Want to Look Stunning? Discover the Secret to a Golden Glow and Silky-Smooth Skin

Picture this. You slip into your favorite dress, look in the mirror, and think, "I look amazing!"

Your face has a beautiful golden warmth, your shoulders look smooth and cared for, and your skin catches the light with a delicate satin sheen. You smile at your reflection, feeling confident, feminine, and completely yourself.

Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

The holiday season is approaching, bringing special gatherings, beautiful outfits, and memorable evenings. We plan our hairstyles, choose our makeup, and find the perfect dress. But one of the most beautiful finishing touches to any look is smooth, radiant-looking skin.

Maybe now is the perfect time to give yourself a little extra attention.

Meet two ONYX beauty essentials designed for different needs:

• Sunl’essence Self-Tanning Drops for Face gradually create golden-looking color without sunlight or tanning beds.
• La Playa Dry Tanning Oil-Gel for Body conditions the skin, leaves a silky satin finish, and is designed for use during UV tanning.

One creates sunless color. The other gives your body an indulgent oil-gel skincare experience during tanning, but does not create a tan on its own.

Discover why having both can give you more control over your face-and-body glow.

What Actually Creates a Tan, and What Gives Skin a Satin Glow?

Before choosing your products, here's the most important difference to understand.

Sunl’essence - A Golden Facial Glow Without the Sun

Imagine a chilly morning when the sky is gray and summer feels far away.

You glance in the mirror and see a complexion with a soft, sun-kissed warmth, even though you haven't spent a minute tanning.

That's what ONYX Sunl’essence Self-Tanning Drops are designed to offer.

They contain two self-tanning ingredients, DHA and erythrulose, that react with the outer layer of your skin to gradually create a bronzed appearance.

Simply put, these drops actually create cosmetic color without UV exposure.

Mix the recommended amount with your favorite suitable moisturizer, serum, or cream, following the product directions.

Want just a subtle golden touch? Start light. Prefer a richer bronze for a special evening? Build your color gradually.

The formula also includes aloe vera and hyaluronic acid, bringing skincare-focused ingredients into your facial beauty routine.

For more on choosing your desired shade, explore our guide to self-tanning drops.

La Playa - Seven Botanical Oils for Silky, Satin-Finished Body Skin

There's something special about the way beautifully conditioned skin feels.

ONYX La Playa Dry Tanning Oil-Gel combines seven botanical oils, including coconut, argan, and macadamia, in a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula.

Imagine the smooth glide of an oil without the heavy, greasy feeling. Your skin feels soft, while a subtle satin finish gives your arms and legs a polished appearance.

What makes La Playa different?

• Beautifully soft skin: Seven botanical oils help condition and smooth the skin.
• A delicate satin sheen: A refined finish without an excessively oily look.
• Lightweight comfort: The oil-gel spreads easily and absorbs quickly.
• A tropical touch: Its Island Fruits scent makes application more enjoyable.

La Playa is a tanning accelerator intended for indoor and outdoor UV tanning routines.

It does not contain self-tanning ingredients. Applying La Playa alone will not create a brown tan. Natural tanning occurs through UV exposure, while the formula provides its own skin-conditioning benefits. The product does not guarantee faster tanning results or protect against UV damage.

Curious about the unique texture? Read our tanning oil vs. tanning gel comparison.

Turn Off the Face Lamps in a Tanning Bed? Here's Why This Pairing Makes Sense

Many women who use tanning beds choose to switch off the dedicated facial lamps when that option is available.

Some prefer keeping their complexion lighter. Others simply don't want additional direct UV exposure on their face.

But that can create a familiar beauty challenge.

Your body looks bronzed, while your face remains noticeably lighter.

And when you're getting ready for an evening out, you might wish your complexion looked a little closer in color to your shoulders and neckline.

That's where Sunl’essence becomes particularly useful.

Instead of using a body tanning accelerator on your face or seeking extra facial UV exposure, you can gradually develop cosmetic facial color with self-tanning drops.

La Playa remains your separate body product, while Sunl’essence lets you customize your complexion.

The real benefit is being able to manage facial color independently from your body tanning routine.

One important note: Turning off dedicated facial lamps does not eliminate UV exposure to your face. Other lamps in the bed may still reach that area, and indoor tanning increases the risk of skin damage. If you want a completely UV-free tan, Sunl’essence can also be used on your body.

Want to understand different tanning bed designs? Explore our guide to the differences between tanning beds.

Why Add Both Products to Your Beauty Routine?

Because a beautiful glow isn't only about color.

It's also about soft skin, the way light catches your shoulders, and that wonderful feeling when you're getting ready and know you've taken a little time just for yourself.

1. Create a More Coordinated Face-and-Body Look

Picture your favorite off-the-shoulder dress. Your neckline has a warm bronze tone, but your face looks much lighter.

Sunl’essence gives you a way to gradually add facial warmth without tanning your face under UV lamps.

You can adjust the shade separately from your body-care products, helping your overall look feel more coordinated.

Exact color matching isn't guaranteed, since results depend on your individual skin and application.

Sometimes it's the smallest beauty details that make your favorite outfit feel even more special.

2. Choose How Deep Your Facial Glow Looks

A soft golden touch for everyday beauty? A richer-looking bronze for a holiday dinner?

With Sunl’essence, you can gradually customize the intensity of your facial color.

That's especially convenient when you don't want your complexion to depend on how often your body is exposed to the sun or tanning beds.

Your face, your preferred shade, your choice.

3. Enjoy the Feel of Soft, Satin-Finished Body Skin

Beautiful-looking skin is about more than its shade.

Think of the way warm light catches your shoulders. Or the pleasure of running your hand along your arm and feeling skin that's soft and smooth.

La Playa brings that skincare experience to its intended body-tanning routine.

Its seven-oil blend conditions the skin, while the lightweight gel texture creates a smooth satin feel.

And unlike Sunl’essence, La Playa's primary cosmetic benefits are about conditioning and finish, not developing sunless color.

4. Keep Your Facial Glow Through Every Season

Who says a golden-looking complexion belongs only to summer?

Fall and winter bring their own beautiful moments. Cozy sweaters, candlelit dinners, holiday parties, and those evenings when you want to dress up just because.

Sunl’essence gives you the flexibility to maintain a cosmetic sunless glow regardless of the weather.

La Playa remains a separate body product intended for UV tanning routines when used as directed.

You can enjoy sunless facial color year-round without relying on tanning sessions to create or maintain it.

How to Build Your Face-and-Body Glow Routine

Creating a personalized beauty routine doesn't have to be complicated. The key is knowing which product belongs where and what you want it to do.

Step 1: Create Your Golden Facial Glow With Sunl’essence

Begin with clean skin and your preferred suitable facial moisturizer, serum, or cream.

Mix in Sunl’essence drops according to the manufacturer's instructions. Apply the mixture evenly, avoiding your eyes, lips, and mucous membranes. Wash your hands afterward.

Allow several hours for the color to develop before deciding whether you'd like a deeper shade.

Imagine checking your reflection later and noticing a subtle change. Your complexion looks warmer, complementing your everyday makeup or natural appearance.

A small detail that can make getting ready feel a little more special.

Step 2: Apply La Playa to Your Body as Directed

If La Playa is part of your existing UV tanning routine, shake the bottle and dispense the oil-gel with its controlled pump.

Spread it evenly over the body as directed, allowing the formula to absorb.

The blend of botanical oils conditions the skin, leaving it feeling soft with a delicate satin finish.

La Playa is for body use, not facial application. Its pump releases an oil-gel stream rather than a fine mist, so it should be spread by hand.

It is not a sunless tanner or a substitute for sunscreen.

Step 3: Find Your Favorite Facial Shade

Once your Sunl’essence color has fully developed, compare your face, neck, and shoulders in natural light.

Love the result? Keep your routine as it is.

Want a touch more warmth? Gradually adjust your next application according to the product directions.

The goal isn't a perfect shade from a photograph. It's finding a color you love seeing in the mirror.

There's no reason to increase UV exposure to make your face and body look more coordinated.

Pro Tip: Have a special event coming up? Try Sunl’essence several days beforehand. Start with a modest amount as directed, let the color fully develop, and check the result in daylight. You'll have a better idea of your preferred shade before the big occasion.

Step 4: Remember Sun Protection

Beautiful-looking skin also deserves thoughtful care.

Neither La Playa nor Sunl’essence provides SPF protection. Sunless color does not prevent sunburn, and an accelerator does not make UV tanning safe.

UV radiation, including exposure from tanning beds, damages skin and increases skin cancer risk. Use appropriate broad-spectrum sunscreen and other sun-protection measures when outdoors.

If your goal is simply a bronzed appearance, sunless tanning lets you create color without UV exposure.

Who Might Love This Two-Product Routine?

Women who switch off dedicated facial lamps: Sunl’essence offers an independent way to develop facial color without seeking additional UV exposure, while La Playa remains a separate body product.

Anyone who enjoys lightweight botanical oils: La Playa offers the conditioning feel of seven oils with a less greasy, satin-finished texture.

Beauty lovers who prefer control: Sunl’essence lets you customize facial color gradually instead of relying on the same tanning approach for every area.

Those who want an entirely sunless option: Sunl’essence can be mixed with suitable skincare for both face and body, so La Playa isn't necessary if you want to avoid UV tanning altogether.

Still comparing tanning formulas? Our ONYX guide to tanning bed lotions explains how accelerators, bronzers, and other formulas differ.

Two Different Formulas, One Beauty Routine That's Yours

The holidays are almost here, bringing special outfits, favorite people, and moments you'll want to remember.

But before the celebrations begin, remember something important.

You deserve a little extra attention, too.

Maybe it's a few peaceful minutes with your skincare. The pleasure of soft skin. A delicate satin sheen on your shoulders. Or a golden facial glow that makes you smile when you catch your reflection.

Sunl’essence lets you create customizable color without UV. La Playa offers lightweight, seven-oil body care during its intended tanning routine.

They don't replace each other, but together they give you more freedom to choose what works for your face and body.

This season, make time for yourself. Care for your skin, enjoy those little beauty rituals, and choose the glow that makes you feel your best.

Discover La Playa Dry Tanning Oil-Gel

Customize Your Glow With Sunl’essence Self-Tanning Drops

FAQ: Tanning Oil and Self-Tanning Drops

Does La Playa tanning oil create a tan without sunlight or tanning beds?

No. La Playa contains no self-tanning ingredients. It is a body tanning accelerator designed for UV tanning routines. Applying it alone does not develop a sunless bronze.

Can I use Sunl’essence on my face if I tan my body in a tanning bed?

Yes. Sunl’essence allows you to develop cosmetic facial color independently of your body tanning routine. The drops do not require UV exposure.

Does turning off the facial lamps in a tanning bed completely protect my face?

No. Even when dedicated facial lamps are switched off, UV radiation from other lamps may still reach your skin. This does not make indoor tanning safe.

How long does it take for Sunl’essence self-tanning drops to work?

A subtle change typically appears within several hours. The depth of color depends on factors including the amount used, the selected shade, and your individual skin.

Can I use Sunl’essence self-tanning drops on my body?

Yes. Sunl’essence is suitable for both face and body when mixed with an appropriate moisturizer, serum, or cream according to the product directions.

Can I mix Sunl’essence directly with La Playa oil-gel?

No. Sunl’essence should be mixed with a suitable skincare formula as directed, not directly with La Playa. The two products serve different purposes.

Is La Playa suitable for facial application?

No. La Playa is intended for body use. Avoid the eyes, lips, and delicate facial skin. Choose a product specifically suitable for your face.

Do self-tanning drops or tanning oils protect against UV damage?

No. Neither product provides SPF protection. Self-tanning color does not prevent sunburn, and tanning accelerators do not eliminate the risks associated with UV exposure.