I Tested the By Terry Tea to Tan Hydra Bronze Mist After It Went Viral On TikTok—And I Have Thoughts
Can this give me the most radiant summer skin imaginable?
I don’t know if I’m showing my age here a little (I’m a loud and proud 29-year-old), however, it’s always a little trippy when a product you’ve used and loved for ages suddenly goes mega-viral. So you can imagine my surprise when I was doing my nightly scroll on TikTok and came across a treasure trove of videos showing people falling in love with a product that I have used and adored for years: the By Terry Tea to Tan Hydra Bronze Mist.
The timing couldn't be better. Bronzing tints, glow mists, and body shimmers have become some of TikTok's favorite ways to fake a post-vacation glow (shoutout to the just-as-viral Victoria Beckham Color Wash Bronze Water Tint and Lux Unfiltered Summer Nights Body Tint). As lightweight, skin-first makeup continues to dominate, it's no surprise that another formula for sexy summer skin is having a moment.
The rise of these lightweight bronzing formulas reflects a broader shift in beauty right now with the start of summer: less coverage, more glow. That's certainly been true for my own makeup routine. My foundations have gotten lighter (some have even been fully replaced by skin tints), my four-step lip combinations have been replaced by stains and glosses, and even my skincare routine has seen a complete overhaul. Everything is getting more lightweight and dewy and that’s exactly why I started using my Tea to Tan formula again—it’s the perfect product to add a bronzy glow to the skin without making your pores feel weighed down or suffocating in the heat.
If you’re curious about what all the hype is about, discover my in-depth review of the liquid bronzer, also known as my summer secret sauce. (Well, if the hundreds of videos on TikTok have anything to say about it, it’s not so secret anymore.) Still, the glowy tint that the formula provides is undetectable, so maybe that’s the same thing, right?
The Formula and Ingredients
One of the most fascinating things about this formula, to me, is that it essentially has taken an age-old hack—using tea bags to tint the skin—and perfected it. Gone are the leaves that have to be steeped to give the color that you’re looking for. In its place? This chic bottle that mists the perfect amount of product, every time, anywhere on the body. It’s the perfect product to both travel with and incorporate into your everyday routine at home, and mine hasn’t left my vanity area in weeks—I’ve been using it that much.
As for the ingredients, black and red tea complexes provide lots of antioxidant support to the formula while also giving the liquid a DHA-free tint. Moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and cherry essence contribute to the formula's elegance, allowing the liquid time to blend before drying down, which helps avoid patchiness. Did I also mention that this tint dries down matte and is completely transfer-proof? It’s sorcery.
The Texture, Application, and Shades
This is a liquid, water-based product, so expect it to work like any other face mist in your routine. While the original version, which is the one I have, came in a glass bottle, the newer iteration comes in a plastic one. Both have an atomizer component that allows the formula to be sprayed onto the face or onto a brush with ease, making for quick, easy blending into the skin. Tea to Tan only comes in one color, but it’s a formula that layers beautifully, so you can build it up to your desired depth.
The Takeaway
All in all, I’m glad that Tea to Tan is having its moment right now, and I absolutely co-sign the hype it’s getting on social media. I personally stick to using it on my face, but it can absolutely be used all over the body, including the legs and décolletage, for a glowy, just-got-back-from-vacation vibe. It’s a hot product, so catch it while you can, and while you’re at it, shop a few more of my By Terry favorites below.
Shop More By Terry Products
Another underrated gem from this line is this illuminating fluid that makes my skin glimmer.
This powder? Undetectable.
The apocalypse could happen right now, and I promise this lipstick would stay on through it all.
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