TAN-LUXE The Face - Illuminating Self-Tan Drops Medium/Dark Versus COOLA Organic Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan and reef safe tanning. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
TAN-LUXE The Face - Illuminating Self-Tan Drops Medium/Dark 20 ingredients
COOLA Organic Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum 28 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
TAN-LUXE The Face - Illuminating Self-Tan Drops Medium/Dark 20 ingredients
COOLA Organic Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum 28 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Erythrulose
TanningRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Erythrulose, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caramel, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 80, Parfum, Limonene, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Dihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Heptyl Undecylenate
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Argan Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Algin
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides Polyglyceryl-10 Esters
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Maris Aqua
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Dihydroxyacetone, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Heptyl Undecylenate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Argan Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Hydrolyzed Algin, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides Polyglyceryl-10 Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Alcohol Denat., Maris Aqua, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Gluconolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is a simple sugar. It is frequently used in self-tanning products.
DHA binds to the amino acids in your dead skin cells to create a brown/orange color. Darkening begins to kick in a few hours after application and will continue to develop for up to 3 days. This ingredient can be drying.
Both the US and the EU have approved DHA in self-tanning products. In the EU, DHA is allowed at a maximum concentration of 10%. Most tanning products usually contain amounts between 3-5%.
If you are pregnant or have underlying medical conditions, it is best to speak with a dermatologist about using self-tanning products.
Learn more about DihydroxyacetoneGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumIngredient Ratings
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