SELF TANNER DILEMA
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free skin care · Tue Nov 13, 2007 4:46 pm

I'm hoping someone here can give me some good insight. I cannot tan at all nor do I want to lay out in the sun and I've tried several different self-tanners out there including Clinique, Estee Lauder, Lancome and Loreal Sublime Bronze - all in darkest formulas they come and they don't seem to make me dark enough. Everyone still thinks I look pale even after several days of application. I tried using a bronzer that you just apply as a lotion (kind of like a tinted cream) that does make me dark, but it is a complete mess putting it on and gets all over everything. And is also not the best thing for everyday use - only on special occasion.

The question I have is am I wasting my time trying something like Fake Bake? Or like the Loreal glow line (the gradual tanners)? If the self tanners never seem to get me dark enough for anyone to notice am I wasting my time trying something else? There must be someone out there that has this same dilema or has some insight? I don't want to be pale anymore Sad

free skin care · Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:34 pm

Have you ever thought of getting a spray tan?

free skin care · Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:54 pm

I've tried allot of the fake tans over the years, both cheap and upmarket; lotions and sprays, and have never been impressed with any of them. They all streak, sink into pores and come off on your clothes.

However, I am now completely sold on Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion. Its one of those moisturising lotions that contains a tan which builds up slowly so I just apply it as I would any moisturiser after having a shower. Its totally no fuss and never streaks - plus its cheap.

I have never had a salon spray tan so don't know what they're like - but if you're having trouble getting the depth of tan you want, this is probably the solution for you. Maybe you could have the salon tan initially, then use the Dove tanning moisturizer as upkeep.

free skin care · Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:56 pm

Hi Mermaid, although I can't give you any advice from personal experience using dark tanning products, I have found a wealth of information on this site:

http://www.sunless.com/index.php

HTH.

free skin care · Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:48 pm

Northerngirl wrote:

Have you ever thought of getting a spray tan?

I second this question. I've tried Jegen's, Dove's, and St. Tropez's self tanners, none of which I was crazy about. However, I had a Magic Spray tan once and LOVED it. You might want to experiment with a few spray tans if all the lotions and what not have failed.

Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:17 pm

http://www.sun-laboratories.net/selftanners.htm

They have the best self tanners out there. Not orangey, just a very nice golden tan. I used level 3 for years then got crazy and went to the darkest one and it was fine.

free skin care · Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:50 pm

I have used both Fake Bake and Fake Bake Extreme and will say they both give an awesome dark color that was not orange at all. I didn't even mind the messy application (the color guide is so dark it must be applied before going to bed). The only problem I had with them is when they faded they would give me the dreaded lizard skin appearance on certain areas, namely my upper arms and my shins. The tan would look great for a few days but once it started fading it was a losing battle trying to keep it looking natural. However, the color was so great that I'm going to try it again next summer and see if using some extra body lotion during the day will help the color last longer and also fade more evenly.

As far as darkness goes I read that one application of Fake Bake Extreme is about the same as three applications of regular Fake Bake, so if you're wanting a very dark color I'd go straight to the Extreme.

free skin care · Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:05 pm

I had Fake Bake on my mind and forgot to recommend my favorite self-tanner which is the Neostrata one that comes from Canada. It gave a nice non-orange dark color and didn't fade super-patchy like the Fake Bake did. I'm really pale so most sunless tanners look at least a little orange on me but the Fake Bake and the Neostrata both looked nice and brown; the Neostrata just faded more evenly.

I think Neostrata makes two kinds of self-tanners. One is a foam that I haven't tried but have heard bad things about. The other is an almond-scented cream; this is the one I love.

free skin care · Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:36 pm

I second going to sunless.com. I visit there at least once a year (for the past 10+) to check out new formulas.

My problem is that I'm already a Type IV - so many products don't show on me. I find that L'oreal Sublime Bronze and Sun Labs have the best color for me.

free skin care · Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:53 am

Thank you all for your suggestions.

When you refer to "spray tans" do you mean having them professionally airbrushed or mystic tans? If you mean spray in a bottle I have tried spray ones as well.

I am trying the Dove glow first to see if that works after a week of applying. If it doesn't work I will probably try Fake Bake.

Mamawalnut - does the Fake Bake Extreme come in a lotion? If not what consistency is it. I have never tried gels but if it's a gel I heard that they usually fade pretty patchy that is why I usually stick to lotions. And also, does it have a bronzing agent in it that darkens you right away? If so, does it get on your sheets, clothes etc? (sorry so many questions).

free skin care · Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:15 pm

To me the Fake Bake Extreme is somewhere between a gel and a lotion. Both it and the regular Fake Bake have an extremely dark color guide (not sure if I'd call it a bronzer as I'd look really strange going out it public with it on) that washes off when you shower the next morning. And yes, it does get on my jammies and sheets but washes out easily. You have to wear gloves when applying cuz the color guide will stain your hands something fierce. Then you have to go to sleep all stinky and sticky. It is quite the ordeal to apply but the color payoff is worth it to me. Like I said before, if I could figure out some way to keep it from fading so patchily I wouldn't ever bother with another self-tanner (except maybe the Neostrata - it's a close race between those two).

There are lots of reviews on it on MakeUp Alley that might give you some more clues as to whether it might be a good self-tanner for you to try. If you have any more questions I'm glad to help.

free skin care · Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:55 am

Don't bother with pharmacy sunless tanners. They ALL take too long to dry and the color is unoticeable.

Go towww.tampabaytan.com

They sell good airbrush tanning solutions and they now carry a spray on aerosol can called TooCan Tan which is great.

It has a bronzer so you know where you are applying. Smells pretty decent too and it lasts about a week.

free skin care · Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:16 pm

What about the Fushion Beauty Glow tan? I've never tried it but apparently it works transdermally with your skin's proteins to give you YOUR natural tan color. You spray this on and it drys instantly and it looks pretty even on other people and looks different on all skin tones.

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