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Thread: Self tanner reviews and favorites

  1. #1
    Senior Member LittlePixie's Avatar
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    Default Self tanner reviews and favorites

    For those of us using self tanning products to get a tan, I thought it would be useful to share our experiences with the products we've tried and/or share our favorites. This topic often comes up and this could be a great reference thread to help us find products that suits our needs best.

    I'll start with the products I've used so far:

    Neutrogena medium foam with bronzer

    Easy to apply and dries quickly so you can get dressed a few minutes after application. (Hint to avoid streakiness: apply with circular motions). Bronzer gave an immediate nice deep tan color but as all bronzers do, it rinses right off with water. The self tanner left me with a nice light/medium color The color lasted about two days.
    Faded nicely
    13.99$ / 4 to 5 applications for me.

    Neutrogena deep self tanning lotion
    I wasn't much impressed with the level of color considering this was labeled as "deep". It looked the same as the results I had gotten from the medium foam. I reapplied the next day and then got a nice result with color. Not orangey and lasted a good 3-4 days. I like this one as it absorbed and dried very quickly letting you get dressed soon after application. For those looking for deeper color, I find 2 applications of this product a few hours apart to work quite well.
    Faded nicely
    13.99$ / 4 applications for me.

    Coppertone deep tanning lotion with vanishing tint
    Similar color results as the Neutrogena lotion reviewed above. One application gave a light/medium color, two gave a perfect color. Product goes on well and dries quickly. Bronzer is nice and always helpful with application. Lasted a good 3-4 days.
    Faded nicely
    8.99$ / 4 to 5 applications.

    L'Oreal Sublime Bronze deep gelee
    By far, the worst product I've tried so far. First, it is supposedly quick dry.... Bullshit! I have very dry skin, vaseline absorbs in minutes for me. I was very surprised to see that with both tries with this product (light coats), I was left with a weird sticky greasy to the touch over an hour after applications. PJs stuck to me and it was most uncomfortable.

    Now if that wasn't bad enough, this product has an uncanny ability to darken dramatically in prone areas EVEN with precautions like applying lots of regular lotions to those areas and then barely apply the tanning product to it. My feet and hands were a mess!

    Oh.. but that's not it! This product gave me another nasty surprise! Instead of fading naturally like all the other ones I had tried previously, this one comes off in pretty big patches (2"x2")!!! But of course, them dark mess on my hands and feet are still hanging on strong! A nightmare.

    The only good thing this product had going was that 1 thin coat gave a nice color, much deeper than with the others which I needed a second application. It's nowhere near a strong enough point compared to it's awful downsides so I won't even finish what's left of it and won't recommend it.
    15.99$ / 4 to 5 applications.


    That's it so far for my reviews. I will certainly continue to update as I try new products but it would be absolutely fantastic if you join in and share your experiences or favorites with self tanning products.

    Please include, full name of the product, it's color quality and level, how the product fades. Any additional information is most welcome!

  2. #2
    Featured Member thechaosfairy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    Jergens Natural Glow, Medium
    This stuff really works well for me. It has erythulose to prevent streaking. A quick review of other products shows that the ones with erythulose normally run $15-100. This stuff is CHEAP -- 6.99 for a BIG bottle, I'm just starting to run out after a month -- and I haven't had a single uneven patch yet. Does not smell bad, dries enough to put clothes on and do normal activity in 5 minutes and completely (like, to the point that athletic sex won't mess it up much) in maybe thirty minutes to an hour. It looks really subtle and natural, takes two applications to be really noticeable. I apply 2-3x a week as I don't want to look more than lightly tanned.

  3. #3
    Veteran Member bella622's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    I love, love, ,love Tan Towels... Thats who makes them. I was buying them at a tanning salon but I found they are a lot cheaper at Sephora. A box of ten is $25.

    They are odorless, colorless and streak-free. They have some kind of chemical that reacts with your skin to give you a golden glow... No orange. You can put it on before you go to bed at night, no staining your sheets, or right before you go to bed. They look and feel like a baby wipe so they dry in an instant.

    Here is a link for them...
    http://www.sephora.com/browse/produc...categoryId=B70

    As a self-tanner fanatic... These are the best!!! I use two towels per application, one for the lower half of me and one for the upper half.
    Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul... - Marilyn Monroe

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    Featured Member rusdancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    Thanks for all the reviews girls,I was just wondering recently about the self tanner products.Coppertone and Neutrogena sound like they're wortha try.

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    I'm really into the L'Oreal Sublime Bronze LOTION (not gelee). I'm also not into the spray can tan.

    The L'Oreal smells the best, imo.

    I found the neutrogema foam okay, but I wasn't getting even results and it smelled like old coins.

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    Veteran Member calliope7's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    What's the best way to apply self-tanner? Hand? Cloth?

    I haven't done it yet but I've stared at the bottles in the drug store several times. I'm a little scared . . .

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    Don't use your hands. You can use a cloth. A good idea I read once is washing babywipes and drying them out...and using those.

    I use latex gloves. Also, remember to use a babywipe to wipe off below your ankles, on your knees, elbows and forearms. I also use it in my belly button and butt crack (it gets too dark in those parts...and I put on deodorant right away to thin it out in my armpits.

    it sounds complicated, but once you get it down, it's as easy as applying lotion.

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    Newbie britney3's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    I'm addicted to the Loreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning lotion(in the bronze colored tube) in medium-deep. I've been using it for about a year now and always get complimented on my tan. It also leaves a little shimmer on your skin. I exfoliate, first always, and wash hands thoroughly after.

    The color is amazing but my skin is fair-medium, my friend who is very fair tried it and needed to use the lighter shade to look more natural. I agree with Littlepixie about the gelee, wasn't crazy about it at all. I also tried the Fake Bake mouse which was the worst, very messy and hard to apply, hard to get even color, and looked unnatural. Neutrogena was ok but just not enough color for me.

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    Senior Member quaid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    i like roc minesol bronze. it cost me about 20 bucks (canadian) and it works awesome!! just spray all over and rub. dries quickly and i haven't had any streaking. one coat gave me a fair amount of colour but i prefer the look of two. seems to fade normally.

  10. #10
    smartcookie
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    Banana Boat tinted foam (light/medium) has always worked very well for me. I make sure I'm exfoliated and my skin has been well-moisturezed the night before, and I put lots of lotion on my feet, between the webbing of my toes, the heels, and a dab on my knees and elbows. Then, I use a long handled paintbrush on my body. No streaking whatsoever.

    I use Clarins for my face.

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    God/dess Bunny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    The only ones I've used so far I liked were Jergens natural glow and Loreal sublime bronze in light-medium. I'm pretty fair so if I use one that is too dark I look orange and splotchy. Both of these were light enough that I could use them gradually and didn't look streaky. I've tried several others and never had much luck but they were all darker.

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    Member phobia's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    i mix a dab of Neutrogena non-oil face bronzer w/jergens natural glow lotion and bam!!! a nice tan that doesnt streak.....

  13. #13
    Senior Member LittlePixie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    Wow! Thanks so much for participating girls, it's great to read other people's experiences and favorites.

    I have no new product to review just yet but will be looking for another product to try in the next couple days and will report back on my experiences with it. In the meantime, I will share some application tips that I use to help get good and even results.

    As does Emily, I prefer to apply self tanner with latex gloves. You can find some tight fitting ones at any pharmacy, I get them at about 8-10$ for a box of 100, so they last a long time and are cheap. I've tried the careful washing and scrubbing hands every five minutes during application to avoid dark orangey palms but it didn't work for me. With gloves you are garanteed to not have that problem.

    Some areas tend to absorb more color and turn out darker such as: feet (especially toes, the soles and heels), knees (especially just below them), elbows and hands (especially around fingers and palms). To avoid these areas from getting too dark, I apply lotion quite liberally on those areas, sometimes 2 coats (I have super dry skin). I also moisturize my face so it will be a tad lighter than the rest and to avoid the risk of it being too dark.

    For best results and staying power: I exfoliate well prior to application, I use a rough cotton wash cloth, occasionally an exfoliating product. Both have given me equally good results. After application, I avoid getting wet for a good 8-12 hours in order to let the product absorb to it's maximum capacity (I usually apply at night before bed). Then keep my skin well moisturized to help preserve the color as long as possible.

    How I apply my tanner: With gloves, I start with one foot and work my way up then do the same for the other. I then do my butt, lower stomach and lower back. I finish applying to my mid and upper back then do the front, tummy, chest up to the neck. Apply to each arm till the wrist then do my neck and face. I then find something to squirt out some product on, remove my gloves and apply the self tanner with a makeup sponge to the top of my hands and lightly on my fingers.

    As for which type of product is easier to apply, mousse, lotion, gel, spray, etc.. That all depends on individual skin type and preference. With my dry skin, I find the lotions apply very well and evenly, foams work well too but since my skin absorbs it quickly, I have to apply it fast as it dries while I'm applying it! If you're worried about streakiness or an uneven application, choose a product with a bronzer or tint with it. It let's you see where you've applied it and not.

    It takes a bit of practice to get used to applying self tanners well, so don't get discouraged too fast

  14. #14
    Cally
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    I just finished tanning myself with NeoStrata Sunsation Insta Tan/Bronzer Natural/Medium

    I like it so far, it was easy to apply(streak free) seems to be drying fairly quickly and seems to apply fairly even. Only problem was stupid me forgot to wear gloves while applying lol, I paniced once I realised I had dark brown hands... VIM rakes it off As I said I paniced lol. Anyway it doesnt have a bad small... kinda purty and looks great. We'll see in the morning when I wake up how it turned out. This is my first time trying self tanner so Im expecting somewhat of a mess up.
    How do you do your back? Im assuming get someone else to do it?

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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    I fucking love this stuff!!!
    I ordered THIS from this lotion site the wonderful Crow pointed me to a while ago.
    $13.75 6oz.
    Only comes in one color. But it was soo easy to apply and its great if you want to contour your abs or lack there of...hell make your own abs if you want to! I did. I did long sweeping motions all over my body and I look sooo good now. It doesnt smell once its on and I would wait about 10mins before you put clothes on. It dries really fast too. I dont look orangy either.

    If you do want to rub some spots in was your hands right after or use gloves; my left hand is all brown now.
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    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    St. Tropez and Clarins (the only facial one that never broke me out) are my faves. Sally Beauty sells gloves specifically made for self tanner.
    "The herd walks off the cliff because the herd are not a group of individuals - the herd is a mass of followers and followers follow the path of cowardice."

  17. #17
    tampafldancer
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    anyone find any self tanners that DON'T SMELL??????????

    Uh, i can't stand the smell of self tanners!

  18. #18
    Member xexoticdancerx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    Lol fake tan makes me laugh, my mum bought me a self tan spray machine for christmas, i tried it, after a few hours i looked like i had some kind of skin dissorder haha

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    Quote Originally Posted by tampafldancer
    anyone find any self tanners that DON'T SMELL??????????

    Uh, i can't stand the smell of self tanners!
    I wish! I think the DHA is what stinks, but you need that. So what's wrong with smelling like old coins?

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    Senior Member Vixen608's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    I have always great luck with Bannana Boat... I actually got fairly dark with it! The second kind I always use is Mary Kay self tanner....it's actually what they used on Bay Watch suprisingly enough it works very well!

  21. #21
    Crissychan
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    I tan once or twice a week to kep a good base but use the Body Drench Essential Moisturizer for Tanners in between..... works wonders!

  22. #22
    Member CaliDancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Self tanner reviews and favorites

    the St. Tropez works really well and doesn't smell!! u can buy it at sephora.there's also a spray in the can called Supermodels(??) that smells like COOKIES(soooo goood) thats sold at sephora and doesnt streak at all

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