Solid Black Tanning Lotion Reviews – Beautiful With Brains

Let’s discuss Strong Black tanning lotion evaluations. As a result of should you’ve ever set foot in a tanning salon (or simply Googled “easy methods to get darkish FAST”), you’ve 100% seen this bottle. Jet black, shiny, claims like “100X bronzing,” and folks swearing it turned them right into a bronzed goddess in a single day. However right here’s the true tea: What’s even on this lotion? Is it actually the most effective tanning lotion or is all of it hype? Is it going to go away you streaky and orange? And is there a motive it smells like a bottle of candy cologne had a child with a cupcake? Let’s break it down, ingredient by ingredient, as a result of the label is filled with fancy phrases, however you should know what’s truly going in your pores and skin.

Key Substances in Millennium Strong Black: What Makes It Work?

DHA (DIHYDROXYACETONE)

That is the primary ingredient behind most bronzing lotion – and that “simply acquired again from trip” look. DHA is a kind of easy sugar that reacts with amino acids within the prime layer of your pores and skin (a.ok.a. the stratum corneum). This response is known as the Maillard response (yep, identical course of that browns toast) and it produces these golden-brown pigments in your pores and skin. The tan normally develops over 2 to six hours and lasts round 3 to 7 days. It’s not coloring your pores and skin like dye. It’s a chemical response together with your useless pores and skin cells. Which additionally means it fades as your pores and skin naturally sheds.

However right here’s the deal: in case your pores and skin is dry, patchy, or not exfoliated? DHA will seize onto the tough bits and go darker there. That’s why individuals typically find yourself with bizarre knees, elbows, or ankles. Exfoliate and moisturize first or remorse all the pieces later. Oh, and that bizarre, barely musty “pretend tan” scent? That’s not the lotion going unhealthy. It’s actually the chemical response taking place in your pores and skin. Some merchandise attempt to masks it with perfume, but when your nostril is delicate, you’ll nonetheless catch a whiff of Eau de Biscuit.

Associated: How Do Tanning Lotions Work?

SILICONES

In case you’ve ever thought, “Wow, this lotion feels too clean,” that’s the silicones. Particularly dimethicone, which coats the pores and skin in a breathable movie that locks in moisture and offers that silky, glidey feeling. It’s nice for spreading the lotion evenly and stopping you from feeling sticky after tanning. However right here’s the factor: it will possibly lure stuff in your pores and skin (like sweat, oil, or leftover make-up), so should you’re acne-prone, particularly in your chest or again, possibly do a patch check. And positively rinse off earlier than mattress should you’re not making an attempt to marinate in your individual breakout juice.

Associated: Do Silicones Really Suffocate Skin?

The Relaxation Of The Method & Substances

• Water (Aqua/Eau): The bottom. Helps dissolve all the opposite stuff and makes the lotion spreadable.
• Propanediol: A mild hydrator that helps your pores and skin take in all the great elements extra successfully.
• Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer: Mainly a thickener. Offers the lotion that good creamy consistency so it’s not runny.
• Cetyl Alcohol: Not the drying form of alcohol. This one softens your pores and skin and makes the lotion really feel good.
• Isopropyl Myristate: Makes all the pieces glide on easily, nevertheless it can clog pores for some individuals (particularly should you’re acne-prone).
• Glyceryl Stearate: An emulsifier that helps oil and water keep combined. Retains the method steady.
• Glycerin: Basic humectant. Pulls water into the pores and skin so that you don’t get that tight, dry feeling after tanning.
• Juglans Regia (Walnut) Seed Oil: Moisturizes and may assist deepen your tan. Pure bronzers usually embrace walnut oil.
• Carya Illinoensis (Pecan) Seed Oil: Softens pores and skin, provides moisture, and accommodates fatty acids your pores and skin loves.
• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil: Filled with vitamin E, it helps situation and shield the pores and skin barrier.
• Hashish Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil: The most effective moisturizers on the market. Soothes irritated pores and skin and helps hydration with out clogging pores.
• Tyrosine: An amino acid that may assist your pores and skin make extra melanin (aka the pigment that makes you tan).
• Panthenol (Professional-Vitamin B5): Tremendous hydrating and calming. Retains your pores and skin from flipping out post-tan.
• Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil: Filled with antioxidants. Helps shield your pores and skin and provides a little bit of glow.
• Acetyl Tyrosine: A souped-up model of tyrosine, meant to assist increase your pores and skin’s tanning course of much more.
• Camellia Sinensis (Inexperienced Tea) Leaf Extract: Antioxidant and anti inflammatory. Helps calm the pores and skin and battle free radical harm.
• Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract: Moisturizes and nourishes. Additionally smells kinda good.
• Potassium Caproyl Tyrosine: One other tanning enhancer that works together with your pores and skin’s melanin to deepen shade quicker.
• Sorbitol: A sugar-based humectant. Pulls in moisture to maintain your pores and skin feeling smooth.
• Aleurites Moluccanus (Kukui Nut) Seed Oil: Deeply moisturizing and helps soothe stressed-out, dry pores and skin.
• Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10): Antioxidant that helps your pores and skin’s restore processes and protects in opposition to harm.
• Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Oil: Wealthy in fatty acids and antioxidants. Nourishes pores and skin whereas giving it a little bit glow.
• Arginine HCL: An amino acid that helps wholesome pores and skin operate and therapeutic.
• Ornithine HCL: Helps with pores and skin regeneration and helps total pores and skin well being.
• Silica: Helps take in oil and offers your pores and skin a clean, matte end.
• Acetyl Hexapeptide-1: A peptide that will enhance pores and skin tone and scale back indicators of getting older. Fancy stuff.
• Melanin: Yep, precise melanin. Meant to help your pure tanning course of and probably give your shade a lift.
• Methylsilanol Acetyltyrosine: One other tyrosine by-product aimed toward rising melanin manufacturing.
• Oleoyl Tyrosine: Fatty-acid-linked tyrosine that helps your pores and skin tan quicker and deeper.
• Luffa Cylindrica (Loofah) Seed Oil: Moisturizing and softening. Consider it like a pores and skin deal with, not an exfoliant.
• Oleic Acid: A fatty acid that helps situation pores and skin and permits different elements to soak up higher.
• Butylene Glycol: Solvent and humectant. Helps all the pieces unfold and hydrates your pores and skin on the identical time.
• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein: Provides a little bit energy and smoothness to the pores and skin – extra widespread in hair merchandise, however good right here too.
• Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): Fancy time period for mobile vitality. Supposed to assist pores and skin keep wholesome and renew quicker.
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E): Protects your pores and skin from harm and retains it smooth.
• Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract: Brightens, hydrates, and provides a contemporary really feel.
• Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract: Could assist enhance melanin manufacturing. Mainly a tanning booster.
• Cucumis Melo (Melon) Fruit Extract: Hydrating and antioxidant-rich. Helps cool and soothe.
• Caffeine: Helps tighten pores and skin and scale back puffiness. Makes all the pieces look a little bit extra agency.
• Camellia Oleifera (Inexperienced Tea) Leaf Extract: Like the opposite inexperienced tea extract – antioxidant, calming, and protecting.
• Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract: Mild exfoliant with anti-inflammatory advantages. May also help with pores and skin readability.
• Betula Alba (Birch) Bark Extract: Soothes the pores and skin and helps scale back irritation.
• Soy Amino Acids: Help hydration and will assist with pores and skin firmness.
• Saccharomyces Lysate Extract: Fermented yeast extract. Sounds bizarre, nevertheless it revitalizes pores and skin and helps restore.
• Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide: A steady type of vitamin C. Brightens pores and skin and fights off free radical harm.
• Citric Acid: Balances the product’s pH and offers a light exfoliation impact.
• Phenoxyethanol: Preservative to maintain micro organism from rising within the bottle.
• Ethylhexylglycerin: Works with phenoxyethanol to maintain issues contemporary. Additionally situations pores and skin.
• Parfum: Perfume. The scent you both love or can’t stand. Can irritate delicate pores and skin.
• Benzyl Benzoate: Used to assist dissolve and carry perfume within the method. Smells sturdy, sticks round. Could be irritating on delicate or damaged pores and skin. 
• Coumarin: Provides a candy, nearly vanilla-like scent. Widespread in perfumes. Could cause allergic reactions or irritation, particularly should you’ve acquired eczema or reactive pores and skin. 
• Hydroxycitronellal: Artificial floral scent. Smells clear and smooth. One of many prime perfume allergens. In case your pores and skin will get pink, itchy, or patchy after fragranced merchandise, this is perhaps the perpetrator.
• Limonene: That contemporary, citrusy scent you like? That’s this. Innocent at first, however as soon as it hits air and oxidizes, it will possibly irritate pores and skin. Not nice should you’re liable to redness or rashes.
• Linalool: Offers merchandise that basic floral-soap scent. Discovered naturally in lavender. Could be irritating to delicate pores and skin, particularly after it’s been uncovered to air for some time. 
• Blue 1 (CI 42090): Artificial blue dye. Doesn’t do something to your pores and skin – simply makes the lotion look cool. Uncommon, however may cause reactions in individuals allergic to synthetic dyes.
• Inexperienced 5 (CI 61570): Artificial inexperienced colorant. Once more, only for seems. Normally wonderful, however might be irritating should you’ve acquired ultra-sensitive pores and skin or react to coloured merchandise.
• Pink 33 (CI 17200): Provides a reddish tint so the lotion seems extra “tan” happening. Could cause irritation in case your pores and skin’s already compromised or reactive.
• Pink 40 (CI 16035): Tremendous widespread pink dye, utilized in all the pieces from lip gloss to sweet.
• Yellow 5 (CI 19140): Additionally referred to as tartrazine. A shiny yellow pigment. Uncommon, however can set off reactions in individuals delicate to meals dyes or with dye-related allergic reactions.
• Yellow 6 (CI 15985): Provides a heat, orangey tone to stability the general shade of the product. Like Yellow 5, protected for many, however could also be irritating in case your pores and skin reacts to artificial colorants.

Texture

These things goes on thick. Not in a gross, sticky manner. Extra like a wealthy physique lotion meaning enterprise. It spreads tremendous simply because of all of the silicones, and it doesn’t take ceaselessly to rub in. You’re not standing there massaging your leg for 5 minutes like with a few of these sticky, greasy formulation.

Perfume

Okay, let’s speak concerning the scent. These things is loud. It’s candy. It lingers. It’s giving “man who wears manner an excessive amount of physique spray.” Some individuals assume it has a pleasing scent. Some individuals gag. In case you’re choosy with scents? Sniff earlier than you commit. Oh, and when you’ve got very delicate pores and skin, beware. It could irritate it.

Tips on how to Use It

In case you’re new to indoor tanning lotions, pay attention up. This isn’t a kind of informal “rub it on and go” moisturizers. Right here’s easy methods to do it correctly so that you don’t find yourself streaky or orange:

1. Exfoliate first. Like, actually exfoliate. Useless pores and skin and dry patches = blotchy tan.
2. Apply evenly. Work in sections (arms, legs, and so on.) and don’t rush it. This lotion is darkish proper out of the bottle.
3. Wash your arms instantly. Until you need your palms to seem like you rubbed Doritos on them.
4. Let it dry. Give it a couple of minutes earlier than getting dressed. It’s not tremendous sticky, however you don’t need to danger staining garments – particularly something light-colored.
5. Tanning mattress time. This isn’t for out of doors use. It’s designed for indoor UV publicity, so don’t slather this on and lay out within the solar.

Non-obligatory: should you’re pale or nervous, combine it with an everyday lotion for a lighter software. It’s sturdy.

Packaging

The bottle could be very on model. Matte black, shiny lettering, and a reputation like “Strong Black 100X”. It’s mainly screaming, “Get able to be darkish.” It positively stands out, however not in a refined manner. It’s the form of bottle that makes you’re feeling such as you’re about to get a critical tan… or summon a demon. No in-between. It is available in a squeeze bottle with a flip-top cap. Simple to make use of, no pump, no mess. Simply watch out should you’re heavy-handed, as a result of these things is pigmented. One good squeeze is greater than sufficient for most individuals. And sure, it’s travel-friendly should you’re headed to a tanning salon or packing for trip. No frills, no nonsense. Simply black bottle, daring claims, and product meaning enterprise.

Efficiency & Private Opinion

These things does precisely what it guarantees: provides you an immediate bronzed glow and helps you get darker, quicker, underneath UV gentle. The colour payoff is powerful. You’ll stroll out of the tanning mattress trying such as you’ve been on a weeklong seaside journey, even when it’s Tuesday and also you haven’t seen daylight in three months. It’s not orange. It’s not patchy (should you prep proper). And it does give that hydrated, shiny, pure glow because of all of the oils and silicones. Plus, the combo of DHA and erythrulose means your tan lasts longer than simply sooner or later.

That stated, it’s not for the faint of coronary heart. In case you’re on the lookout for one thing gradual or barely-there, this ain’t it. That is daring, bronzy, and form of addictive when you see the outcomes. Personally? I believe it’s one of many higher tanning lotions on the market for the value. No bizarre shimmer, no sticky aftermath, and also you truly get what the label guarantees: shade that exhibits up, quick. Simply… don’t put on your good sheets to mattress proper after. Belief me.

What I Like About Millennium Strong Black

• It really works. Like, truly works and offers you fast outcomes. You stroll out of the tanning mattress noticeably darker. No guessing, no ready three days to possibly see outcomes.
• The feel is chef’s kiss. Clean, thick, glides on like costly physique butter. Feels luxe with out being greasy.
• Speedy shade. The bronzers provide you with that “I’ve already been on vacation” look earlier than you even begin tanning.
• Longer-lasting tan. Due to the DHA + erythrulose combo, it fades extra evenly and sticks round longer than most.
• Moisturizing AF. Hemp seed oil, sunflower oil, all of the skin-loving elements. You don’t really feel like a chunk of toast afterward.
• No shimmer. Thank god. Only a natural-looking glow. No glittery nonsense.

What I Don’t Like About Millennium Strong Black

• The scent is intense. It’s not unhealthy, simply sturdy. Form of candy and cologne-y. In case you’re scent-sensitive, it is perhaps an excessive amount of.
• Can stain garments/sheets. Particularly should you don’t give it time to dry or overapply. This isn’t a “throw on and go” state of affairs.
• No SPF. Not likely a draw back should you’re utilizing it correctly (indoors), however only a reminder: don’t use this outdoors pondering it’s sun-safe.
• Not nice for particularly reasonable or delicate pores and skin. It’s highly effective. In case you’re new to tanning or liable to irritation, begin gradual or combine it with a plain lotion.
• Shade switch. These bronzers are not any joke. Wash your arms, and don’t put on white. Ever.

Who Ought to Use It?

• You desire a darkish tan quick (even when half of it washes off)
• You tan indoors and need one thing hydrating that doesn’t really feel sticky
• You don’t thoughts a powerful scent or a little bit of switch
• You want that bronzed, glowy, kinda dramatic look

Does Millennium Strong Black Dwell Up To Its Claims?

​Worth & Availability

$29.95 at Walmart

Verdict: Ought to You Purchase It?

Is Strong Black overrated? Nah. It does what it says. Is it messy? Yep. Is it the most effective method ever? Not likely, nevertheless it’s a favorite self-tanner of many for a motive. It’s enjoyable, it’s straightforward, and it will get you darkish fast. Simply exfoliate, moisturize, wash your arms and don’t put on white. You’re welcome.

About Gio

Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that can assist you obtain your finest pores and skin day ever – day-after-day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising jargon that can assist you work out what’s definitely worth the splurge and what’s finest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally supply skincare consultations that can assist you create the most effective skincare routine to your distinctive wants.