Lux Unfiltered Review
Lux Unfiltered is the self tanning and skincare brand developed by influencer Sivan Ayla. I’ve been a huge fan of Sivan’s for a while and always loved her style – having followed her since her Greek wedding when she mayyybe had around 20k followers? I always knew she would be successful because of her unique style and the way she pulled off an effortless aesthetic.
However, I just want to say that none of this will sway my review in any way. I am a staunch critic of all the products I use – makeup, skincare, cleaning products – even gifted ones (which this one is not – I purchased Lux Unfiltered with my own money). I am a very tough sell and am not easily influenced when it comes to, well, anything! So, here is my brutally honest review of Lux Unfiltered tanning mousse.
Where Can I Buy Lux Unfiltered Products?
Lux Unfiltered products are available direct on their website, on Amazon, and as of 2024, on Sephora.com too.
In full disclosure, the reason I tried this product is because I have been seeking out a replacement for the St. Tropez self tanning mousse – which has been my ride or die for years – but since they changed the formula it’s now orange, not dark enough, and smells gross.
So, for the sake of clarity, this review is only for the Lux Unfiltered No.36 Supernatural Tanning Mousse in shade Deep.
The No. 36 is just one product in the Lux Unfiltered line, so if you’re curious about any others let me know and I can try those out, too. (I have the Lux Unfiltered facial tanning drops and their brand new bronzing face drops on my wishlist!)
For those who don’t like to read, here is my TLDR rating:
- Application: 9/10
- Color: 9.5/10
- Scent: 10/10
- Durability: 10/10
- Cost: 9.5/10
Overall Rating: 9.6/10
For those of you who want to hear all of the nitty gritty, keep reading below.
Lux Unfiltered Before and After Photo
Application
I will say that this is not a beginner friendly self tanner. Because of the dark color, it does go on quite strong, so you’ll need to be extra careful of placement and blending. The first time I used it I was a little haphazard, as I’d been used to tanners which were not as dark and more forgiving with placement. So I ended up missing the back of my ankles, sides of my feet, and sides of my hands. So, take your time with application, apply in circular motions, and make sure everything is blended.
Other than my own user error I found the application to be easy, smooth, and not streaky! The second time I applied I was super careful and it came out perfect.
I will say, the application is much easier and smoother if you make sure your skin is fully exfoliated and moisturized before applying. If it’s not you may get some rough looking patches, but this goes for any self tanner. I LOVE this mitt for exfoliating in the shower beforehand. And make sure to hit those ankles, elbows, hands, and knees with some of this body oil or lotion before you begin.
While I haven’t tried the Lux Unfiltered application brush or their self tanning mitt, I’ve heard great things, so maybe I will consider a purchase soon.
I’ve sworn by this tanning mitt for several years now. I’ve tried many mitts, but still find this one to be the softest and the one that gives the most even application. It’s a great value for the price and rings in around $15 on Amazon.
Color
The undertones of the Lux Unfiltered mousse are an olive green/brownish color. This is absolutely perfect for my naturally olive skin tone, and something that is a non-negotiable requirement for my self tanners.
Orange undertones, we don’t know her!
I can’t speak for those with a more pink/reddish skin tone – a different self tanner may suit you better – but for me the undertone of No. 36 is perfect.
If I’m being really picky (which I will, because I told you – I’m a harsh critic), I did like the darker brown color more after the tan developed the next day, but before I showered. After I showered, I did feel like a lot of the deep brown color washed off and shifted towards more of a warm tone. I would have loved if it had stayed that darker brown, as I am perpetually in search of the darkest tan possible. But even after the shower it was still extremely natural and beautiful – definitely one of the best self tanners I’ve ever tried.
Hot tip: if you feel like the color is washing off too much in the shower, try using more product when you apply. Also, during your first shower the next morning, do NOT use soap on the skin, just rinse with water. I learned this tip from someone on TikTok and I do feel like it made my tan last longer!
Scent
The Lux Unfiltered No. 36 smells nothing like self tanner. It has a mild citrus-y fruity scent to it (hence the fragrance name: blood orange) that is very pleasant, but not overbearing. If you know me, you know I don’t do fragrance well, but this one is subtle and nice. The scent goes away completely as soon as the mousse is dry. The scent gets a 10/10 for me!
Durability
Let me tell you, the Lux Unfiltered tanning mousse is one of the longest lasting self self tanners I’ve ever used. In my past experience, self tanners usually last about 3, maybe 4, days on me, with normal fading after that.
The Lux Unfiltered No. 36 lasts a minimum of one full week, with speckled fading starting in the days following.
I will say, because this tanner has such great staying power, the removal process is sort of a pain. It’s a double edged sword. Because the color is so dark, as it wears off the splotchiness is more prominent against paler skin. So if you don’t love the speckled look, that requires the need to remove it around a week or so.
I like to soak in a hot bath or shower for as long as possible, then take this exfoliating mitt and scrub really hard to slough off all the dead skin layers. This usually does the trick to give you skin that’s all one color again.
Cost
The cost of No. 36 mousse on both Sephora.com and the Lux Unfiltered site is $48. This price is ever so slightly higher, but still comparable, to other luxury tanners in this space. For the unmatched color and durability, I feel it’s a great cost to benefit ratio. However, it is still almost $50 so I felt the need to take off half a point. (Ironically, I hate people who take stars off for pricing in their reviews).
Does Lux Unfiltered Transfer onto Clothing or Sheets?
I normally do my self tanner at night, right after I shower and exfoliate. So I cannot speak as to whether this transfers to clothing. The brand claims that Lux Unfiltered will not to transfer to sheets, but unfortunately, my sheets do still turn slightly orange if I’m sleeping in shorts at night. So on nights that I’m self tanning I’ll try to sleep in a loose, dark colored, lightweight pant as to not ruin my sheets.
The good news is that if there is any color transfer on the sheets it easily comes out when you wash your bedding, with no signs of residue or color afterwards. I like to use this white booster that works like a charm to brighten up whites and keep them looking brand new.
So, I hope you found my honest Lux Unfiltered review helpful! Overall, this is an excellent self tanner and is my new holy grail. I will continue to experiment with other products if something intriguing comes my way, but for now I am very happy with this tanning mousse.
Have you tried Lux Unfiltered? What do you think of it? Send me a DM on Instagram and let me know your thoughts!
And if you’re looking for my St. Tropez vs. St. Moriz self tanner review, check out this post here.
Xx
