Tan Physics

If you’re looking to get a sun-kissed look without dealing with the skin damage of traditional tanning, then self-tanners offer an appealing alternative. These “bronzers in a bottle” claim to make it possible to achieve a darker complexion without requiring you to spend any time outdoors or in a tanning bed.

Tan Physics is a brand of sunless tanner that claims to act as a skincare hybrid to nourish your skin as you use it. The company sells three products, each of which claims to help you achieve a natural-looking, streak-free tan that reduces signs of aging on your skin like fine lines and wrinkles.

Can a Tan Physics tan replicate the real thing, or are there better ways to boost your coloring? Learn here whether this brand of self-tanner is one to commit to.

Tan Physics Product Line

Tan Physics currently sells three products, each of which serves a different purpose:

True Color Sunless Tanner: $29.95 (8-oz)

This tanning product helps you build up a sunless tan while nourishing your skin in the process.

Perfect Balance Pre-Tan Exfoliant: $49.99 (8-oz)

Designed to prep your skin before you apply the Sunless Tanner, this Pre-tan Exfoliant turns your skin into the perfect canvas for absorbing the color.

It’s sold as a shower scrub that is gentle enough to use on your face.

Tan Extender: $49.99

Increase the length of your sunless tan with this specially formulated Tan Extender. It works to moisturize your skin while adding subtle amounts of extra color to keep the tan going without the inconvenience of reapplying any self-tanner.

All orders from the company website include $9.95 in shipping fees.

Tan Physics offers a 100-day full money-back guarantee on every purchase. This means that you can request a full refund if you are unhappy with your order for any reason within that timeframe. You’ll even receive a pre-paid shipping label for sending the product back to the company.

You can find out more information by messaging customer service at support@tanphysics.com or at (855) 826-7353.

Analysis of Ingredients

The Tan Physics self-tanner claims to use a proprietary blend of moisturizers, sugar-derived tanners (DHA), and other nourishing skincare ingredients. The goal is to give you a “just walked off the beach” tan without any of the damage associated with sunbathing.

This formula is designed for all skin types and tones and is considered gentle enough for use over your whole body—even your face.

We’ve highlighted some of the most noteworthy ingredients in Tan Physics products below:

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA): A key ingredient in sunless tanners, DHA works by reacting to the dead cells on your skin’s surface and temporarily darkens them to stimulate a tan. The effect usually wears off after a few days.

While DHA is approved by the FDA for topical use, you need to be careful to keep it away from your eyes, nose, and mouth because the risks of taking in small amounts aren’t fully understood yet.

Argan Oil: This plant-based oil is used for both culinary and cosmetic purposes and is prized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also a rich source of vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin that can work to reduce signs of skin damage.

Matrixyl: This proprietary ingredient is a trade name for palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. It’s often found in anti-wrinkle products.

Coconut Oil: This natural moisturizer is a common skincare ingredient, and it can help prevent dry, flakey skin before applying self-tanner. There’s also some evidence that coconut oil can speed up vitamin D absorption, meaning it can counter the blocking effects of sunscreen.

Hydrolyzed Collagen: Also known as collagen peptides, hydrolyzed collagen is typically broken down to the point that the amino acids are more dissolvable. When taken as a supplement, this form of collagen will promote joint health, help maintain bone density, and even restore skin elasticity to reduce wrinkles.

Though it’s a common ingredient in many self-tanners, there’s little evidence that applying collagen topically will do much for your skin.

Aloe Barbadensis Gel: Derived from the aloe plant, this gel is a common source of relief from sunburns, but it also works to soothe dry skin and acne so that self-tanners are more effective.

Is Tan Physics Safe?

Tan Physics claims that its self-tanning products are gentle enough for use anywhere on the body, including your face. Likewise, we couldn’t find any signs of negative side effects from looking at the ingredients list or from customer reviews.

Note that tan Physics products don’t act like sunscreen and can’t protect your skin from sunburn. You will need to apply sunscreen as usual when you go outside.

How to Use Tan Physics

Your skin should be as clean and smooth as possible before using Tan Physics to ensure that the maximum amount of product soaks into your skin. It’s best to refrain from shaving, waxing, plucking, or tweezing for at least 24 hours before you plan to apply the tanner. Any sooner, and you risk having your follicles and pores end up darker than the rest of your skin.

The company suggests you avoid using overly harsh loofah sponges and instead use its Perfect Balance Pre-Tan Exfoliant to prep your skin. This skincare product is designed for shower use, and you can use it to gently exfoliate your skin in circular motions. Take extra care over the areas where your skin tends to be dry, like the knees, elbows, heels, and tops of your hands.

Once your skin is prepped, ensure that it is completely dry, remove all jewelry, and put your hair up. Next, squeeze a quarter-size portion of Tan Physics onto your palm and rub it into your legs, slowly working up your body as it absorbs in.

Massage it in place using small circles with firm pressure, and apply only a light coating to your feet, knees, elbows, and the tops of your hands, as these areas tend to have rougher skin and can turn much darker.

Each purchase of self-tanner includes a caramel color guide that helps you see where you better need to rub it in. When you are finished, make sure you wash your hands well, especially between your fingers and at your nail beds.

Allow the tanner to dry on your skin for at least twenty minutes before putting on loose, dark-colored clothing. Your tan should start developing within 3-6 hours and will be fully developed after 24. Abstain from showering or heavy sweating for the first six hours so you don’t mess with this process. Any streaks or dark spots that show up can be buffed away with a washcloth.

The resulting tan should last between 4-7 days, though it will lighten significantly once you shower. You can apply more tanner the following day to develop a darker tone, and use the Tan Physics Tan Extender to keep the color longer.

Our Test: Does Tan Physics Sunless Tanner Really Work?

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This product line worked for us as described to deepen coloring in a natural, unobtrusive way. We appreciated the minimal smell, easy application process, and the fact that the tanner dried quickly and didn’t stain our clothing.

However, the final results were subtle and faded significantly after our tester showered, even after applying the tanner twice and waiting the full 24 hours necessary for it to develop.

Overall, we thought that Tan Physics made sense for anyone looking for subtle coloring or who is naturally pale and would see a lot of improvement from even a minor tan. Those who are looking for a more dramatic change are likely to be underwhelmed by the results.

Analysis of Customer Reviews

Tan Physics currently has more than 40 reviews here at HighYa, and they average 2.9 stars. On Amazon, each of the three products averages about 4 to 4.5 stars after hundreds of reviews.

Below is a summary of what users are really saying about this brand:

Common Compliments:

• Works well when applied correctly
• Great substitute for tanning in the sun
• Long-lasting, natural-looking tan

Common Complaints:

• Too subtle to be noticed
• More expensive than equivalent products
• Can flake off onto clothing or sheets
• Stains hands during the application process
• The smell was too intense
• Delivery issues for some users (product never arrived)

Tan Physics vs. Other Self-Tanning Products

The following chart looks at how some of the key details of Tan Physics compare to other self-tanning products from two popular brands—Selfie Tan’n Go Sunless and Jergens.

One thing that’s clear is that all three of these products rely on dihydroxyacetone. As stated earlier, this compound is what’s primarily responsible for your darker coloring when you use self-tanners.

However, since none of these tanners specify how much of the compound they contain, it’s difficult to compare their effectiveness based on ingredients alone. Concentrations can range from 1% to 20%, with higher concentrations leading to darker, longer-lasting results.

Selfie Tan’n Go Sunless products tend to be on the more expensive end of the spectrum, though the brand offers a much bigger product selection. These products vary in what they promise, as some are designed to make you darker while others work almost instantly but fade just as fast.

One advantage to Jergen’s Natural Glow (besides the lower pricepoint and extensive product range) is that this drugstore brand can be found in retail locations across the country. This means you should be able to replace your supply quickly without waiting on shipping times, so you don’t have to worry about your tan fading before you can reapply it.

The Bottom Line: Is Tan Physics Worth It?

Tan Physics self-tanner products promise to give you a sun-kissed look without the skin damage. While they likely will succeed in shading your skin, you might be left underwhelmed with the results.

Based on our test, this self-tanner was easy to use and created a lovely pop of color without any overwhelming scents. However, the results are subtle and fade quickly, meaning that this tanner likely isn’t worth the process or the price for many people.

We suggest that you commit to the full Tan Physics product line if you choose to commit to this brand. That way, you can ensure your skin is appropriately prepped before application and hopefully extend the life of the resulting color beyond what Olga experienced with just the sunless tanner.

If you aren’t sure whether a self-tanner is right for you, there are cheaper options to consider than Tan Physics. Jergen’s product line contains the same active ingredient and earns great reviews, so it’s a sensible place to start.