How to Use Xtan Sunless 2026: Mousse, Drops, Airbrush and Tent, Step by Step

It's 9 p.m. on a Thursday, the party is on Saturday, and there's a can of tanning mousse on the bathroom shelf that you bought with every good intention. You've watched the videos. You still have a quiet fear of orange palms and a stripe down the back you can't reach.

Here's the good news: X-Tan Sunless prints a short "How to use" box on almost every product page, and the instructions are refreshingly simple. Olivia Reviews collected those directions from xtansunless.com on October 27, 2026, put them in the order you'd actually follow them, and added the numbers that matter, from how many drops go into a bottle to how long to wait before you rinse.

Quick take: At home, it's mousse on a velour mitt, circular motions, a brush for hands and feet, and a rinse after at least 8 hours. For artists, it's a shaken Bronzite solution, 1 to 2 coats of roughly 2 oz, a warm rinse after 8 hours and full color over 48 hours, with optional Bronzite Drops at 1 to 2 droplets per 4 oz. Stock up on the right tools first and see today's Xtan Sunless deals.

First, Which Routine Is Yours?

X-Tan sells to two kinds of people, and the directions split the same way:

• You tan yourself at home. Your tools are the Tanning Mousse, a mitt, and the Blending Brush. Skip straight to Routine 1.
• You tan clients. Your tools are a spray solution, an HVLP machine or airbrush, and a tent. The brand marks its spray solutions and Bronzite Drops for professional use only, so Routines 2 to 4 are written for you.

Routine 1: Mousse and Mitt at Home

The X-Tan Sunless Tanning Mousse is $44 for a full can (or $95.50 for five and $150 for ten if you share with friends), and the 3.4 oz travel size is $22. The brand describes it as a silky, non-sticky mousse that "goes on like butter" for a gradual, natural-looking tan, listing natural DHA, a collagen-infused formula and paraben-free. Here are its directions, step by step:

1. Pump onto the mitt, not your hand. The brand's Streak-Free Self Tanning Mitt ($11) is soft velour with a waterproof lining, so your palm stays clean.
2. Work in circles. Apply in a circular motion, spreading the mousse evenly across one body part at a time.
3. Give joints extra attention. The mitt's own directions say to pay extra attention to joints and dry areas for a seamless finish.
4. Blend the tricky edges. Use the Blending Brush ($17) on hands, feet, wrists and ankles.
5. Wait, then rinse. X-Tan says to rinse off the bronzer at 8 hours or more for a medium to dark result.
6. Wash the mitt after each use.

For the face and neck, the brand pitches the travel mousse as the one for "face, neck and hard-to-reach areas." And for your back, the 3-in-1 Streak-Free Self Tanning Mitt includes a long back applicator; its directions say to use it "to reach your entire back and shoulders with the same even, streak-free motion." It sits in the clearance section, so check the price on the day.

Routine 2: Spraying a Client With Bronzite

Set up the room

The XL Black Pop Up Tanning Tent ($89) has a clear sewn-in top, a waterproof floor and a 6-foot opening. The brand's directions: take it out of the bag and release it so it pops up, place it on a flat surface, have your client step inside, and spray with the clear top giving you full visibility. For extra overspray protection, attach an extraction fan to the built-in opening. Afterward, it folds down and goes back in the bag.

Set up the machine

For the Mini-Mist T-6000 ($449), X-Tan's steps are: place the unit on a stable surface, connect the T-6000 applicator to the 10-foot Air-Flex hose, fill the solution cup and adjust the settings. The listing notes the applicator has no O-rings, which makes it simpler to take apart and clean after each session. One step people forget: register within 30 days at the manufacturer's warranty page to get the extended 4-year warranty; unregistered machines default to 2 years.

Spray the solution

Bronzite Medium, which X-Tan lists at DHA 9% on a neutral brown base, costs $27 for 8 oz, $82 for 32 oz and $295 for 128 oz. Its directions apply across the Bronzite range:

1. Lightly shake the bottle, then pour into the solution cup.
2. Use 1 to 2 coats, about 2 oz, to cover the entire body.
3. Keep a steady, even distance from the body while spraying.
4. Tell the client to warm rinse after 8 hours. The tan fully develops over 48 hours.
5. Store the bottle at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.

The label is clear on one point: do not rub spray solution directly onto skin. That's what the mousse is for. If you're building a kit around these steps, check current Xtan Sunless offers before you place a big order.

Routine 3: Custom Color With Bronzite Drops

Bronzite Drops ($22 each) come in Amethyst Violet, Ruby Red and Jade Green. X-Tan pitches them as a way to "customize every tan" without stocking multiple solutions. They're for professional use only, and the instructions are precise:

• Never apply the drops directly to skin.
• Shake the additive bottle lightly before each use.
• Add 1 to 2 full droplets for every 4 oz of Bronzite solution.
• Mix lightly into the solution before you spray.

Scaled up to the bottle sizes X-Tan sells, that ratio works out like this:

Bronzite bottle	Brand ratio	Drops for the whole bottle	Per 2 oz full-body session
8 oz	1–2 per 4 oz	2–4 droplets	About ½–1 droplet
32 oz	1–2 per 4 oz	8–16 droplets	About ½–1 droplet
128 oz	1–2 per 4 oz	32–64 droplets	About ½–1 droplet

The table is simple arithmetic from the brand's stated ratio. Because a single session uses about 2 oz, most artists will find it easier to mix a 4 oz batch than to dose one client at a time.

Routine 4: Contour With the Cordless Airbrush

The Cordless Airbrush Gun for Contour Spray Tans ($122) is a copper-and-ABS gun made for contour work without a hose. The brand's directions, plus its warnings:

1. Always secure the cup onto the gun before pouring in solution.
2. Fill the cup, adjust airflow and spray intensity, and use smooth, even strokes over the contour areas.
3. Don't leave solution sitting in the cup longer than needed.
4. Run gun cleaner through after each use rather than taking it apart.
5. If you must disassemble it, record a video first so you can put it back together.

X-Tan adds that using the gun incorrectly voids the warranty, so those last two steps are worth taking seriously. If you'd like a matched pair of shades for contouring, the Simplified Contour Bundle combines Bronzite Medium (9% DHA) and Bronzite Dark (12% DHA) in a white X-Tan box.

The Finishing Touch: Shimmer Lotion

The Sunless Safe Shimmer Body Lotion is $19.99 for 8 oz. Its directions: start with clean, dry skin, massage a small amount in with circular motions and blend evenly. X-Tan says you can wear it alone, layer it over a spray tan, or mix it with your sunless tan before or after application for an all-over glow.

Quick Reference: Tools, Prices and Timing

Product	Price (USD, Oct 27)	Key direction
Tanning Mousse	$44 (travel 3.4 oz: $22)	Mitt, circles, rinse at 8+ hours
Streak-Free Self Tanning Mitt	$11	Wash after each use
Blending Brush	$17	Hands, feet, wrists, ankles
Bronzite Medium	$27 / $82 / $295	1–2 coats, about 2 oz; rinse after 8 hours
Bronzite Drops	$22	1–2 droplets per 4 oz; never on skin
Cordless Airbrush Gun	$122	Cup on first; cleaner after each use
Pop Up Tanning Tent	$89	Flat surface; extraction fan optional
Mini-Mist T-6000	$449	Register within 30 days for 4 years

Mistakes X-Tan's Own Directions Warn Against

• Rubbing spray solution on by hand. The Bronzite labels say not to.
• Putting Bronzite Drops straight on skin, or overdosing beyond the stated ratio.
• Rinsing too early. Both the mousse and Bronzite directions point to 8 hours.
• Leaving solution in the airbrush cup or pulling the gun apart without a plan.
• Forgetting the machine warranty registration window.
• Skipping the blending step on hands, feet, wrists and ankles.

Before You Order

X-Tan's refund policy allows cancellation within 7 days of receiving your order, in writing, for unopened goods in original packaging, with a 20% restocking fee, and only regular-priced goods can be refunded. The shipping policy says the brand ships to the U.S., APO/FPO addresses and Canada, that some spray tan systems may ship straight from the manufacturer, and that shipping rates are weight-based for many items. The site's announcement bar was also advertising a free-ground-shipping offer for larger U.S. orders (equipment excluded) when we looked; for the current terms, browse today's Xtan Sunless coupons.

→ Check the latest Xtan Sunless coupon codes and deals

How-To FAQ

How long should I leave X-Tan mousse on?

The brand says to rinse off the bronzer at 8 hours or more for a medium to dark tan.

How much Bronzite solution does one spray tan use?

About 2 oz, applied in 1 to 2 coats, according to the product directions.

Can I use Bronzite Drops on myself at home?

X-Tan marks them for professional use only and says never to apply them directly to skin. They're mixed into Bronzite spray solution.

How do I clean the cordless airbrush?

Run gun cleaner through it after each use rather than disassembling it, per the brand.

Final Verdict

X-Tan's directions are short, specific and easy to follow, which is exactly what you want when the party is on Saturday. Home tanners need little more than the mousse, a mitt and a brush, plus the patience to wait eight hours. Artists get clear numbers for coats, rinse times and color drops, along with tools that come with their own rules. Read the box on each product page, follow it in order, and the result is in your hands, not on your palms.

→ See today's Xtan Sunless deals before you stock up

Olivia Reviews researched Xtan Sunless using its official website, product listings and published policies in October 2026. We haven't personally tested these products. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.