The Ultimate Review of Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water

Sally Hansen is a drugstore beauty staple known for their extensive nail polish offerings, but did you know they also make tanning products? As an avid self-tanner, I was curious to try the Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water and see if it lives up to the brand‘s reputation for quality.

In this comprehensive review, we‘ll take an in-depth look at how this tanning mist performs to help you determine if it deserves a spot in your summer beauty lineup. I‘ll cover everything from application tips to results to value, as well as how it stacks up against competitor products.

Overview of the Sally Hansen Brand

First, let‘s start with some background on Sally Hansen. Founded in 1946, this mass-market brand offers affordable, salon-quality nail polishes and beauty products meant for the everyday woman. Their extensive color cosmetics line spans over 300 shades of nail enamel, and they‘ve won numerous awards from both industry professionals and everyday consumers.

In recent years, Sally Hansen has expanded into offering self-tanners as well – including lotions, mousses, and tanning mists like the Airbrush legs line. Their goal with these sunless tanning options is to provide easy-to-use formulas that give realistic-looking color without the dangers of UV exposure.

The Airbrush Tanning Water promises an effortless, customizable tan by providing buildable color in an easy-to-apply mist. But does it deliver on those claims? Let‘s find out.

How to Use the Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water

One of the advantages of a tanning water or mist is that application tends to be quicker and easier than traditional lotions or mousses. The Sally Hansen version lives up to this reputation with a fast and simple process:

Exfoliate skin thoroughly before application to prevent unevenness from dry patches or dead skin cells. Sally Hansen makes their own body scrub that works well for prep.
Protect palms by wearing the included glove or rubbing a bit of petroleum jelly to prevent over-coloring hands.
Shake the bottle well. Hold 8-10 inches from skin and spray directly onto areas you want to tan, using long, sweeping motions for even coverage. Rub in gently with palms.
Layer for deeper color if desired, waiting 5 minutes between coats. Be careful not to overdo it initially – you can always add more.
Rinse palms after and wait 5 minutes before dressing to allow the self-tanning ingredients to fully develop. Color will continue to darken over the next 24 hours as the DHA reacts.

So simple, right? No messy gloves, mitts or applicators to deal with. This ease-of-use is one of the things I love most about tanning waters. Now let‘s get into the results…

Reviewing the Results of Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water

After following the application tips above, I have to say I‘m quite pleased with the color payoff from the Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water. Here are the specifics on my results:

Color: This gave me a natural-looking, golden tan after 2 coats. No orange undertones or unnatural shading. I‘d describe it as a true medium bronze.

Evenness: The mist application made it easy to evenly coat my entire body, including hard-to-reach spots. No streaking even on knees/elbows.

Lasting Power: My color lasted over 5 days before needing a touch up. Gradual, even fading too – no patchiness.

Transfer: The formula dries down quickly after application. I saw minimal transfer to clothes after the 5 minute waiting period.

Hydration: My skin feels smooth and softly moisturized, not dried out. A subtle sheen too, which adds to the healthy, glowing look.

Overall, I‘m impressed with the Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water‘s ability to create a natural-looking, believable tan with no self-tanner smell or effort. See my before and after pictures below for reference:

[INSERT BEFORE/AFTER PHOTOS]

As you can see, this formula can give light to medium skin tones a beautiful, beachy bronzed hue without sun damage. If you already have deeper complexions, Sally Hansen also offers a Dark Tanning Water for more dramatic color payoff.

How Much Does the Sally Hansen Tanning Water Cost?

The Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water retails for $13.99 for a 5.5oz bottle. You can often find it on sale for $10-12 at mass retailers like Walmart, Target and Ulta.

For the ease of application, quality ingredients and stunning results, I think this is an incredible value for money. The mist application means you use less product with less waste compared to thicker lotions too.

A single bottle has lasted me over a month even with 2-3 uses per week. So if you break down cost per use, this comes out to less than a dollar per application – much cheaper than going to an actual spray tan salon!

Sally Hansen Tanning Water vs. Competitors

How does the Sally Hansen Airbrush product stack up against similar self-tanning water mists on the market? Here‘s a brief overview:

vs St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Water: The St. Tropez version ($30+) has a higher price point but also more botanical ingredients. The Sally Hansen offers very comparable results at half the cost.

vs L‘oreal Sublime Bronze Tanning Water: These two score about evenly in terms of natural-looking color. L‘Oreal may be slightly longer-wearing but Sally Hansen has better value.

vs Isle of Paradise Glow Clear Mist: The Isle of Paradise products use more organic ingredients but the Sally Hansen create nearly identical bronzed tone for much less money.

While products from self-tanning specialty lines have unique benefits, the Sally Hansen Tanning Water competes exceptionally well given its affordable drugstore pricing. The color payoff, ease of use and lasting power match or beat more expensive competitors.

Tips for Using Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water

After multiple trials with this self-tanning mist, I‘ve gathered some handy tips for getting the best possible results:

Exfoliate but don‘t overdo it – dry or broken skin will grab color unevenly
Use sparingly on hands/feet which tend to overdevelop
Wear an old T-shirt at night to prevent transfer onto sheets
Apply SPF if going outside, as this offers no sun protection
Mix with regular lotion for maintenance between full applications
Top with powder foundation if you want added color without reapplying

Following those simple tricks along with the standard application advice will help ensure flawless, even color that mimics a natural tan.

What Do Other Reviewers Say About This Product?

Beyond my own trials, what do other beauty lovers have to say about the Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water?

On Influenster, it earns a 4.3 out of 5 based on over 200 reviews. Positive feedback focuses on the easy application, believable results and lack of self-tanner odor. As one buyer said, "It gives me the perfect sun-kissed glow without looking orange. I get so many compliments when I wear this!"

The most common complaints reference the solution feeling sticky post-application and transferring onto clothing if you don‘t wait the full 5 minutes. Following my tips above for powder foundation and old T-shirts at night can help combat both of those issues.

Overall, beauty bloggers and consumers agree that this affordable drugstore self-tanner punches far above its weight class. It leaves skin beautifully bronzed and touchably soft all at a fraction of the cost of salon spray tans or boutique tanning water brands.

Where Can I Buy Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water?

As a mass market brand, Sally Hansen products are widely available at major retailers including:

Walmart
Target
Ulta
CVS Pharmacy
Walgreens
Rite Aid

The Airbrush Tanning Water specifically can be found both in-store or online for $10-15. Stock up during sales events or use coupons for additional discounts. Sally Hansen also offers free shipping directly through their website on orders $25+.

I suggest buying from a source with a generous return policy until you confirm the right shade for your skin tone. Fair girls may want the Fair/Medium color, while Medium/Olive or Deep/Bronze work best for darker complexions needing more dramatic results.

Is Sally Hansen Cruelty-Free?

For beauty buyers concerned with ethics, you‘ll be happy to know Sally Hansen operates under Coty‘s corporate cruelty-free policy. They do not test finished products or ingredients on animals during any point in development or production.

However, Coty does conduct some animal testing where required by law – typically in China. So Sally Hansen is not Leaping Bunny certified fully cruelty-free and vegan. But they offer substantial transparency around their commitment to reducing animal testing wherever possible.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water?

So, is this budget-friendly tanning mist worth purchasing for your own bronze goddess goals? In my opinion – absolutely!

Between the flawless, natural-looking color…ease of application…and incredible value compared to higher-end competitors, the Sally Hansen Airbrush Tanning Water consistently wows. I would (and do!) gladly recommend this self-tanner to both tanning newbies and experienced faux glow lovers alike.

Have you tried the Sally Hansen tanning water line yourself? I‘d love to hear your experiences and tips in the comments!