Australia's Beauty Authority · April 2026 Sign in Premium Newsletter
Vol. 01 · Issue 04 Glow. Australia · Est. 2014
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Three Warriors: the honest verdict.

The Byron Bay-founded clean tan brand that proved DHA-free face tans can deliver. Tested across the Tan Mousse, Face Bronzing Glow Drops, and the Self-Tan Eraser.

8.5/10
Glow score
Position
Premium · Self-tan
Founded
Byron Bay, AU · 2017
Available at
threewarriors.com.au + Adore Beauty
Reviewed by
Sasha Marsh · Tan + Body Editor
Worked tans on six seasons of Australian Survivor and three Bachelorettes
Updated
April 2026
The verdict · Tan · Australian indie

The Glow read.

Three Warriors is the cleanest tan brand on the Australian shelf. The formulations use natural DHA derived from fermented sugar beets, the bronzers are mineral-based, and the brand's commitment to transparency about ingredients is real. The Tan Mousse delivers a credible 4-5 day tan that fades evenly without the streak-and-flake of mass-market tans.

The Face Bronzing Glow Drops are the standout — mineral bronzer suspended in a hydrating base, ideal for buyers who want bronzed-without-tan for events. The Self-Tan Eraser is one of the few products in the category that genuinely removes tan rather than buffing it back.

Pricing is mid-premium ($35-65) and fair for a brand that makes its formulation choices visible. Three Warriors is the brand to recommend to a tan-curious buyer who's been burned by Bondi Sands' fragrance load.

What works

  • Cleanest formulation in the tan category — fermented sugar beet DHA, mineral bronzers
  • Self-Tan Eraser genuinely removes tan rather than buffing it back
  • Face Bronzing Glow Drops are the buy for event-day bronzing without commitment
  • Australian-owned, Byron Bay-based, transparent about ingredients

What doesn't

  • Tan Mousse fades faster than Bondi Sands Pure (4-5 days vs 7)
  • Distribution is concentrated in direct + Adore Beauty — limited Mecca presence
  • Fragrance is light but present (vanilla, coconut) — not for the genuinely fragrance-averse
Glow Formulation Index · v1.0

What's actually in it.

A/ A–D
Actives
DHA derived from fermented sugar beets. Mineral bronzers (mica, iron oxides). Hyaluronic acid + glycerin hydration base.
Preservation
Phenoxyethanol-based. Within EU/TGA safe limits.
Allergens
Light fragrance (vanilla, coconut). Patch test if reactive.
Editorial concerns
None at use concentration. Editorial-preferred for the tan category.

Index grade is editorial, not paid. The grade reflects what's in the product against Glow's v1.0 watch list — it sits beside the Glow score, not instead of it. Three Warriors earns a Grade A — the cleanest formulation in the self-tan category on the Australian shelf. The brand's choice to derive DHA from fermented sugar beets rather than synthetic glycerin is a real differentiator at no performance cost.