Versus

Ulta Gradual Tan Face Drops Versus Salty Face Tanning Water

Updated on July 27, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe tanning. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols and fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

New Comparison

Ulta Gradual Tan Face Drops

Tanning

American Brand United States

Salty Face Tanning Water

Tanning

Canadian Brand Canada

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

Ulta Gradual Tan Face Drops 15 ingredients

Salty Face Tanning Water 13 ingredients

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Ulta Gradual Tan Face Drops 15 ingredients

Salty Face Tanning Water 13 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Gradual Tan Face Drops

Water Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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.

Loved Full details ->

Dihydroxyacetone Skin Conditioning, Tanning

Dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is a simple sugar. It is frequently used in self-tanning products.

Unknown Full details ->

Dimethyl Isosorbide Solvent

Dimethyl Isosorbide is a solvent and helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from sorbitol.

Mixed Full details ->

Sd Alcohol 40-B Astringent, Solvent

Alcohol

SD Alcohol 40-B is created by denaturing ethanol with tert-Butyl alcohol and denatonium benzoate. It is a solvent and astringent.

Unknown Full details ->

Glycerin Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

0 / 0

2 Benefits

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.

Loved Full details ->

Erythrulose Tanning

We don't have a description for Erythrulose.

Unknown Full details ->

Citric Acid Buffering, Masking

AHA • 4 Benefits • 2 Concerns

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

Disliked Full details ->

Xanthan Gum Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan 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.

Disliked Full details ->

Potassium Sorbate Preservative

Preservative

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

Disliked Full details ->

Sodium Benzoate Masking, Preservative

Preservative

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Disliked Full details ->

Parfum Masking, Perfuming

Fragrance • 2 Concerns

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, 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.

Very Disliked Full details ->

Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Astringent, Skin Conditioning

Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract is the extract of the leaves of Camellia Oleifera, Theaceae.

Loved Full details ->

Caramel Cosmetic Colorant, Masking

We don't have a description for Caramel.

Mixed Full details ->

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder Skin Conditioning

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder comes from the aloe plant.

Liked Full details ->

Tocopheryl Acetate Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

0 / 0

Vitamin E • Antioxidant • Helps brighten skin

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.

Liked Full details ->

Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Glycerin, Erythrulose, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Caramel, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopheryl Acetate

Tanning Water

Water Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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.

Loved Full details ->

Dihydroxyacetone Skin Conditioning, Tanning

Dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is a simple sugar. It is frequently used in self-tanning products.

Unknown Full details ->

Glycerin Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

0 / 0

2 Benefits

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.

Loved Full details ->

Erythrulose Tanning

We don't have a description for Erythrulose.

Unknown Full details ->

Althaea Officinalis Root Extract Skin Conditioning

Althaea Officinalis Root Extract is from a plant called the Marsh Mallow plant. This plant is indigenous to Europe, West Asia, and North Africa.

Loved Full details ->

Tilia Cordata Leaf Extract Humectant

We don't have a description for Tilia Cordata Leaf Extract.

Unknown Full details ->

Camellia Sinensis Extract Antioxidant, Bleaching, Skin Conditioning

Antioxidant

Camellia Sinensis Extract is from the oil in tea plant leaves. The leaves give us various types of tea: green, black, oolong, and white.

Loved Full details ->

Chamomilla Recutita Extract Skin Conditioning

0 / 0

Helps reduce irritation

Chamomilla Recutita Extract comes from the Chamomile flower.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.

Liked Full details ->

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.

Loved Full details ->

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning

Fragrance • 2 Benefits

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract comes from the common Marigold plant. This ingredient is a skin conditioner.

Liked Full details ->

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract comes from the cucumber. Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.

Liked Full details ->

Dehydroacetic Acid Preservative

Preservative

Dehydroacetic Acid is fungicide and bactericide. It is used as a preservative in cosmetics. Preservatives help elongate the shelf life of a product.

Loved Full details ->

Benzyl Alcohol Perfuming, Preservative, Solvent

Alcohol • Fragrance • Preservative • 6 Concerns

Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.

Very Disliked Full details ->

Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Glycerin, Erythrulose, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Tilia Cordata Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Loved

Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Dihydroxyacetone

Skin Conditioning, Tanning

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 Dihydroxyacetone

Glycerin

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Loved

Glycerin 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 Glycerin

Erythrulose

Tanning

We don't have a description for Erythrulose.