Caudalie Divine Legs Tinted Body Lotion ($38.00 for 3.4 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a “l’ightweight tinted body lotion to give legs a touch of sun without the use of a self-tanner.” This is a very temporary product that’s really a one-and-done after a day, as it washes off with water (which means it is not waterproof, it’s not even water-resistant).  It’s not what you’d reach for if it was rainy, you were heading to the beach or pool, and so forth.

I am absolutely not an expert on self-tanner, as I’ve used less than half a dozen in my lifetime, and I’m just not motivated to rush out and try them all. I just don’t look at my skin color and feel wanting of a tan or deeper or more golden color all-over, or else maybe there are so many other wants (acne-free skin for eternity, brows that never need tweezing, and so on) that this one is a low priority. Frankly, I’m still struggling to apply an all-over body moisturizer still on a regular basis! When I received this, I figured I’d photograph it and give it a whirl–it looked pretty, wasn’t a real commitment, and if I hated it, I could wash it off right away. (I am forever scarred from The Wedding Planner scene where a bride comes in with self-tanner gone wrong on her face.)

Divine Legs is warm, golden, and has slight yellow-red undertones. It has soft copper and gold pearl in it, which is very fine, so they don’t look like chunks of glitter or large sparkle on the skin and instead give off a subtle sheen. My arm is light-medium (about NC20), and you can see that it definitely deepens, darkens, and warms up my skin by three or four shades. What I liked most was that it was very quick to dry down (it’s nearly instant), and it didn’t feel tacky at any point during the wear.  I applied it all over my legs with my hands, and I didn’t see any streaking, even around knees and ankles. The consistency is thin, but not quite watery, so it spreads out easily, but it does have quite a tint.

I feel like it’s a good fit for someone who doesn’t want to commit to a real tan for long but would like their legs (or another body part) to match the rest of their body for a special occasion. It’s expensive, given it’s a one-time use lotion, so at this price point, a true self-tanner might be a better investment and more practical, especially if you would use this regularly. I must admit, I do like the way warms up my coloring, but personally, I’d want something with less tint and isn’t quite as yellow-toned. (Any recommendations?)  It lasts until I shower, and I didn’t have any transfer on clothes.

It is scented with Caudalie’s signature Divine, which is described as “grapefruit, rose, pink pepper, vanilla, cedar, and white musk.” I must be the only person on the planet who doesn’t like it, as the Divine Oil’s scent is much revered. It’s a warm, woody floral; slightly sweet from the vanilla, then peppery and warm and woody (the cedar). All notes that should sing to me, but it just doesn’t for me (I think peppery sweetness doesn’t do it for me)–the scent is strong enough that I can smell it when I’ve only applied the lotion to my legs. It doesn’t have a lot of projection, so your neighbor down the street won’t catch whiffs of it, but if you’re sensitive to scents, it may be too strong for you. It does continue to linger for six hours or so on me.

Caudalie Divine Legs Tinted Body Lotion

Caudalie Divine Legs Tinted Body Lotion

Caudalie Divine Legs Tinted Body Lotion