ICONIC LONDON Prep-Set-Tan Glow | Shimmering Self Tanning Facial Mist with Hyaluronic Acid, Cruelty-Free, Vegan Makeup, 2.53 Fl oz

The packaging on this is gorgeous, and you do need to shake it well before use. It even makes that little clicky sound, like shaking a bottle of nail polish, which reassures you the shimmer is mixed evenly. The liquid inside looks very sparkly, but that shimmer doesn’t really translate to the skin. Once applied, it’s very subtle and doesn’t leave a glittery finish.The mist itself is very fine. I closed my eyes and did one light all over spray, and even that single application gave me the natural color you see in my photo. The formula is buildable, so you can deepen the glow with a second application after a few hours or the next day. What impressed me most is that it gets darker without turning orange, which isn’t always the case with self-tanners.The instructions suggest applying to bare skin and blending with a tool like a fluffy brush. I prefer prepping with a hydrating serum, then misting evenly, and I found that just lightly tapping with my fingertips was enough to blend any excess for a smooth finish. This applied evenly with no streaks, and while it feels lightly hydrating, it’s not moisturizing enough to skip a cream afterward, at least for me.The scent is worth mentioning. At first spray, it’s strong and tropical. For me this is fruity, coconutty, with even a slightly burnt note. Within about 10 minutes it fades, leaving behind the typical self-tanner smell (hello, Maillard reaction). For me, color developed in about an hour and a half.I didn’t experience any irritation, just a subtle, believable glow! At 52, I think it’s important to show that products like this can work on mature skin, not just on the much younger reviewers we often see.Overall: beautiful packaging, fine mist, natural buildable color, and a glow that develops without streaks or orangey tones.