OT - Best sunless tanner?

[swissfamilyrobinson]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed to death.....

I'm thinking about trying Tan Towels (from HSN). Has anyone used these with success? Any recommendations on any other sunless tanner?

The past couple of years I have used Banana Boat, but it's kinda orangey and messy. I'm fair to medium and need some color before we go on vacation next week - don't want to blind anyone with my white legs!

 

[las3888]

I can appreciate wanting to get some color before going down. I like to use the tanning lotions which are so mild that you just use them as lotion everyday and you end up with a very mild color and very little streaking etc. However, with one week, it might be tough. I have never tried the tanning towels from HSN, but in all my self-tanning trials and tribulations, I would look for something that dries quickly, maybe they do? Good luck!

 

[karensokool]

Loreal Sublime glow. It's a moisturizer with tanning stuff in it. I swear by it. Never streaky or orange. Use it 2 or 3 times and you'll look tan and a little sparkly too! Be sure to rub it in really well especially around ankles and knees. I use it in the am right after my shower. By the time i brush my teeth and blowdry my hair, it's dry enough to get dressed. A few hours later, i glow! One drawback...my DS 13 says it smells like hay.

 

[Teacher510]

I use Bare Escentuals Faux Tan for my legs(with a brush applicator) and it's great! It smells like almond and has a very natural. lasting color. For my face, arms chest I use Commodynes (like Tan Towels). It goes on very easily and dries almost instantly. I get it from ShopNBC(Qvc no longer carries it). Of the 2 the BE is the best but the towels are easier to control on the top half.

 

[jennifer293]

I use the coppertone tanning lotion (not the spray...it smells like sweaty socks) and I really like it, and it smells good. My sister works at the place that makes it so I get it all free..I cannot complain..lol free is good!!

I have used the Jergens and it works good, but it stinks.

 

[Mom of three]

Loreal Sublime glow. It's a moisturizer with tanning stuff in it. I swear by it. Never streaky or orange. Use it 2 or 3 times and you'll look tan and a little sparkly too! Be sure to rub it in really well especially around ankles and knees. I use it in the am right after my shower. By the time i brush my teeth and blowdry my hair, it's dry enough to get dressed. A few hours later, i glow! One drawback...my DS 13 says it smells like hay.

Ditto...I use the Sublime Glow on a regular basis and I love it too. I also use Jergens Natural Glow (?) There is no immediate color difference, its gradual and it smells pleasant.

 

[threecrazykids]

St. Tropez foam is hands down THE BEST...and I've used a ton of different products. It has NO hint of orange, doesn't streak, dries in like 15 seconds and doesn't ever stain clothes.

If you research it you'll find it's more expensive but it is SOOOOO worth the money in my opinion.

 

[KLAIT]

I was just talking to a friend this am about this exact subject. I have used the Tan Towels from HSN for several years and I do love them, this year I bought their GLOW lotions (comes in a 2 pakc, one for the body and one with Retinol for the face) and I LOVE this combination...I use the lotion every other day and a Tan towel about once every 5 days and I have a great tan...it is not orange at all....very, very natural looking..and Tan Twels are great because they go on with no color and dry really really fast.....LOVE THEM. I am also light to Medium and these look natural.

also, with the Tan Towels, you can order, use a few to see if you like them and return if you do not...I would definately recommend them..

 

[Inigo]

One drawback...my DS 13 says it smells like hay.

I'd love the hay smell. It's one of the perks of living in farm country. I drive with my windows down on the county roads so I can smell the fresh-mown hay. There's a hay field right across the street, and it's getting cut next week.

 

[tchrrx]

Thanks for this post. My sister is getting married in Oct. & I'm the matron of honor. I really need to be tanned, but didn't want to go to a bed or spray place. I will definitely try some of these out. Thanks!

Just a question....do you use the lotion on your face & ears & everything? I'll be wearing a strapless dress & my hair will be in an updo. I don't want to look uneven. Thanks!

 

[GinCar]

After a lot of tries with the "weird smelling" ones, I like the Neutrogena line.
There is the Build-a-tan, and another one that I can not remember the name of.

They go on smooth like lotion & do not smell bad. The one I can not remember the name of smells like grapefruit.

 

[GinCar]

Thanks for this post. My sister is getting married in Oct. & I'm the matron of honor. I really need to be tanned, but didn't want to go to a bed or spray place. I will definitely try some of these out. Thanks!

Just a question....do you use the lotion on your face & ears & everything? I'll be wearing a strapless dress & my hair will be in an updo. I don't want to look uneven. Thanks!

There is a "healthy complexion facial moisturizer" made by Jergens, that is not bad. It is the only one I have tried for my face. I just use it occasionally to even out my tone. It has SPF 20 in it, too.

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

Thank you so much for all the suggestions - I really appreciate it! I may go ahead and order the Tan Towels today, but I'm headed to Wally World this morning (to get 4th of July stuff) and I'm going to see if I can find any of the products you all have suggested since I have procrastinated and the towels may not get here in time to do any good before we leave next week.

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

St. Tropez foam is hands down THE BEST...and I've used a ton of different products. It has NO hint of orange, doesn't streak, dries in like 15 seconds and doesn't ever stain clothes.

If you research it you'll find it's more expensive but it is SOOOOO worth the money in my opinion.

This sounds wonderful - is it only available online, or is it carried in department stores?

 

[threecrazykids]

This sounds wonderful - is it only available online, or is it carried in department stores?

I had to order mine online...it had been backordered for the longest time right after it came out but now I think it's readily available. I've read (take it with a grain of salt I'm sure) that a lot of celebrities use St. Tropez and I know (for sure!) that it is what they use on dancing with the stars.

I swear, I've used so many products for self tanning it's not funny...and it really IS worth the money. I know there are other products that are out there that may get the overall same effect, I've found that they either slough off in big patches, or they stain clothes, go on uneven, or reek to high heaven...just my opinion.

 

[dgthree]

There's a product at WalMart with the Hemp moisturizers on the bottom shelf of the regular sunscreen section that's a self-tanning moisturizer. It works pretty well, doesnt' streak too badly, doesn't look orange-y, smells tropical, and is inexpensive.

Here's a review from Makeup Alley, where it gets 4.3 out of 5 stars - it used to get raves, but some people are complaining of it causing a rash. I have pretty sensitive skin, and it doesn't bother me.
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/...en_Glow_Bronzing_Moisturizer_/0/Self_Tanners/

 

[meriface11]

i second loreal sublime bronze. my trick is to use this on my arms, legs, chest and back. and then i use a spray (neutrogena) on my hands and feet--put a little vasaline on your cuticles and nails to protect them from the tanner (dead give away that it's a fake tan) and spray away! i don't worry too much about any smell. i'll shower at night when i know i want to do it (exfoliate before your fake tan), and then shower again in the morning and the smell washes away.

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

Thank you everyone for your help - I ended up getting the Loreal Sublime Bronze Sunless Tanner in the Towelettes. I have used them twice and really like how easy they are to use. You have to be careful around feet, knees, ankles (I noticed this morning that my feet look a little streaky-that's what I get for applying it at 11:30 at night). The color is really nice and they don't stink!

Now, if I could only get rid of my spider veins......

 

[luvbeinamom]

I'm a fan of the Jergens Natural Glow. I start using it about a week before some event I want color for and it works great. If you want color all the time, I think 3 days a week will work fine.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I have a question about the St. Tropez foam. How long does a typical bottle last using it once a week? I currently pay $35 for unlimited tanning at a local nice tanning salon (so much better than the $70 a month I was paying in Cincy, but I digress). I go maybe once a week (mainly cause I'm lazy ) and I've been looking at things I could cut out of my budget (and save my skin from). If I could get one of these bottles to last two months that would be great! (the site I found it for is $30 a bottle, I don't care for any of the Jergens/Neutrogena/Loreal products I've used).

I know Katie Price (aka Jordan) uses this and she has the most gorgeous tan (Katie is like Britain's version of Pamela Anderson, just more vulgar ).