This is a review I never thought I would have written.
I haven’t used anything like this in… 10 years? Gosh, I can’t even remember, it’s been that long.
I just don’t see the use for it. For self-tanners, I mean. I love my pale skin. It rocks.
And my natural white looks a lot better than fake streaky orange on the face. That’s what my teen self usually got when she dabbled with this stuff.
So, why did I go back? It’s not for money. I got this sample for free, that’s true, but this is not a sponsored post. No one paid me to talk about, let alone rave, about it. Pinky swear.
It’s all down to curiosity. This beauty geek is just dying to try the latest skincare innovations out there. And that means I need to know how well a DHA-free self-tanner works (DHA is the thing that turns your face into a streaky orange mess).
I think Hylamide Glow Radiance Booster (I know, with a name like that everyone thinks it’s a brightening serum, not a self-tanner) is the only one that doesn’t use it. At least, it’s the only one I’ve come across so far.
How does it work instead? And most important, does it work?
What’s In Hylamide Glow Radiance Booster?
ERYTHRULOSE TO TAN SKIN
Erythrulose is a carbohydrate extracted from red berries. It’s pale yellow in colour so that’s why Hylamide Glow Radiance Booster is yellow, too. Not just the packaging. I mean, the serum is yellow, too.
Erythrulose reacts with the amino acids in your skin, turning it a golden brownish hue.
So, how is it different from DHA?
| ERYTHRULOSE | DHA |
|---|---|
| Takes 2-3 days to work. | Takes 2-4 hours to work. |
| Tan fades quickly. | Tan fades more slowly. |
| Creates a lighter-coloured, natural-looking tan. | Creates a stronger, often unnatural-looking tan. |
| Doesn’t streak. | Streaks. |
| Not drying. | Can dry out skin. |
Erythrulose isn’t for the impatient. But if you don’t mind waiting a little longer, you’ll be rewarded with a glowing, natural looking tan. Minus the streakiness, too.
I don’t know about you, but I’m sold.
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GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN
Let’s start with the basics. Glycerin is in pretty much ALL skincare products for a reason.
It’s a wonderful humectant: that’s a fancy way of saying it draws moisture from the air and locks it into your skin. Once there, this extra moisture softens, plumps, and brightens your skin.
That’s the base you want to build the rest of your skincare routine on.
Related:The Complete Guide To Glycerin In Skincare
ANTIOXIDANTS TO SLOW PREMATURE AGING
Hylamide Glow Radiance Booster doesn’t just give you that beautiful sunkissed look. It also helps you slow down premature aging. Now that’s something most self-tanners don’t do.
How does it do it? Antioxidants. These little molecules neutralise free radicals before they give you dark spots and wrinkles. This booster contains a few. Here are the highlights:
- Oxidized glutathione: A more powerful form of the amino acid glutathione. This amino acid is awesome. It’s a powerful antioxidant that fights wrinkles and even reduces dark spots.
- Superoxide dismutase: An antioxidant enzyme that destroys Hydroxyl Radical (the worst type of free radical ever). It also helps prevent wrinkles and age spots, heal wounds faster, and protect against UV rays.
Related: Is Superoxide Dismutase The Most Powerful Antioxidant Of All?
Texture
Lightweight and fast-absorbing.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free.
How To Use It
Daily, right after cleansing.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Hyalmide Glow Radiance Booster gave me the most natural-looking tan I’ve ever had.
After only a couple of days, my skin started turning a lovely golden hue. I suppose it’s the same shade my skin would develop naturally if it ever got past the burning stage when meeting the sun.
It was a bit odd to see myself with a tan after so many years (I think the last time I got one – without the clumsy help of DHA – I was in third grade), but it looked surprisingly natural. Even my friends commented on how healthy I looked. Nope, not even one of them could tell I was using a self-tanner.
That’s because I always remembered to apply it to my neck as well. If not, I would’ve looked weird indeed! While we’re on the topic, wash your hands well after application. You don’t want the palms of your hands to get more tanned than your face.
Who Is This For?
Anyone who wants a natural tan.
Who Is This Not For?
- Anyone who doesn’t like a tan
- Anyone who wants a fast tan
- Anyone who wants a deep tan
Packaging
A see-through, yellow bottle with a dropper applicator. Sleek and gets the job done.
Does Hylamide Glow Radiance Booster Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Fast-acting Booster creates a radiant backdrop to the skin while a fermentation-derived keto-sugar builds a golden glow within 2-3 days. | True. The fermentation-derived keto-sugar is erythrulose, by the way. |
| Raspberry Keto-Sugar A purified keto-sugar that reacts with skin amino acids to produce a golden tone within 2-3 days without the sensory drawbacks and potential negative effects associated with DHA (the technology used commonly in self-tan and short-term radiance-boosting skincare). |
True. |
| Oxidized Reactive Glutathione Complex Superior form of the amino acid L-Glutathione with extremely high stability to even the appearance of skin pigmentation. |
True. |
Price & Availability
£17.00 at Deciem
Do You Need It?
If you’re looking for a natural and non-streaky self-tan in a bottle, this is it.
Dupes & Alternatives
- The Chemistry Brand Glow Oil ($20.00)
Ingredients
aqua (water), erythrulose, glycerin, propanediol, ppg-26-buteth-26, acetyl hexapeptide-1, dextran, superoxide dismutase, oxidized glutathione, polypodium vulgare rhizome extract, cetraria islandica thallus extract, sphagnum magellanicum extract, lactobacillus/eriodictyon californicum ferment extract, phospholipids, acacia senegal gum, xanthan gum, citric acid, phytic acid, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, dimethyl isosorbide, ethoxydiglycol, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, ethyl 2,2-dimethylhydrocinnamal.
Do you plan on trying anything from Deciem?
The “science-y” packaging reminded me of them and they’ve been getting a lot of buzz on site I follow…
Ana, definitely. They’re one of the most interesting brands I’ve come across lately. At the moment, I’m using The Ordinary retinol serum, which is pretty awesome. I will explore the other lines and brands after that, so stay tuned.
How do you use this?
How to introduce to a skincare regimen with tretinoin (at night) and vit C serum and/ or ha serum (daytime).
In what order would you apply?
Suzanne, I applied this after my antioxidant serum in the morning, so put it on after the vit C or ha serum. The instructions say to use twice a day, but I find that using it in the morning only works as well, just a little more slowly.
Thank you Gio!
And I am too looking forward to more reviews of the different Deciem brands and products. 🙂
They do have a self tan product for body as well. Hint, hint. 😉
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it. I’ll add that one to the list.
Hello again
I finally got around to buy this and can’t wait to try it out.
Can I ask, how much did you use per application? For both face and neck? How did you apply it to get it as even as possible?
Suzanne, I used a pea sized amount and patted it in. It’s really amazing, I’m sure you’ll love it.
Oh, and exfoliate regularly. It’ll help create a smoother and even canvas for your tan.
I usually embrace my pale skin too but a DHA-free tanner sounds intriguing! It’s about time the industry moved on from streaky, smelly DHA! I’d be interested to try this in the summer months!
Sophie x
http://www.thescientificbeauty.com
Sophie, I couldn’t agree more! I’m sure you’ll like it too. The science behind it is intriguing too.