Feb 09 2009
Un-Varnished Product Review: Self Tanners
There are days that I would like to have a giant beauty store and in that store I would like to divide beauty products into 2 categories…Crap and Not Crap. In the crap category I would throw anything with Mineral Oil, heated eyelash curlers, wet-to-dry flat irons (is it better to hear your hair sizzle?), Kohl eye liners, Daily cleansing cloths, and most self tanners.
Self tanner technology has largely come a long way since most of us discovered them in the 80’s. Long gone should be the orange hue and potent smell. I say should because there are those out that that still retain these not so lovely attributes.
Being a redhead I need all the color I can get, mainly because I can not get any color with out a little artificial help. You can also guarantee that because of my natural coloring, if a self tanner has the slightest ability to turn even the least bit orange, I will end up a lovely shade of terracotta. So being my own favorite guinea pig, here are the ones I have tried…in both Crap & Not Crap categories.
CRAP…in my opinion…
Fusion Beauty. I really wanted to like this one. But it is immediately thrown into the crap category because it goes on clear. One of my rules for self tanner is that it must go on with color. That way you can see where it’s going and if it appears to be even as you are rubbing it in. It also smells. It’s an odd smell though, not like regular self tanner, but not good either. On the plus side, the color lasts a long time (like up to 2 weeks), and the color can get very deep. No orange either.
Urban Decay Santa Tanita…bright orange with gold shimmer. Not a hot look. Smells funny too. I think this one looks better on tan skin tones with a golden base or if you get dark fast. If you are pastey this one is not made for you.
Peter Thomas Roth Natural Looking Self Tanner…Goes on white/clear, funny smell & orange. 3 strikes.
Exuviance Sunless Tanning Mousse…Clear, Smelly, although the color was mostly good.
Not Crap…
Bliss A Tan For All Seasons…This is it for me. This is the one. Goes on with color. Has a little raspberry in it which helps to tone down tanner smell and gives a believable color while tan is “developing”. Aerosol can so you get really smooth and steady applications. Can be used on face & body and works equally well on both. I have used it prior to doing a good exfoliation and have found that I can get reasonable results without following all of the self tanning rules, although it’s that much better when you do. Dries fast. So far this is my favorite of all time.
Bliss knocked Origins Great Pretender & Faux Glow out of my number one spot. Although these have both always impressed me. You definitely need to exfoliate prior to each. But they go on with color, dry quickly, have minimal smell. One for face and one for body.
Bare Escentuals Faux Tan is pretty nice as well. Good color, almond smell, needs lots of good exfoliation prior to application. I hate the bottle on this one.
A few helpful Self Tanner Tips…
Exfoliate. Body or face you will want to scrub all of your dead skin down the drain. The tanner will get darker in dry skin then it will in new skin. It also extends the life and even-ness of your tan by a couple of days. Use a non-oil based scrub (no salt scrubs). These don’t penetrate your skin fast enough, which might make your tanner streaky. make sure you concentrate on your driest body parts.
Dry Off. When tanning right after a shower you will want to be 100% dry. Otherwise you might end up with little water marks you didn’t expect. Also decide if you will be putting on your lotion and then tanner or the other way around. I will usually do my tanner, and then apply my lotions. I wait no less than 15 minutes in between the steps or longer depending on the directions.
Don’t wear white. Your tanner might transfer even if it’s dry. Wait a day or two afterward to through on those white shorts.
Less is More. You can always build your color, so don’t try to get too much color at once.
Wash your hands as soon as you are done. That way no color with soak into your palms. Then take just a drop and rub the backs of your hands together. This gives the backs of your hands some color.
Self Tanner is great for a case of the winter blues. Sick of the long winter? I pulled my tanner out yesterday and just did my face & arms. I got loads of compliments today and felt a little spring pick me up. Who cares if I was just picking myself up? It’s a great way to fight Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Which do you love? Got any for the Crap/Not Crap piles? Please share. And as always if there is anything you have a question on or want me to try out leave a comment or email me at beautysolved@yahoo.com.
I have had some good luck with the Loreal. But I try not to buy it because of the animal testing issue. I don’t think it goes on with a tint, so it is hard to tell if you are going to get a big blotch. I also have the same issue with the color of self tanners. The slightest bit of orange and I look like and oopa loompa.