Loving Tan Vs Bondi Sands – Which is Better?
Loving Tan and Bondi Sands are two Australian self-tanning brands that are almost as popular as the other, so choosing which would be the better option for you can be a little tricky!
Choosing a self-tanning product to use at home can be daunting. The last thing you want is to choose one that isn’t quite right for your skin and end up with a very obvious fake tan.
Knowing more about each product is the best way to decide the best.
What are the differences between Loving Tan and Bondi Sands?
Both Loving Tan and Bondi Sands are high-quality self-tanning products, but Bondi Sands is more suited for those with an olive complexion looking for quite a dark glow, whereas Loving Tan is best for those who want a medium to dark glow.
Keep reading to learn more about the differences between Loving Tan and Bondi Sands and which would be the better option for you!
Loving Tan
Loving Tan was made by people who love to tan, so you can trust that it ticks all the right boxes and excludes all the bad aspects of self-tanning at home.
One of the stand-out products in the line is the 2HR Express Mousse, which gives you a gorgeous tan quickly.
All Loving Tan products have color guide technology, which helps you apply the product evenly without missing any spots.

The products are also formulated to be streak-free every time, and the self-tanners are quick-drying, but not so quick that you can’t rub them in properly.
The base of the self-tanners is red-brown, which complements almost every skin type.
Different products in the range allow for a lighter tan or give you an ultra-dark radiance.
Made with naturally derived DHA and a hydrating aloe vera base, the Loving Tan self-tanning products are gentle.
They keep skin hydrated and nourished, giving it an added glow.
Bondi Sands
Bondi Sands is one of the best-known self-tanning brands around, and for good reason. Their name is synonymous with deep, dark golden tans, which are easy to use and give your skin that sun-kissed holiday look.
With a signature coconut scent and aloe vera base, the Bondi Sands self-tanning products are such a delight to use and remind you of days spent on the beach.
The Bondi Sands range’s self-tanning products are lightweight and absorb into the skin quickly, which means less transfer onto clothes and sheets.
Once applied, the tan will take between 1 and 8 hours to develop. The longer the product is left on your skin, the darker the tan will develop.
Bondi Sands self-tanning products are known for their deep, dark, long-lasting tans and hydrating benefits for skin.
The Differences
Product Lines
Having a varied product line allows you to pick out the right self-tanner for you.
What works best for you might not work best for someone else, so having a few options does really help you find what you are looking for.
Loving Tan has a good product line, which includes the following:
- Deluxe Bronzing Mousse
- 2HR Express Mousse
- Deluxe Gradual Tan
- Deluxe Face Tan
- Bronze Shimmer
These are available in different shades too, including Medium, Dark, and Ultra Dark. There are other products and accessories in the range too, and a Deluxe Tan Remover.
The Bondi Sands range is quite bigger than Loving Tan, and the range includes:
- Self-Tanning Foams
- Self-Tanning Lotions
- Self-Tan For Face
- Self-Tanning Mists
- Self-Tanning Oils
- Gradual Tanners
These are also available in varying shades, and there is quite a wide variety of self-tanning accessories to help make the process easier.
Developing Time
The processing times of the two brands differ quite a bit, but it also depends on the products you are using.
Loving Tan has the 2HR Express Mousse, which develops a dark, deep tan in just 2 hours, which is exceptionally fast for a self-tanning product.
The other products take longer, and you may need to wait up to 8 hours for the color to develop fully.
The Bondi Sands self-tanning products can take anywhere between 1 and 8 hours to develop, and how long you leave the self-tanning product on determines how dark the tan develops.
For a darker tan, the self-tanner should be left on for the maximum time.
Shades
Bondi Sands is known for giving the deepest, darkest, natural-looking tans around, but they also have lighter tan options available for those who do not have a naturally dark skin tone.
The range also includes gradual tanners, which give you control over how dark the tan develops.
Loving Tan also features various tan shades, which allow you to choose one that best suits your skin tone. These shades are Medium, Dark, and Ultra Dark.
Both brands can give you a deep, dark tan, but remember to match the shade of self-tanner with your skin tone, as a dark tan on fair skin will look very unnatural.
If you are nervous about choosing a tan shade, then opt for either brand’s gradual tanner first, so you can build up the tan to suit your skin tone.
The Pros And Cons Of Loving Tan
Here are the pros and cons of Loving Tan:
Pros:
- Naturally derived DHA, which is less irritating to the skin
- Aloe vera base that hydrates skin
- Able to develop a dark tan in a few hours
- Dries in under a minute
- Applies and dries streak-free
- Easy to use and smooth over skin with a color guide
- Long-lasting tan
- Soft vanilla scent
Cons:
- Some transfer onto clothes
- Smaller quantity bottles
- Not easy to layer as it dries quickly
The Pros And Cons Of Bondi Sands
These are the pros and cons of Bondi Sands self-tanners:
Pros:
- Lightweight formulas that are easy to apply
- Good control of the shade of color using the developing time
- Vegan and cruelty-free formulas
- Fast-absorbing and little transfer
- Deep color that lasts for long time
- Non-sticky feeling left on the skin
Cons:
- Developing time takes a few hours
- Need tanning mittens for application
- Can fade in patches
- A strong scent that might be overwhelming
Why You Should Try Loving Tan
All self-tanners have pros and cons, you just need to decide what is important for you.
Loving Tan is a great self-tanning option, but it does come with one or two issues.
Firstly, Loving Tan is known for being quite pricey, but it is high-quality.
You can achieve a gorgeous dark tan in a short amount of time, and the tan you achieve will be natural-looking too.
Loving Tan is a great option if you want a dark tan quickly, use naturally derived DHA, and benefit from hydrating ingredients in the self-tanner.
The Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse in Dark is a great option to try if you want a deep, dark tan.
Why You Should Try Bondi Sands
Bondi Sands has some great benefits, such as the ultra-dark tan some of the products can give and the ease of application and quick blending of the formulas.
The Bondi Sands collection also includes a wide range of self-tanning products, so you are likely to find one that best suits your skin tone and needs.
The problem with Bondi Sands is that the scent is quite strong, and the tan can appear patchy when it fades.
It is still a great product with a long-lasting, radiant glow.
The Bondi Sands Self-Tanning Foam is one of the most popular products in the Bondi Sands range.
Loving Tan Vs Bondi Sands – Wrap Up
Loving Tan and Bondi Sands are two great self-tanning brands, and you can’t go wrong with choosing either.
The above guide should help you decide which one is the best option for you, so you can get a beautiful golden tan from home!
If you are nervous about trying a self-tanner for the first time, start with a lighter color and build up your tan from there.
Related Questions
How long should Bondi Sands be left on for?
The recommendation is to leave Bondi Sands on for 1-8 hours, but realistically, you would leave the self-tanner on long enough to develop your desired shade.
A light tan can develop for an hour, whereas the darkest tans will take around 8 hours.
Should I moisturize my skin after a self-tanner?
Moisturizing your skin after using a self-tanner is crucial to extending the life of your tan, but you should only apply the first round of moisturizer once you are confident that the tan has developed fully.
Related Articles
Is Self Tanner Bad For Your Skin?


