Isle of Paradise vs Loving Tan.
The face-tan benchmark against the body-tan benchmark. Two premium products built for different jobs, the question is which job you're hiring them for.
Both brands are premium-priced. Both are sold at Mecca and Adore. Both have cult followings among Australian beauty editors. But they're solving different problems. Isle of Paradise built its reputation on the drops format, concentrated DHA that mixes into your existing moisturiser, calibrated for face. Loving Tan built its reputation on the express mousse, a salon-grade body tan that develops in two hours and rivals professional spray tan.
Head-to-head.
| Criterion | Isle of Paradise | Loving Tan | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best format | Drops (face) | Mousse (body) | Different uses |
| Develop time | 4-8 hours (slow build) | 2 hours | Loving Tan |
| Naturalness on face | 9.4/10 | n/a | Isle of Paradise |
| Naturalness on body | 8.0/10 | 9.4/10 | Loving Tan |
| Undertone control | Light/Medium/Dark drops | Original/Dark/Ultra Dark | Tie |
| Longevity | 5-7 days at maintenance | 8-10 days | Loving Tan |
| Price (per bottle) | $45 | $65 | Isle of Paradise |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes, build slowly | No, full coat at once | Isle of Paradise |
| Best surface | Face, decolletage | Full body | Different uses |
| Glow score | 9.3 | 9.4 | Loving Tan (body) |
Pick by.
- Face only
- Isle of Paradise Drops, no contest. Mix into your moisturiser, build over days.
- Body only
- Loving Tan 2HR Express, the premium body benchmark. Original or Dark, not Ultra Dark on first try.
- Both face and body
- Buy both. Use Isle of Paradise on the face, Loving Tan on the body. Match undertones (cool with cool, warm with warm).
- Total beginner
- Isle of Paradise Drops, the slow-build forgives mistakes.
- Pre-event tan
- Loving Tan 2HR Express, the fastest premium develop on the Australian shelf.
- Maintenance week-to-week
- Isle of Paradise Drops in moisturiser daily, Loving Tan reapplied weekly on body.
- Best for darker skin tones
- Loving Tan Ultra Dark, gets to the deepest natural-looking colour at full development.
Frequently asked questions.
- Should I buy Isle of Paradise or Loving Tan?
- Buy both, they solve different problems. Isle of Paradise is built for face; Loving Tan is built for body. Trying to use one for both produces a worse result than using each on its specialty.
- Is Loving Tan really worth $65?
- On full-body application weekly, Loving Tan delivers the most natural-looking premium tan we've tested. The price feels high until you compare it to a $60 salon spray tan that lasts the same length of time. Bottle lasts 8-10 applications, so cost-per-application is $6.50-8.
- Can I use Isle of Paradise Drops on my body?
- Yes, but it's not the best use. The drops format builds slowly, fine for face where you want subtle daily build, slow for full-body where Loving Tan's two-hour develop wins. Drops on body cost more per application than Loving Tan.
- Which has the more natural finish?
- On face: Isle of Paradise. On body: Loving Tan. Different formulations are calibrated for different surface chemistries.
- Are they both vegan and cruelty-free?
- Yes. Both are certified vegan and cruelty-free.
- Where can I buy them in Australia?
- Both are sold at Mecca, Adore Beauty, and direct from each brand's site. Loving Tan also has limited David Jones distribution.
- Do either of these stain sheets?
- Both can transfer to white sheets if you tan and go straight to bed. Loving Tan's express formulation locks faster (after 2 hours of develop). Isle of Paradise drops mixed in moisturiser dry to touch within 5 minutes but full development is 4-8 hours.