Best / easiest / most natural looking sunless tanner?

[Robindianne]

We are pasty white and want to be less so before our trip to the World in 3 weeks. Has anyone had any experience with sunless tanners they'd care to share? Is this the right place to post this?

TIA.

 

[LiteBrite]

I am also pasty white, and I've recently been trying the Jergens Natural Glow. I like it - I buy the fair skin variety, and the results are gradual, not orange and not streaky. It takes a few days to get the full effect.

 

[FreshTressa]

Jergens natural glow for the body and Clarins or Christian Dior for the face!

Both very subtle..not dark or orange.

If you want a deep tan, you wont get it with those products..they just give you slight, natural color. It takes a week or two to show up. Because they are so gradual, they don't look as orange and they don't streak.

 

[Hillbeans]

Not sure if they have this by you or if you'd even be interested, but I had an airbrush tan done a few days ago and it looks great. Someone actually sprays you with the tanning solution from a nozzle. It should last me 10 days.

It wasn't cheap, but i've gotten a ton of compliments. I tried sunless tanner once and didn't apply it right and it looked awful - plus I can't get my back or the back of my shoulders or legs.

Maybe do a google search in your town for airbrush tanning?

The money was well spent and I feel so much better about the thought of wearing short sleeve shirts and shorts at the gym and outside soon.

 

[Robindianne]

Thanks!

 

[Brad&Kryssi]

If you can't find a place that does the spray tans near you, try the new Neutrogena Extra Fine Mist Spray. It comes in various shades and there is no rubbing in needed. You can spray the can upside down as well.

If you go the sunless tanning route, make sure you exfoliate first and go easy over spots like your elbows,knees and heels.

I only use it once a week to keep a nice low key glow.

 

[beckmrk04]

I use Coppertone Gradual Tan lotion. It builds up color and doesn't look orange or fake.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I'll bet a good amount of money that I am pastier than you are. I tried the Jergens and Clairols, etc. My biggest problem with them (esp. Jergens): You SMELL like fake tanner.

I purchased a bottle of 24/7 Gradual Tanning Shimmer cream at Bath and Body Works a week ago. Today is my day for the overall results. TADAH! They're fabulous! It's super natural looking and although gradual, I starting seeing tan in about three days. And, becuase there's a perfume (mild and there's 4 you can choose from), you don't smell like fake tanner. I was so excited when a female friend said today, "Mmmm... you smell good!"

If you use any of these gradual lotions, be sure to put another lotion on your knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, tops of your feet (especially around the toenails) and hands before applying it. This will help keep the cream from being readily absorbed in those areas, thus eliminating the fake tanner give away signs. Just take any LiveSTRONG bracelets you have on off, too. I realized wearing it into the shower (so it was wet), putting the tanner on, and then putting the wet band back on made a really hot white streak where it sits. Fabulous.

Lastly, if you get an airbrush tan professionally applied, take a few steps to make it last as long as possible. Before you go in, take a nice warm shower as it softens your skin and it's most absorbant after you shower. Be sure to shave your legs and pits and to exfoliate everywhere (a loofah will work). Your skin takes to the tanner better that way. Becuase the tanner sits only on top of your skin, the best way to maximize the time it's on is to shave only when you need to and not use a loofah or any type of exfoliating body wash. Both these actions help to speed up your skin shedding, thereby shedding the tan. When you dry off, pat yourself dry instead of running the towel over your body.

HTH! For someone who refuses to tan in tanning booths and is ghostly white in August without help, I've tried it all- good and bad. If I can save anyone from the bad, I will! Right now, I'm nice and bronzed... the B&BW is my new solution!
xoxo

 

[aesalsa]

Thanks for the tips, UnderTheMistletoe! I am also pasty white and refuse to wear shorts or a skirt. . .even in the summer. My pic below shows how I look after a couple of months of treatments in a tanning bed.

I usually exfoliate every other day; is that not recommended when you use the 24/7 tanner?

TIA!!

 

[TravelinGal]

I like the Mystic Tan type places.
I've never had good luck getting a smooth (streak free) application of any lotion product.

I'd suggest trying it once well before your trip and if you like it, schedule an appointment for the day before you leave.

Just a side note - and I'm sure you know, but Please remember to use sunblock on your trip! Fake tans do not protect you from getting burned.

 

[Robindianne]

Thanks for all the wonderful tips! So, exfoliate and shave first; apply soon after showering; lotion hands, feet, elbows, and knees first; don't rub or exfoliate or shave much after. I didn't realize the fake tan give away signs. I think I'll try that B&BW one first. If that doesn't work for me, Coppertone or Jergens or Clairol or the other face one mentioned. I saw a commercial for an aveeno one but no one mentioned it so if I try it, it'll be some time later.

Again, you guys rock!

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Thanks for the tips, UnderTheMistletoe! I am also pasty white and refuse to wear shorts or a skirt. . .even in the summer. My pic below shows how I look after a couple of months of treatments in a tanning bed.

I usually exfoliate every other day; is that not recommended when you use the 24/7 tanner?

TIA!!

You're fine to exfloiate if you're using the gradual tan in a bottle method becuase you're replacing whatever skin layer you exfloiated off when you lotion up after showering. It's the airbrush tanning that present a problem becuase you exfoliated away the skin layer that had the color put onto it.

 

[Robindianne]

I'll bet a good amount of money that I am pastier than you are. I tried the Jergens and Clairols, etc. My biggest problem with them (esp. Jergens): You SMELL like fake tanner.

I purchased a bottle of 24/7 Gradual Tanning Shimmer cream at Bath and Body Works a week ago. Today is my day for the overall results. TADAH! They're fabulous! It's super natural looking and although gradual, I starting seeing tan in about three days. And, becuase there's a perfume (mild and there's 4 you can choose from), you don't smell like fake tanner. I was so excited when a female friend said today, "Mmmm... you smell good!"

If you use any of these gradual lotions, be sure to put another lotion on your knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, tops of your feet (especially around the toenails) and hands before applying it. This will help keep the cream from being readily absorbed in those areas, thus eliminating the fake tanner give away signs. Just take any LiveSTRONG bracelets you have on off, too. I realized wearing it into the shower (so it was wet), putting the tanner on, and then putting the wet band back on made a really hot white streak where it sits. Fabulous.

Lastly, if you get an airbrush tan professionally applied, take a few steps to make it last as long as possible. Before you go in, take a nice warm shower as it softens your skin and it's most absorbant after you shower. Be sure to shave your legs and pits and to exfoliate everywhere (a loofah will work). Your skin takes to the tanner better that way. Becuase the tanner sits only on top of your skin, the best way to maximize the time it's on is to shave only when you need to and not use a loofah or any type of exfoliating body wash. Both these actions help to speed up your skin shedding, thereby shedding the tan. When you dry off, pat yourself dry instead of running the towel over your body.

HTH! For someone who refuses to tan in tanning booths and is ghostly white in August without help, I've tried it all- good and bad. If I can save anyone from the bad, I will! Right now, I'm nice and bronzed... the B&BW is my new solution!
xoxo

Ooops. I accidentally got 24/7 radiant moisture gradual tanning body lotion, not the shimmer. Do you think this will be the same? I know sometimes different products by the same company aren't the same.
TIA.

 

[hpygrll]

Another vote for the BBW tanner!!!! It is faboo - doesn't even have to dry very long.....I love it!!!!

Jenny

 

[goofy's friends]

One warning about the mystic tan type places----It's the only time in my life that I hyperventalated!!!! I guess I kinda panicked when the spray was going and didn't know if I could breathe or not and then, all of a sudden, I couldn't breathe at all!!! It's funny now that I think about myself half-tanned, standing outside of the booth naked with my head between my legs. but it sure wasn't funny at the time!!!

I can't wait to try the B&BW brand--was getting ready to buy Jergins, so glad to see this thread!!!