Meet Three Warriors: The Skincare-Led Tanning Brand Making Glow Feel Good Again
We sat down with Megan from Three Warriors to talk safe tanning, skin confidence, organic formulas, and why the future of self-tan feels a lot more like skincare.
Self-tan has come a long way from the tell-tale streaks, biscuit scent, and Thursday-night bathroom routine we all pretended was effortless. Now, our tanning goals look a little different. Think a softer, more considered, and much more skin-focused finish. Less about chasing the deepest tan possible, and more about that radiant glow.
In our Skincare & Beyond Podcast episode, we sat down with Meagan Pate, co-owner and COO of Three Warriors, the Australian self-tan brand bringing certified organic formulas to everyday radiance.
Why Sun Safety Is At The Heart Of The Brand
At Face the Future, we will always be big on protecting your skin. A glow is lovely. UV damage? Not so much.
That is why Three Warriors feels like such a natural fit. As an Australian brand, sun safety is woven into the way they think and talk about tanning.
âSun safety is so important to us, and itâs a big part of our brand, our brand values, but also the Australian culture around it,â Meagan told us.
It is a refreshing way to think about self-tan. Instead of relying on the sun for colour, Three Warriors gives you a safer route to radiance, helping you enjoy that golden glow while keeping skin health front and centre.
Certified Organic, Toxin-Free, And Built On Transparency
One thing Meagan came back to throughout the conversation was trust. For Three Warriors, being certified organic and toxin-free is about giving people confidence in what they are putting on their skin.
âWe want to build confidence in how you look and feel, but we want to give people confidence within the product integrity,â Meagan explained.
She also shared that transparency is a huge part of this, adding: âA big part of that is less about what we say about ourselves and what somebody else says about us.â
The products are certified organic by the Australian food chain, with every ingredient going through rigorous testing. Not just one hero ingredient. The full formula. For anyone who has ever flipped over a bottle and wondered what they are actually applying to their skin, that reassurance matters.
Self-Tan, But Make It Skincare
One of our favourite takeaways from the episode was how Three Warriors sees tanning as part of your everyday beauty routine, not just something you reach for before an occasion. âI think weâre going to see it as less of an occasion,â Meagan said. âItâs actually part of your beauty routine, and itâs skincare.â
That shift says a lot about where self-tan is heading. Three Warriors products sit in the tanning category, but many of the formulas feel much closer to skincare. Think face tan, gradual tan, radiance-boosting serums, and tan drops designed to work with the products you already use.
As Meagan put it: âI would say theyâre more skincare with the added benefit of radiance.â
It is glow, but with more going on underneath. Hydration, barrier support, skin-loving ingredients, and formulas designed to make your complexion look and feel better, not just more bronzed.
Shop Bestsellers
Get a free Natural Gradual Tan 30g (worth ÂŁ6.99) when you spend ÂŁ60 on Three Warriors!
Why Three Warriors Tan Looks Natural
We have all known a tan that announces itself before we do. The scent, the patchiness, the colour that feels just a little too far from believable.
Meagan explained that the brandâs plant-based formulas and plant-based scents help create a more pleasant tanning experience. Across much of the range, you will find natural lime and vanilla, which gives the products a softer, fresher feel. It's no wonder it's loved by celebrities, including Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Image credit: Three Warriors
She also explained that some traditional tanning products can develop a stronger scent because of how certain synthetic ingredients, chemicals, or pigments react with the skin. With Three Warriors, the experience feels more considered from start to finish: natural-looking colour, a more enjoyable application, and a finish that feels like skin, not a layer sitting on top of it.
Meagan's Top Tanning Tips
Of course, even the best self-tan needs the right prep. âWith tanning it is all about education,â Meagan told us. âBut itâs also about finding the product thatâs right for you, what your lifestyle is like, and whatâs your desired result.â
Her biggest tip? Prep your skin properly.
Tan develops when DHA reacts with the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. So, if you have dry patches or areas where dead skin has built up, your tan is more likely to cling. âIf you havenât prepped the skin by the scrub or an exfoliator⌠youâre gonna get grabbing,â Meagan explained.
That means exfoliating before you tan, paying extra attention to areas like elbows, knees, ankles, hands, and feet.
Then, choose your formula based on the glow you actually want. If you are after something soft and low-maintenance, Meagan recommends leaning towards a gradual tan.
âItâs easy, itâs a moisturiser, it doesnât have that scent, you donât have to wash it off,â she said. âItâs just gonna give you a beautiful golden glow to kind of go about your week.â
For mousse formulas, tools matter. A mitt or brush can help create a more even finish, especially around those areas where tan naturally grabs.
And once your tan is on? Keep the skin hydrated. âPreparation is key, and then maintenance,â Meagan said. âEnsuring that youâre keeping the skin really nice and hydrated on the other side.â
A Little Piece Of Tasmania In Every Formula
Three Warriors is proudly Tasmanian, and that provenance runs through the brandâs formulas. From spring water sourced from Hartz Mountain to olive oil hand-picked from Flinders Island, the ingredients have a clear connection to where the brand began.
âEven down to our water, itâs spring water from Hartâs Mountain, which means that itâs full of electrolytes, so itâs great for the skin,â Meagan explained.
The Tasmanian Sand Scrub also uses real Tasmanian sand, cut finely so it feels gentle on the skin. âThe Tasmanian sand scrub has Tasmanian sand in it, so thereâs no microplastics, and itâs cut really nice and fine and gentle for the skin,â she shared.
Listen To The Full Three Warriors Episode
Our conversation with Meagan went deeper into the story behind Three Warriors, the future of self-tan, product development, ingredient integrity, and why tanning is becoming much more aligned with skincare and everyday self-care.
For more tanning tips and behind-the-scenes insight from the brand, listen to the full Skincare & Beyond Podcast episode.
