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.
Sunnee BAE is for the girl who wants great skin and a gorgeous glow without the extra steps. These formulas are packed with ultra-hydrating, marine-based ingredients like blue-green algae, sea kelp, wakame extract, and moringa seed oil—everything your skin craves when it’s feeling dry or dull. The packaging is sleek, modern, and doesn’t come with an outer box because I wanted it to feel effortless and accessible but still elevated.
The Breakdown
Prices: $9-$45, excluding merch | Benefits: Less expensive, marine ingredient-based
The Testing Process
Stacking these prices up next to one another (I mean, can a $16 tanner really be as good as a $50 formula?) I spent a few days fairly testing both lines—dedicating the right side of my face and body to the Dolce Glow products and the left side to Sunnee Bae. Setting aside my worries of looking like a half-and-half mess, I got to testing.
Contour Wands
Shaped similarly to a certain contour wand we all know and love, these products do more than just sculpt your cheekbones. Their bronzy formulas are boosted with dihydroxyacetone, or DHA—the sugar-based tanning agent in most self-tanning products—that gradually bronzes the skin wherever it’s applied.
I used the Dolce Glow Contour Self-Tanning Sculpt + Glow on the right side of my face, taking in its golden, shimmery goodness before switching over to the left, where I dabbed on the matching cushiony applicator of the Sunnee BaeSide Sea Sculpt Contour. These products did not call for a specific development time—they simply deepen gradually, so I decided to wear it for a full day of work plus my evening plans, clocking in at about 10 hours total.
How to Choose
Who would you recommend each line to, considering lifestyle, price point, etc?
Alysa: I always say [that] Dolce Glow is for the glam, and Sunnee Bae is for the go. If you’re someone who lives for a more luxe beauty ritual, who wants skincare benefits like firming and brightening packed into your tanning routine, Dolce Glow is your match. It’s ideal for people who prioritize self-care and are willing to invest in premium formulas. Sunnee Bae is perfect for my Gen Z and millennial babes—or really anyone who wants a glow that’s easy, fun, and fits into a busier, on-the-go lifestyle. The price point is more accessible, but the quality is still top-tier. It’s great for first-time tanners or anyone who wants results. Again, it’s really dependent on where you are at in your skincare and self-tanning journey.
Q&A
What do you want shoppers to take away from each brand?
Alysa: I got my very first spray tan at a time in my life when, honestly, I didn’t even know how I was going to afford it—but I did it because everyone else was doing it. What I didn’t expect was the immediate confidence boost I felt afterward. It was such a small beauty service, but it made me feel seen. That moment stuck with me, and it’s why I built these brands: to help others feel that same confidence, no matter where they are in life. There’s so much intention behind every formula we’ve created.
What are your desert island products from Dolce Glow and Sunnee Bae?
Alysa: If I had to narrow it down to my desert island must-haves, I’m definitely packing a few essentials from each line that I truly can’t live without.
- Dolce Glow Acqua Hydrating Self-Tanning Water: It’s so lightweight, refreshing, and gives the most beautiful glow without needing to rinse. It’s a go-to for me when I want that natural glow with zero fuss.
- Sunnee BAEside Sea Spray: Being alone on an island, I’d take [this]—no question. It’s the ultimate multitasker. I don’t need anyone’s help to apply because its 360 design allows for me to spray it upside down and get those hard-to-reach areas.
- Dolce Glow Self-Tanning Contour Sculptor: I also can’t forget our viral sculptor. It’s the best 3-in-1 product that sculpts, highlights, and enhances all the right places, whether I’m wearing makeup or not.
- Dolce Glow SPF 50 Body Balm: [This] is a MUST. It’s shimmer-infused and melts into the skin like butter, and actually makes you want to reapply. If I’m stuck in the sun, I want to stay protected and glowing.
