What's the Difference Between a $50 and $16 Self-Tanner? I Tested Both At Once to Find Out
Call it my birthright as a girl with mostly Italian genes, but I have this innate need to chase a tan year-round. Though I don’t go Jersey Shore-level (iconic as it was), I’m always searching for that perfect bronze that doesn’t skew orange. Lucky for me, I’m a beauty editor and get self-tanners, bronzing drops, and tanning waters dumped on my doorstep every week, which means I’ve tested just about everything so you don’t have to.
In one of these mass deliveries was a box full of gorgeously packaged tan and glass bottles, all dubbed “Dolce Glow,” and another with baby blue and yellow vials tagged “Sunnee Bae.” While nothing between these descriptions would suggest that they’re even in the same category, I began noticing a trend as I set products from the different brands down next to one another. As opposite in aesthetics as they may be (one gives off chic, old money Calabasas vibes while the other feels like beachy-cute Florida), the product names, packaging, and objectives were nearly identical. With that, I pulled out my laptop and got down to business.
Isabel Alysa is a celebrity tanning artist and the brains behind Dolce Glow, a luxe self-tan beauty brand that creates consumer and professional products alike. Now, I’m no newcomer when it comes to these names—Dolce Glow has been a mainstay among cool girls for years, boasting fans like Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez, and Olivia Culpo (she even trusted the brand with her wedding bronze). Alysa herself is an industry giant, with clients like Kim Kardashian and Miley Cyrus going to the artist personally for their red carpet-ready glows. I’d gotten so used to the tanning artist’s chic, neutrals-driven style that I hardly realized that Sunnee Bae was Alysa’s second brainchild—so naturally, I went straight to the source.
The Best Dolce Glow and Sunnee Bae Products, at a Glance
What makes both of your lines, Dolce Glow and Sunnee Bae, different from one another?
Alysa: I’ve come to realize that everyone is at a different place in their skincare and self-tanning journey. That’s what really inspired me to create two lines that stay true to what we do best: delivering a beautiful, natural-looking tan while offering different experiences depending on what your skin needs.
Dolce Glow is my first baby. I poured everything I knew from my experience as a spray tan artist into making self-tanners that feel like a luxurious skincare ritual. It’s infused with ingredients I truly believe in—multiple types of hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, macadamia oil, green tea leaf extract, and vitamin A. These all are known to help support anti-aging, boost collagen, and help restore the skin’s balance. From the formula to the outer packaging, every detail was designed to reflect that elevated experience.
The Breakdown
Prices: $5-$140 | Benefits: Pro-quality, skincare-based formulas, elevated packaging
Alysa: Sunnee BAEskin came from a different part of my heart. I wanted to create something just as effective, but a little more laid-back and accessible. There was a time in my life when I couldn’t afford good skincare, let alone a luxury self-tanner, and I promised myself that if I ever had the opportunity, I’d create something for that girl—the one who deserves to feel confident and beautiful, even when she’s going through it. That’s why this brand means so much to me.
