner off right after 2 hours.
Don’t sleep in it overnight or else it’ll crease/ streak and end up uneven.
After you wash it off, use just your moisturizing skincare products - anything with actives or exfoliating ingredients will make your tan fade quicker.
loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum in medium vs dark results
is loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum in medium or dark better?
Both formulas are virtually the same and I was pleasantly surprised by this tanner. I love that it really only needed 2 hours to work, so I could do it after work as part of my wind-down routine. I personally like tanning drops, but having them develop throughout the day makes it hard to match to my neck/ makeup, and while you shouldn’t layer your makeup over the Loving Tan 2H Express Face Tanning Serum, the product is a lot more low-maintenance than other face-tanning products I’ve tried.
If you have fair to medium skin, get the Medium shade. Dark will work well for medium to dark skin tones. The tan for both formulas isn’t orange, but it’s a little warmer than my makeup bronzer is.
Retailing for $34.95, I think this is also one of the more cost-effective face self-tanners on the market and it’s one of the few that won’t dry out your skin, even if you have super dry, sensitive skin like me.
where to buy loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum
Loving Tan 2 HR Express Face Tanning Serum retails for $34.95. I highly recommend subscribing on Amazon if you are a regular tanner; you’ll never run out and receive an automatic discount code of 5-10%, so you don’t have to wait for sales. Loving Tan is also sold directly on their website as well as at Ulta, Target, and Nordstrom, so if you belong to any of those loyalty programs, it may be worth it to earn (or use) your points there.
FAQs about loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum
what shade loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum should i get?
If you have fair to medium skin, get Medium. I usually always get the darker shade of self-tanner whenever possible, but Dark was legitimately too dark for me, even in the middle of summer with a tan. It also looked a little orange compared to the Medium formula.
If you have medium to dark skin, Dark will give you a really beautiful tan that’s natural yet buildable.
can you apply loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum to your face and body?
Yes! This product is specifically formulated for your face and has skincare ingredients to help keep your skin hydrated.
You could use it on your body, but I don’t think that would be very cost-effective since the bottle is kind of small. Instead, I recommend Loving Tan’s 2 HR Express Tanning Lotion - view my full review and shade comparison here.
can you apply makeup over the loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum?
You can, but I would be mindful of how long you’re planning on leaving your makeup on for, since this is technically a 2-hour product. I personally prefer tanning drops under my makeup instead of this serum because your makeup lays better and the tan is more glow-y and natural.
I recommend using this serum for an hour or two on bare skin rather than underneath makeup if possible.
is loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum suitable for sensitive skin?
Yes. My skin is extremely sensitive and I did not get a reaction. This also didn’t dry my skin out as much as other self-tanning formulas do.
does loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum break you out?
Not in my experience. My friends who are more acne-prone haven’t had a problem either, but I would consult with your dermatologist if you are concerned.
how long does it take for the tan to develop?
You apply the product for two hours, and you may notice a slight tan after washing it off. The tan will be fully developed about 24 hours after application (as seen in my photos).
how long does the tan last?
This kind of depends on your skincare routine; if you’re using any exfoliating serums or products, the tan will wear off faster. I found the tan to last around 4-5 days even with using my exfoliating resurfacing serum; if I omitted it from my routine, the tan probably would’ve lasted a full week.
is loving tan 2 HR express face tanning serum easy to remove?
Yes, it definitely fades gradually over the course of a week. Unlike body self-tanners, you don’t want to go hard and scrub this off because it could damage your skin barrier and this skin on our faces is naturally much more delicate and sensitive.
The tan fades on its own, and you can give it a boost by using a gentle exfoliating face wash and/or serum depending on your skin type. My skin is very dry and sensitive, so I use a gentle, barrier-balancing face wash and follow it up with an exfoliating serum - that helped remove the tan a little quicker; it was fully gone within a week.
