sunless tanning...do you have a tried and true?

[ISAIAH30_18]

With summer beating down hard on me (sorry to those of you who experienced snow last night) I'm looking for a sunLESS tanning product. I haven't used them since they were introduced YEARS ago because the experience was so bad. I'm guessing some improvement has been made.....

do any of you recommend a brand??? for body or face.

Thanks!!!

[Laura]

Although I haven't used one on my body in years, I really like Estee Lauder bronzer/self tanner for my face. I mix it up with my regular moisturizer (which has a sunscreen in it) about every other day. It just gives me a nice healthy glow.

[ISAIAH30_18]

really? you can mix it with stuff??? how do you know how much to but in it?

[Laura]

A lot of trial and error. ;) Honestly, I think the bronzer alone is too dark for my complexion (although the actual "tan" I would get was always lighter than the bronzer iself.) I have never had a problem with streaking or uneven color.

[m4star]

That new Coppertone Endless Summer stuff works pretty well. I use it on my legs and arms and it really does look natural. It smells a little, but it's not too bad.

[Vanessa]

I have a question these new sunless tanning creams still stain hands?

[Gilgamesh37]

I discovered the Neutrogena stuff last year (can't remember the actual name of the product line, it's a bright yellow bottle/tube) and just love it--like you, I hadn't used sunless tanners in years, and my experience was always that streaky horrible ORANGE.....

The Neutrogena stuff comes in several different formulations (lotion, spray, foam) and a palette of shades from light to dark, so you can match your complexion. I found it easy to use, tidy, and it smells okay as well. My SO made fun of me a little (especially at first before I got the hang of keeping track of where I'd applied it and where I'd missed..... :p ) but more over the idea of it than the result.

[ISAIAH30_18]

do you use the foam, lotion or spray???

[MKSquared]

I've used the Nutrogena spray, and I get a really nice color from it. It tends to rub off after a couple of days, though. It's a very natural color. It's not for your face, though. :( I went for the spray, thinking that it would get my shoulders more easily than I could myself. It provided a slightly larger surface coverage than a lotion or foam I'd have to rub on myself. As long as I washed my hands well after application, I've never had orange palms!

[jenner]

I love the Origins Summer Vacation. It's a little pricier than the brands you can buy at the drug store, but I think it's well worth it.
It doesn't have a funky odor and the color looks more natural than anything else I've tried. It dries pretty quickly and doesn't ruin my clothes like some of the others have. I can also use it on my face without breaking out.

I tried the Coppertone Endless Summer last year and it didn't set well, wiped off really easily, got on my clothes. I've tried the Neutrogena spray and it came out really uneven. Also tried Estee Lauder years ago and couldn't handle the smell.

My vote is for Origins!

[ISAIAH30_18]

Where do you get Origens?

[Grace]

DEFINITELY Estee Lauder Sunless Bronzer for the body. Fabulous stuff, and I've tried a lot of them. It has a bronze color going on, so you can SEE where it goes, and therefore avoid streaks. The color is very natural (I am freakish white, and if it was going to look unnatural, it would on me for sure!), and it smells a lot nicer than the other's I've tried as well. I'ts kind of pricey, though - I think $25 for a bottle, but for me, knowing that it's going to go on perfectly and look great is worth it.

[jenner]

You can buy Origins at Macy's or Robinson's May. At some malls they also have their own store. The website is www.origins.com.

[leightx]

Check out www.sunless.com (http://www.sunless.com/) for a ton of reviews on tanning lotions. I rarely, if ever use them (although I should - I'm pretty white!!), but they highly recommended Banana Boat and another one that you can only buy online. I picked up Banana Boat at the grocery store the other day, but haven't tried it out yet.

Leightx

[mochadelsol]

Last week I tried a Mystic Tan. You need to go to a Tanning Salon. It's really strange, you stand up in your birthday suit while you get a spray on tan. It takes 18 sec. Draw back is you can bath for 12 hours after, and believe you feel sticky and stink. DH suggested the sofa for me. It last for 7 to 10 days and cost me $25. I decided to not go back for another, because of the cost and not bathing really drove me nuts :p

[Gail]

Question! Question! (raising hand, waving it around frantically.)

Most of the people I know who've used tanning products have been pretty fair-skinned. How do these these work if you tend toward the olive-y side?

[mightyh]

Gail - www.sunless.com should be able to guide you based on your skin type and color undertones. It's a really great site.

I like Paula Begoun's sunless tanner sold at www.cosmeticscop.com--it's called Almost the Real Thing Sunless Tanner. I'm fair, though, with neutral undertones.

[Gail]

Thank you mightyh. Will look into it.

[lanie]

Just noticed this thread as I have not been around for a while, the Estee Lauder for face (not the bronzer - have not tried that) is fantastic and also Clinique is really good (the face one) very nice consistency and not sticky and great color - I use these products all year and about 2-3 times a week. Also have had very good luck with the new Coppertone for the legs, very white here and the weather is warm now in Toronto, so it's short weather and golf time...................highly recommend Clinique for face.

[BlueMoose]

I don't know if I should admit this, but I've tried quite a few of these products and this year and last year I've been very happy with the Target Brand sunless tanning lotion. It's very reasonably priced, I'm happy with the color (at least for my skin type), it isn't greasy or oily, it doesn't have a fragrance, and it's pretty easy to get on evenly.

[SueK]

Originally posted by Gail
Question! Question! (raising hand, waving it around frantically.)

Most of the people I know who've used tanning products have been pretty fair-skinned. How do these these work if you tend toward the olive-y side?

Gail- I wouldn't say I have olive-y skin, but I'm definitely not fair. I use the Neutrogena foam (for Deep Color) and it works fine. It looks natural, I guess because I normally would tan very dark if I'm in the sun.

[AmyBeth73]

I'm fair skinned, and I've had some luck with some, and some orange experiences with others. I never use these products on my face (arms and legs only--I'm not careful enough to do my face right, and I don't think the color looks good with my makeup). I also prefer lotions and gels. One maybe helpful thought: Most bottles say you shouldn't keep it after six months, but I have a friend who used to work at the Estee Lauder counter and she told me that's total crap, just a way for them to get us to buy a new bottle each year. I've had one bottle for three years now that I use off and on, and I haven't noticed any difference in potency.

Here's a few of my experiences:

Clinique: Made me orange. Yuck. And it seemed to streak after I shaved, more so than any other sunless product I've used.

Estee Lauder: Thumbs up. Great looking color. A bit pricey, but worth it.

Clarins: Another thumbs up. Nice scent, too. And the big bonus is you don't have to wait to get dressed!

I think I'll try the Origins next, since it's about $5-10 cheaper than the Estee Lauder and Clarins products.

[aggie94]

I haven't tried any sunless tanning products, but my best friend swears by No-Ad:

http://www.no-ad.com/

[nlh]

I'm so glad to see this thread!

Bought the Neutragena sunless dark lotion last night on a whim at Wal-Mart. Hadn't tried a sunless product in years. My skin tends to be olive and I was always red colored in the past but when you're creeping near 35 you begin to avoid direct sun--especially on the face! Anyway, I had a base tan to begin with but places like the tops of my thighs haven't seen sun yet so I tried it last night. It's a really nice blend into the already tan parts! What a pleasant surprise!

Here's the funny part---DH is a redhead and we put some on the inside of his arm and he has a TAN!! First time in his life he's had one! He's a burn and freckle kind of guy. (If you missed it, the funny part was that he let me do it, not that he tanned, you see. Guess I caught him at a weak moment <grin!!>)

[Jewel]

After reading lots of reviews on www.sunless.com I decided to try the Au Courant stuff here:

http://www.tanforless.com/aucourintanl.html

I've ordered it already, 8 oz bottle for $24.95, as well as a couple of the pads to spread it on with. We'll see how it works! ;)

[gertdog]

Originally posted by m4star
That new Coppertone Endless Summer stuff works pretty well. I use it on my legs and arms and it really does look natural. It smells a little, but it's not too bad.

My mom uses this and it looks fantastic... very natural. She says it works better for her than any she's tried. I just bought some and am going to experiment before my wedding.

[jrichards]

I've got the winter blahs, and felt like I needed some sun. I've debated the tanner for the tiniest color, and to get me happy! Dn't people with S.A.D. go to tanners on doctor's orders?

Anyhow, I thought I'd check out sunless tanners too. In addition to this thread, I just found this article comparing different products on the web:

http://slate.msn.com/?id=2073723

Jennifer

[401krep]

I was just reading an article on msn.com about a test they did on a whole bunch of self-tanners. The one that they rated as the best was a brand called Alba Botanica, which they said they bought at an organic grocery store. I"m not sure if this link will work, but here's where you can find the article:

http://slate.msn.com/?id=2073723

Vanessa

[401krep]

DUH!! I didn't even read the thread before mine and I just gave the same information. Sorry!

Vanessa

[RebeccaT]

Ok, I have a question. I haven't used a sunless tanner in years because, everytime I use one, and then wash my hands afterwards, I get a little line on my wrist right by the base of my palm. Does anyone else know what I am talking about? And how to prevent it?

I am sooooo white, and would love to get some color on my arms and legs for holiday party outfits!

[lorilei]

Rebecca -
Have you tried taking an old washcloth and "blending" the area around your wrist after washing your hands? This will soften the dramatic difference between your tanner-free hand and your tanned arm... or at least that's the idea :)

[RebeccaT]

hmmm, I haven't tried that, but it sounds like it would work!

I have issues with my feet, too, and getting it only onto the parts that would tan naturally. I think I tend to get in a hurry, and not apply it carefully enough and patiently enough... perhaps I should just be satisfied with my whiteness, and thereby avoid disaster! :o

[catharine]

I am really into sunless tanning products. I have tried Estee Lauder, Clinique, Neutrogena, Bain de Solei (sp?), among others and all worked good to okay. I tried that "spray in a booth" thing for $25 and that worked pretty well.

Then this summer I saw this new product on HSN (or QVC) and I gave it a shot. It is called Tan Secret and it really, really works. It is not as easy as the sprays, but the color is better, and because it is tinted it is easier to apply. I have been the most satisfied with this product, by far. I am almost out and need to buy more - hopefully it is still for sale.

Anyhow, that is my two cents.