Self Tanners: Good, Medium and Orange
It’s that time of year when it’s warm enough for shorts, skirts and dresses, but we are still ghost-level pale. We decided to test drive a range of self tanners to see what works and what makes us look like Oompah-Loompahs. We always want things to look like they could be natural, while also being as flattering as possible, with self tanners it can be difficult to get just that right level.
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The Good
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Intense Glow Pad (Dinah)
Why I Picked It: I have written endlessly about their exfoliating treatment and was so excited when I saw they had a similar product that also added color to my face.
Application Process: This was really easy to put on - it comes in one little pad that has enough liquid for your face and neck (just like the exfoliating wipes). I swiped it on in a circular motion and then went back at the end when it was less concentrated around my hairline to make sure that was blended, but not too dark. The smell was also okay! I applied it at night, then put my normal moisturizer on top.
Results: I woke up with a really natural looking glow that was light enough for my pale skin. You can apparently use these daily to build up more color, but I’m really happy with the single application, especially this time of year in Boston.
Final Verdict: I’m going to keep using these twice a week to maintain the light, even color they gave and for the exfoliation that I love so much in the non-glow version.
Rodan and Fields Foaming Sunless Tan (Eloise)
Why I Picked It: My friends Jamie and Kim swear by this one!
Application Process: I always put regular lotion on my feet, knees, elbows, hands and anywhere else with a crease or that feels dry before I apply self-tanner. I also used the St. Tropez Velvet Mitt for application because I think it helps to make applying any foamy self-tanner go on streak free (can’t recommend this mitt enough!). I did it after the shower and it smelled like self-tanner as I was putting it on, but it dried very quickly and the smell went away as soon as it was dry.
Results: I didn’t smell anything after the first few minutes and it dried smoothly and streak free. I do think that the mitt made the application lighter, so I may need to another round to look noticeably tan, but I would much rather do two thin layers than end up with splotchy or orange results. As it is, with one coat, it got rid of that deep winter paleness and I look fresh and like I could wear a midi skirt and t-shirt. I’d apply another layer before attempting a bathing suit.
Final Verdict: I could definitely see myself doing this once or twice a week this spring to make it less scary to make the switch to warm weather clothes.
The Medium
Isle of Paradise Glow Clear (Dinah)
Why I Picked It: I had used their tanning drops before and was curious about how the mousse would work, especially with the “color correcting” ingredients it claimed it have.
Application Process: This bottle of liquid pumps out as a mousse, which you are then supposed to swipe on with a mitt. I did somehow miss the whole “mitt” part of the instructions when I was buying it, so I just used my hands, trying to be careful and put in on evenly. I kind of liked the smell of it weirdly enough.
Results: The biggest issues with this were my application - I’m sure the mitt would have helped as I clearly missed a section on one of my thighs! Otherwise, the color was darker than I expected from the “Light” shade, it was a tiny bit wonky around my ankles, but overall not too orange of a shade.
Final Verdict: I’m going to keep using this once a week, but am going to get a mitt and might let it fade for a day or two before I use it with bare legs - at least until I have the possibility of it being mistaken for a “real” tan.
Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum (Eloise)
Why I Picked It: This brand gets rave reviews and I loved the idea of it being a serum, gradual and also anti-aging.
Application Process: After putting lotion in any creases or dry spots, I put a few pumps of this on each limb. I was nervous about how much to use because the instructions say to use around 4 pumps and I wasn’t sure if that was for the whole body, but I figure out that for me about 4 pumps is good for each limb. It dries very quickly since it's a serum and has almost no smell.
Results: The first two times that I did it, I would say that it gave me a slight boost of color, but I didn’t actually look tan. The third time, I veered into looking slightly orange in certain spots on my legs.
Final Verdict: I loved the light feeling, the ease of application and the complete lack of smell. I need to play more with the amount that I apply each time and how often I need to apply it to get the color results that I want.
The Orange
L’Oreal Sublime Bronze (Dinah)
Why I Picked It: I wanted to find a more budget-friendly option that still delivered good results.
Application Process: It was super easy - each application comes with one large wipe. I didn’t use the entire thing because I just did my arms and torso with this one, but the wipe did make it easier to reach that tricky part in the middle of my back. The biggest downside to applying this is that it definitely had that chemical, self-tanner smell.
Results: To be honest, I am having a hard time telling if it’s my human error, or the quality of the tanner, but my arms, where I applied to first when the towelette had the most tanner on it, are pretty streaky. The tone of the color is okay where it didn’t streak, but the paler undersides of my lower forearms are an orange-y mess.
Final Verdict: I would probably use this again on my legs, but not for a bathing suit, just a skirt situation where I could start out on my thighs in case it was too saturated, and have a lighter application on my knees/calves. Or maybe next time start with my stomach, and do my arms second?
Jergens Natural Glow (Eloise)
Why I Picked It: I wanted something light and inexpensive when we were on vacation and I realized that it was lot warmer in Kentucky and I might want to actually show my legs.
Application Process: I put regular moisturizer on my hands, feet, etc before I applied this with my hands. It was a little sticky and definitely smelled of self-tanner but it did a fairly good job of moisturizing and dried in a normal amount of time for a lotion.
The Results: The first time I did it, it went on smoothly and the results were light but even. When I added a layer the next day, things started to get splotchy. Also, I felt like the self-tanner smell really lingered.
The Final Verdict: I feel like results for this were good for the price and that it was probably being me too casual with the application that led to the splotchiness. However, the lingering self-tanner odor really bothered me because I’m sensitive to smells.