Loving Tan 2 HR Express Tanning Lotion 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, and I was very intrigued when I saw that the brand was releasing a self-tanning lotion version of their signature 2 HR Express formula. My biggest complaint about tanning lotions is that you have to have them on for much longer to see results, and they’re typically harsher on sensitive skin with minimal color payoff.
As a beloved fan of the 2 HR Express Mousse, I had high hopes and couldn’t wait to try this out. Similar to other Loving Tan products, there’s both a Medium and Dark shade option. I’m naturally very fair but want a noticeable tan, so I decided to buy both shades to see how the results compared.
Keep reading for my full review, shade comparison, application tips, and whether or not I like the tanning lotion more than the mousse.
loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion in medium before and after
loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion medium review and application tips
The Medium Loving Tan 2 HR Express Tanning Lotion is a really interesting self-tanning product. Similar to the mousse, it has a deep brown color guard, which helps you ensure the tan is applied evenly.
The tanning lotion has a subtle floral fragrance to it. It’s not tropical, but it’s also not powdery. If anything, it’s sweet and reminded me of the sugary perfumes I wore in middle school. That being said, it’s not overwhelming and didn’t give me a headache or leave a bad impression.
The lotion is more of a serum hybrid with a really unique texture. It’s not rich and creamy like other self-tanning lotions, but it’s not watery or sticky. It’s the only self-tanner I’ve tried that feels like absolutely nothing on your skin, and I love that about this tanner. Aside from the fragrance, it’s easy to forget I even have tanner on. I was able to go about my day normally, whereas even with mousses I try to avoid water or doing the dishes because I don’t want the tan to streak or get splotchy.
I like that this lotion had a color guard and that made it easier to apply evenly than other self-tanning lotions. I used about 2 pumps for my chest/ legs, and 1 pump per arm, so even though the bottle seems tiny and lightweight, I think you’ll get a decent amount of tans out of it.
Just like the Loving Tan 2 HR Express Mousse, you wash this tanner off after 2 hours, and the tan will develop for up to 24 hours after. For the sake of this comparison post, I left it on for the two hours as directed, but now that I’ve used it a few times, I prefer to leave it on for around 5-6 hours to get a deeper tan.
I applied the tanner from 8-10pm. After my shower, I noticed a very subtle difference, but my results were much more dramatic the next morning. The tan was natural yet deep, and lasted for about 5 days before it started to fade. It was harder to remove than the mousse (as most lotions are); I exfoliated in the shower twice, and then the tan was gone.
Overall, I typically prefer to buy the darker shades of self-tanners, but was pleasantly surprised by the color payoff that Medium gave me. If you have a fair to medium skin tone, it will give you a natural yet noticeable tan. I’d say the results are closer to the Dark 2 HR Express Mousse than Medium, if you want a mousse vs lotion comparison.
tips for applying loving tan 2HR express tanning lotion in medium
Prep your skin by applying regular lotion as a barrier cream on drier areas like elbows, knees, and ankles. I don’t apply any to wrists or hands, because I wear gloves to apply the tanner.
Use disposable gloves to apply this tanner. You have to rub it in quite a bit, and the color guard fortunately is there to help make sure you get an even application. A mitt would also work, but I think it would absorb too much of the product in the process.
Use a brush to buff in the product and help blend out trickier areas like elbows, wrists, knees and ankles.
You need to be really diligent in the blending process - this tanning lotion will absolutely 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, but I still recommend wearing dark clothes as the color guard that could transfer.
You only need to leave it on for 2 hours to get results, so this isn’t an overnight tanner you sleep in. Even if you want to leave it on for longer, this tanner is more likely to streak and crease than others, so don’t sleep in it - it’ll probably make your tan uneven.
loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion in dark before and after
loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion dark review and application tips
Just like the Medium formula, the Dark 2 HR Express Lotion has a brown color-guard, so you know exactly where you are applying the tanner. Even though this is meant to give you a deeper tan than the Medium formula, the color guard isn’t any darker. The formulas are practically identical in regards to consistency, texture, fragrance, and application.
I was expecting more dramatic results, but the results were pretty similar to the Medium lotion. In the future, I think I’ll stick with the Dark formula because I have very sensitive skin and tanning lotions tend to cause reactions. I like that I can wear Dark for less time and still get a noticeable tan, whereas I do think applying Medium multiple days in a row would irritate my skin.
The Dark formula lasted the same amount of time as Medium (5ish days), and took two good exfoliations in the shower to be fully removed.
tips for applying loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion in dark
Dark has essentially the same formula and applies virtually the same as the Medium version, so the same tips apply.
Use disposable gloves for a streak-free application that won’t stain your hands. For elbows, wrists, knees and ankles, use a brush to buff in the product and help blend it out. 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 I still recommend wearing dark clothes as the color guard that could transfer.
You can wear the tan for longer (I’ve had it on for up to 5-6 hours), but don’t sleep in it overnight or else it’ll crease/ streak and end up uneven.
loving tan 2h express tanning lotion in medium vs dark results
is loving tan 2h express tanning lotion in medium or dark better?
Truthfully, both shades of the 2 HR Express Tanning Lotion are great. I personally recommend the Dark formula because you can leave it on for a shorter amount of time, whereas there’s a limit to how tan you’ll get with the lighter shade, especially since this is not a tanner you want to leave on overnight.
If you’re super pale and brown-based tanners tend to pull orange on you, get the Medium shade; you can always re-apply it the next day if you want a deeper tan.
Overall, comparing the results of Medium and Dark side to side in different lighting (not just in the pictures I’ve posted), both shades give you a really similar tan. The formula of the lotions is not as foolproof as the Mousse (you have to be careful to blend everything), but if you have the feel of self-tanner or having to leave it on for hours and hours, you’ll love this formula.
where to buy loving tan express tanning lotion
Loving Tan 2 HR Express Lotion retails for $34.95, which is around the average for most self-tanning lotions. 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 tanning lotion
what shade loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion should i get?
Get the Dark shade. Even if you have fair skin, I still recommend Dark because you can always keep the product on for less time for a subtler shade, whereas there’s a limit to how dark you’ll get with Medium. That being said, if self-tanners always look orange on you, Medium will give you a more natural result.
can you apply loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion to your face?
I think you could, but I would say to only leave it on for half the time at most. Still, Loving Tan makes a 2 HR Express Face Tanning Serum specifically formulated for your face and that would be better to use - my review and shade comparison can be found here.
is loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion suitable for sensitive skin?
Yes. My skin is extremely sensitive and I did not get a reaction. If you have sensitive skin, I’d advise against applying this lotion 2 days in a row as I’ve found that triggers reactions for my skin; every other day with your normal lotion in between is the safest bet.
does loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion 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?
Both shades of the lotion lasted for about 5 days before the tan started to fade, so not as long as the Loving Tan 2 HR Express Mousse or other self-tanner I’ve used.
is loving tan 2 HR express tanning lotion easy to remove?
Not really. This lotion fades faster than other self-tanning lotions I’ve tried, but it’s pretty hard to remove any patches or streaks. And as far as removing the tan overall goes, it took me 2x exfoliating in the shower (both an exfoliating mitt and scrub, repeated 2 days in a row) to fully remove the tan.
