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Sunless Tanners

Mariah09202008Mariah09202008
500 Comments
in Texas-Dallas and Ft. Worth
I do not tan well. At all.  Plus, I want my skin to look amazing when I'm older...anyway, I'm trying to get info on sunless tanners.
I don't have the money to pay for Mystic tans every month but I'd love any info on lotions that work.

I've tried neutragena and I've had horrible luck with it so that one's out for me.  I also tried Nivea but that was another bad one.  Both of those streaked horribly and the neutragena left me more orange than tan.  Right now I'm using Jergens but would like other opinions on good tanners.  So ladies, what works for you?  Do you know the price tag (because that kind of matters, too!) and which ones have you  had bad luck with?
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Re: Sunless Tanners

  • Mariah09202008Mariah09202008
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Oh and I also used to have Bath and Body Work's True Blue Spa sunless tanner for legs (it had bronzer in it).  That stuff was awesome!  Plus, it smelled really good afterward, which is another problem with sunless tanner-the chemical smell.  So I give that one 2 thumbs up, but am not sure they still sell it.  Plus, True Blue Spa is not expensive, really...there just wasn't a whole lot in the tube.  So I only used it every so often to make it last longer.
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  • jsauer74jsauer74 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Jergens...that is the only one that I have found that isn't over-kill! I am part hispanic and have a great olive under tone to my skin so alot of the self tanners make me look orange. The jergens is such a gradual change that it doen't look bad. HTH!
    Jen Visit The Knot! Wedding Countdown Ticker image
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  • Tiffany618Tiffany618
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    I really like Aveeno Continous Radiance.   It isn't marketed as a sunless tanner, but it was just in the lotion section at Target and it gives you gradual color and didn't streak on me at all.  It doesn't smell bad either.  The only way I could tell it was there was if I just completely missed a spot.   I think it was about $5 or so last year.

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  • emimayoremimayor
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Mariah, I use XenTan from Nordstrom and really love it. I don't tan either and its been a saving grace for me. It is a good price for what you get too and will last you. I have several friends that use it as well and have been equally as happy. It is only carried at Nordstroms, btw.
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  • amberproamberpro member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011

    The mod on my club board posted this from another Knottie's blog last week.  Thought it might help you. 

    There was a girl that posted on P&E back when it still P&E.  And to be honest, her wedding pics were probably the best I have ever seen.  Fashion mag worthy.  She writes a blog about shopping.  (Total fluff blog but she has over 400 followers.)  In one of them, she reviewed self tanning products and found what she calls the "best".
    Below is a description of each.

    1. www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P53005&searchString=clarins%20spf%206">Clarins SPF 6 Tanning Milk
    I use this creamy formula on my face only, and apply it after washing my face, before bedtime. Upon waking, my skin is infused with awesome, but natural looking color. Don't forget your neck!

    2.     www.xen-tan.com/">Xen Tan
    I actually got a sample of this product from the wonderful ladies at www.theknot.com/">The Knot. It is a formula with the consistency of a lotion that is totally scary in the bottle-dark gray. The first time I saw it, I thought it was expired because of the color. Turns out, this formula gives an incredible, deep tan, with a brown/olive look to it (more of a "real" tan look). It also smells devine- like vanilla, which is incredible for a self tanner. You have to be careful with this formula, and wash hands in between applying to areas of the body, but other than that, it is a wonderful formula and pretty easy to use...but I would recommend this for more advanced at-home self tanning use.

    3.     www.amazon.com/Loreal-Sublime-Bronze-Tanning-Natural/dp/B000GG2HPY">L'oreal Sublime Bronze Lotion, Gel
    This formula gives great color. The    www.amazon.com/LOreal-Dermo-Expertise-Sublime-Self-Tanning-Medium-Deep/dp/B0009F3NGE/ref=pd_bxgy_hpc_img_b"> gel takes really long to dry and smells awful, but the price (it is available at most drug stores) is unbeatable. Be careful with both formulas on hands and feet, if you use too much (like I have, many-a-time) your feet will look like oranges.

    4.     www.amazon.com/Loreal-Sublime-ProPerfect-Airbrush-Tanning/dp/B0017T556C/ref=pd_sim_hpc_3">L'oreal Sublime Bronze Airbrush
    I like this self-tanner because the airbrush is easy to use, doesn't need to be rubbed in, and dries quickly. The color is definitely not as dark as some of the other formulas, but I like to use this when I need to "touch up." I also like to use this to self tan my feet, no matter what product I am using on the rest of my body, because feet are better off with a light coat of airbrush self tanner than trying to get them perfectly even using a cream or lotion formula. I also like this for the face, though I typically use it only on my body. The smell isn't great, but like all L'oreal Sublime products, I can deal with the scent because the price is right.

    5. www.amazon.com/Banana-Boat-Summer-Color-Tanning/dp/B000PHFWGK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1254275390&sr=1-1">Banana Boat Airbrush Self Tanner I tried this one recently when the L'oreal was sold out- and it wasn't bad. It gets an "A plus" for its fruity scent. I wasn't particularly impressed with the color results though- I knew a product this yummy smelling couldn't possibly give awesome color though, so I wasn't expecting much. This would be a good choice for someone who wants light color.

    6.    www.sttropeztan.com/"> St. Tropez Self Tanning lotion
    I used this formula for quite some time and it is excellent- gives a "just spent a week on the beach in the Caribbean" look...however, it is pricey. This formula, much like Xen Tan's is really dark, so you have to be careful when applying and wash hands in between. Another option is to use gloves, but I typically find that just washing your hands really thoroughly works well. If you'd like to splurge on a great self tanner, this would be a top choice. I remember my bottle lasting really long. I also liked to use this product, mixed with my daily moisturizer to tone its intensity down a bit, on my face. And finally, my thoughts on gradual self tanners- personally, I would rather only have to self-tan once a week so I don't have to deal with the smell. Gradual tanning lotions do smell a bit better, but since you have to apply them daily to build color...it just seems like a lot of work to me. I'd rather use a stronger product and have a tan that lasts 5-7 days.

    photo images_zps41edd072.jpg

    Carter born 5/28/11
    BFP 9/27/12 EDD 6/11/13, MC 9wks, no HB

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  • Mariah09202008Mariah09202008
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    ooohh, thanks!!! :)  That's awesome!
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  • emimayoremimayor
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Holy crap! I want to be infused with awesome!!!!
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  • amberproamberpro member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_sunless-tanners?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:9d2d5e40-7e22-4c9f-92fa-2f7f933e5673Post:65874e4b-50b6-4b9b-8c4b-030cef0c3145">Re: Sunless Tanners</a>:
    [QUOTE]ooohh, thanks!!! :)  That's awesome!
    Posted by Mariah09202008[/QUOTE]

    No problem! 

    and emi... don't we all? ;)
    photo images_zps41edd072.jpg

    Carter born 5/28/11
    BFP 9/27/12 EDD 6/11/13, MC 9wks, no HB

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  • Jay+MarissaJay+Marissa member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'd go with something you can spray. It seems no matter how I apply the cream, I ALWAYS end up streaky, no matter what the product is.
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  • bridgetlbbridgetlb
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    for lotion - i think mary kay is the best  - not too orange and not streaky - has worked best that i've seen.
    for mystic tan - i just signed up for the first time and did my first one last week at planet tan or planet beach - they were 10 for $100 total. not a bad price if you spread them out. not sure if you wanted to do it just for the wedding or in general.
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  • Jay+MarissaJay+Marissa member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Really? 10 for $100 is a great price! Is this a promotion?
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  • bridgetlbbridgetlb
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    NO! that is there normal price (i'm pretty sure!)!!! but it is $25 for one!
    you can pick your shade as well... light , medium or dark... i did medium and i'm going to try dark next time. trying it all now, way before the wedding!
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  • shauna378shauna378 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    You cannot go wrong with Clarins -   I absolutely love it -   the bronzer for face,  or the Milk tanning  or the new mousse - doesn't smell and it's great.  It's so natural and you cannot mess it up. 
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  • Mariah09202008Mariah09202008
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks everyone for the suggestions!  I have a gift card to Sephora that I haven't used and this may be the perfect excuse!  :) 
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  • Mariah09202008Mariah09202008
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Yay!  I just bought some clarins and st. tropez :)  Plus a few extra goodies I couldn't resist! 
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  • tiffnrich2010tiffnrich2010
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm not sure on the self tanners..But if anyone does want to try something like Versa or Mysticq... I've been using TAN-TRUM airbrush tans and it's been AWESOME. I haven't been orange or streaky AT ALL. I love that! Just a heads up for anyone :)

    Also Mariah- Let me know how it works! I'd like to get some other stuff for the inbetween times! :)
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  • Mariah09202008Mariah09202008
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Tiff, I will definitely be posting the reviews as soon as I get the stuff in and try it.  :)  I'm hoping it was money well spent.

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