Shine Brown has built a serious reputation as the tanning accelerator everyone’s talking about. From glossy Instagram reels to beach-ready TikTok tutorials, it’s been called everything from “game-changing” to “overrated.” So what’s the real story? In this no-BS breakdown of Shine Brown tanning lotion reviews, we’re looking at what actually works, what doesn’t, and whether this cult favorite deserves a spot in your beach bag.
Key Ingredients In Byrokko Shine Brown: What Makes It Work?
Byrokko Shine Brown promises to use natural ingredients to accelerate your tan. So imagine my surprise when I couldn’t find one single ingredient that gives you that sun-kissed glow. On the contrary, what the brand claims can give you a long-lasting tan can actually harm your skin. Let’s take a look:
OLIVE OIL
Olive oil sounds like something your grandma cooks with, not something you’d slather on at the beach. But in Shine Brown, it’s one of the star ingredients, and the brand swears it helps “boost your tan.” Now here’s the deal: it doesn’t actually do anything to increase melanin (which is what makes you tan). But because it’s so rich and glossy, it makes your skin more UV-absorbent. That means you might tan faster… but you’re also way more likely to burn. Not ideal. And yes, it’s super moisturising but still… I wouldn’t use it to boost my tan. Natural doesn’t always equal safe.
WALNUT OIL
Walnut oil sounds fancy, but it’s not some secret tanning weapon. It’s basically just a moisturising oil. It makes your skin soft, keeps it from peeling, and adds that glossy, just-got-back-from-somewhere-warm look. That shine? Makes your tan look better. But does it actually help you tan? Not really.
Unlike olive oil, walnut oil doesn’t mess with how your skin absorbs UV rays. Olive oil has a super low SPF 8 and it can actually make your skin more UV-absorbent. That means faster browning and faster burning. But walnut oil doesn’t do that. It doesn’t increase UV penetration, and it definitely doesn’t trigger more melanin. There’s no real science behind it speeding up your tan. No pigment boost. No magical bronze.
What you do get is hydrated, glowy skin that holds a tan better because it’s not dry and flaky. But all that talk about a “golden glow”? That’s just the light bouncing off the oil, not some built-in bronzing effect. It’s skincare, not self-tanner.
Related: Can You Get Sun Protection From Natural Ingredients?
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Petrolatum: Classic greasy base (think Vaseline) that seals in moisture and gives you that slick, shiny “just-tanned” look. Can suffocate your pores if you overdo it.
- Cocoa Butter: Thick, buttery, and makes your skin feel like velvet. Great for a smooth, even-looking tan – just don’t use it on your face if you break out easily.
- Dunaliella Salina Extract: Algae with antioxidant hype. Supposed to help your skin bounce back after sun, but let’s be real, there’s no proof it helps you tan.
- Sunflower Oil: Lightweight, no-nonsense hydrator that plays nice with most skin types. Keeps things soft without the grease.
- Hydrogenated Olive Oil: Just a thicker, more stable version of olive oil that helps the product feel rich and creamy. Nothing fancy, just functional.
- Parfum (Fragrance): Makes it smell good, but also the #1 suspect if your skin starts acting up in the sun.
- Citral: Citrus-scented fragrance note that sounds cute but can mess with sensitive skin. More burn risk if you’re sunbathing.
- Geraniol: Rose-like fragrance ingredient. Pretty scent, but it’s also a known irritant-especially under UV.
- Linalool: Another floral-smelling tagalong. Harmless for most, but if your skin’s picky, it could throw a tantrum.
- Limonene: Smells like lemons, which is great… until it oxidizes and turns into a skin irritant in the sun.
Texture
This stuff is thick and greasy. Like, proper oily. You scoop it out, and it feels like something between melted butter and body gloss. It’s not a quick-drying formula. It just sits there, making your skin look wet and shiny. If you hate sticky or slick textures, this’ll drive you nuts. If you want that oily, golden “I’ve been tanning for hours” look from minute one, you’ll probably love it.
Fragrance
It smells like holiday. Sweet, peachy, fruity smell, like a mix of vanilla, cheap sunscreen, and maybe pineapple? It’s strong. If you’re sensitive to smells or get rashes from fragranced stuff, you might wanna pass. If you’re into that “tanning oil scent” vibe, you’re good. Just know it lingers. You’ll still smell like it three hours (and one iced coffee) later.
How To Use It
Rub a small amount in circular motions onto dry skin before you go out in the sun. Don’t wear light clothes: it will stain. Don’t use it as sunscreen: it does nothing for UV protection. And don’t expect it to soak in. It won’t. It’s there to make you look shiny and tan faster (maybe), but mostly just to look shiny. You’ll need to fully scrub it off after or your sheets will hate you.
Packaging
It comes in a little black tub with shiny gold text-very “Instagram bait.” It looks sleek, sure, but it’s not the most practical thing. You have to dip your fingers in every time, which gets messy fast. Sand, oil, and a wide-mouth jar? Not the best combo if you’re actually at the beach.
It’s also not huge, and considering how much you need to slather on for full-body coverage, you’ll get through it pretty quick. No pump, no squeeze tube, just a tub you twist open and pray you don’t drop in the sand. It looks cute on your shelf, but functionally? Meh.
Performance & Personal Opinion
The brand calls this a “carrot-based self-tanning cream.” Let’s be real: that’s a stretch. There’s no carrot oil in the actual ingredient list, no DHA (the stuff that usually develops a fake tan), and nothing in here that tans you on its own. If you lie in the sun, sure, you’ll tan. But that’s because of the sun, not the cream.
As for performance? It makes you look bronzed while you’re wearing it, thanks to the shine. It gives your skin that freshly-oiled, golden look the second you put it on. But it’s all temporary. You wash it off, it’s gone. It doesn’t develop color over time like a real self-tanner would, and it doesn’t stain your skin orange. (That’s a win, I guess.)
Personally? It’s fine. It’s shiny, it smells like summer, and it looks cute on the beach. But it’s not doing anything magic. The natural oils may cause some skin damage in the sun. And the whole “carrot oil” angle feels like straight-up fiction.
✅ What I Like About Byrokko Shine Brown Tanning Cream
- It makes your skin look good instantly: shiny, smooth, bronzy.
- The texture is rich and glossy, if you’re into that slick look.
- Smells like summer in a jar.
- No DHA, so no weird fake tan smell or orange streaks.
❌ What I Don’t Like About Byrokko Shine Brown Tanning Cream
- Calls itself a carrot-based self-tanning cream but doesn’t have any carrot oil or self-tanner in it.
- Doesn’t tan you unless you’re lying in the sun (which also means: high burn risk).
- Fragrance and essential oil components can cause skin irritation, especially in the sun.
- Comes in a tub: messy, impractical, and a magnet for sand.
- Super greasy. Not something you forget you’re wearing.
Who Should Use It?
Honestly? No one. If you want a perfect tan, you need SPF, not oil that fries your skin. If you want a self-tanner, this isn’t one. And if you just want glow? There are better, less messy ways to get it.
Does Byrokko Shine Brown Tanning Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Achieve a natural, darker & long-lasting tan with less exposure to the sun or sunbed. | False. There’s no ingredient in this cream that accelerates melanin production. It doesn’t contain DHA, tyrosine, or any proven tanning actives. Any tan you get comes from sun exposure, not the product. And oils like olive oil might make you tan faster, but they also make you burn faster-not a win. |
| Expect fast results regardless of your skin type & enjoy the natural bronzing experience. | False. It doesn’t work the same for every skin type. If you’re pale, you’ll probably burn before you tan. And again, there’s no self-tanning happening here. The “results” are entirely UV-dependent. |
| Nurtures and hydrates your skin. | True. |
| No chemical nasties. | False. Let’s be honest: “chemical nasties” is a vague marketing term. This cream contains fragrance, citral, geraniol, limonene, and linalool – all of which are potential irritants, especially under sun exposure. It’s hardly the safest way to tan. |
| Fast absorbing & stain-free application. | False. Not even close. This cream is greasy. It sits on the skin, doesn’t fully absorb, and will 100% stain light clothes or sheets if you’re not careful. |
| 100% natural carrot oil for sun-ready and strengthened skin. | False. There is no carrot oil in the ingredients list. None. Not even at the bottom. This is straight-up misleading. |
| Extra virgin olive oil to boost your tan. | Half-true. It can make you tan faster, but it also makes you burn faster. It doesn’t boost melanin or protect your skin. |
| Walnut oil for a golden glow. | Kind of. Walnut oil gives your skin a nice sheen, which can make your tan look warmer. But it doesn’t actually make you tan. |
Price & Availability
£19.99 at Byrokko
The Verdict: Do You Need It?
No. It doesn’t tan you unless you lie in the sun. There’s no carrot oil, no tanning actives, and no real shortcut. Just oil, scent, and shine. If you want a glossy, beachy look for the day, fine. But if you’re after an actual self-tanning cream, this isn’t it. It’s all marketing, no magic. Skip it.
Petrolatum, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Juglans Regia Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Parfum, Citral, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
