Can anyone recommend a good self tanning lotion? I'm a fair redhead who tans very little in the sun and when I do it lasts only a day or two. I've never tried the self tanners and wanted to this year. I have seen some people that use them and they look orange in spots. I don't want that, but is that inevitable with self tanning lotions? Any experiences/product info would be appreciated!!

By Mommyof4 on Sunday, April 3, 2005 - 11:43 pm:

I was just a a beauti control spa party yesterday and they have a sunless tanning lotion that is like a colored lotion. It looked nice on the guest that put it on.

By Palmbchprincess on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 12:13 am:

I like Neutrogena Endless Summer, it goes on easier and lasts long than others I've tried. Whatever you choose, EXFOLIATE!! Believe me, you cannot skip that step, you'll have splotches. Oh, and shave the day before, shaving right after makes the color fade, and applying tanner to freshly shaven legs can irritate your skin. (At least in my experience)

By Children03 on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 06:41 am:

I have been using the Sunless Tanning Creme by Banana Boat for the past few years and I really like it. It is inexpensive too. I buy the soft medium blend, self adjusting color. I put it on right after I get out of the shower and then usually let it dry for about 10 minutes before getting dressed.

I don't like the smell of it, but I usually put it on when I know I don't have anywhere important to go and then I shower later that day to get the smell to go away. It smells kind of like a lemon mixed with another smell too. I wait for a week or so and then I reapply it again to get a darker glow. YOu can reapply 2 or 3 hours later, but I like for my skin to just have a slight glow, I'm not trying to look dark.

I bought this new vitamin k airbrush legs by Sally Hanson, but I don't like it. It sprays out onto your hangs and then you apply it to your legs, but it is almost like it drys up too fast and it left my legs looking splotchy in some areas. The one thing about it that was kind of nice is that you can apply it and if you don't like it, it will wash off with soap and water immediately after applying it, the other creme that I menioned above is there to stay once you've applied it, but I can usually get it to look even.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 07:46 am:

Every one of them that I have ever tried, including the one Crystal uses, has made me look *orange*.

By Jann on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 08:46 am:

I have used Bain de Solei with good luck. I have also used the tanning cloths. No orange. Like Crystal said, exfoiliation is the key!. Also putting a little lotion on your feet, ankles, elbows will help them not absorb too much. If you do get streaky, just gently exfoiliate the area.

Has anyone seen Jennifer Flavin (think that's her name) advertising her home air tanner on QVC?

By Shellyg on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 12:00 pm:

L'oreal Sublime Bronze spray on in medium ROCKS! Gives you a nice, natural tan. As long as you keep an arms reach away while spraying it, it looks very natural. It even gets all the hard to reach areas. The only part that I do not like is that it goes on a little bit greasy. I think I have tried every self tanner there is, and this one by far is the best!

By Tink on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 12:44 pm:

I'm a huge fan of Bath & Body Works sunless tanning foam. I'm "casper white" and, currently, a redhead . This doesn't turn me orange and I've been using it for two years now. It dries so much faster than the lotions and is tinted so I walk away from applying looking a little darker.

I've also heard great things about L'oreal's and Bain de Soliel's tanners. And ditto everyone else about exfoliating!

By Debbie on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 01:05 pm:

I use L'oreal Subline Bronze also. But, I use the lotion. Skin cancer runs in my family and I had a scare a few years ago, so I don't sunbathe anymore. I have been using L'oreal for the last few years. Yes, you do have to exfoliate. Also, if you use just a little at a time, it is easier to get an even tan. I use a little at a time for several days and then once I have the tan I want then I use it every 3 or 4 days. We just got back from vacation and my Mom got on me because she thought I had tanned in a tanning booth before we came. So, it must look pretty natural

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 08:48 pm:

I started using the Neutrogena and am so surprised at how good it looks already! Just wanted to clarify though so I don't mess up: by exfoliating do you mean just making sure to scrub in between applications with a washcloth or actually using a buffer? Thanks a lot everyone! Big help!

By Tink on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 10:11 pm:

I use an exfoliating scrub in the shower before applying the tanner. The color really tends to blotch if I'm not very careful.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 10:57 pm:

Okay - also I noticed that I have a few streaks where I did not put the lotion on evenly. What can/do I do about that? Just wait it out? My lotion says that if you're happy with your color then wait 8 days to reapply for maintenance of that color. It was my first time applying, I LOVE the color as it is but noticed where I didn't put it on evenly. I'll know better next time. Also too much around my knees and ankles. What can I do?

By Tink on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 12:07 am:

Use an exfoliating scrub to blend the streaks in a bit. It won't be perfect but it will be less obvious. I've also heard that rubbing alcohol will help it fade but I haven't tried it. And, FYI, I've never had tanner last as long as it is supposed to. If it says eight days, I'd reapply in five or six.

By Shellyg on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 12:11 am:

There is actually self tanner removers at the drugstore. Also, next time you apply the self tanner put lotion on your knees, elbows, top of feet. It helps the self tanner not to be to dark in those spots.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 09:56 pm:

Thanks guys...so I exfoliated in the shower tonight and it seems that most of my wonderful color is gone. A few streaks here and there, but a lot of it is gone. Is that normal, that after every exfoliation the color dims/goes away and you start again? I just want to know what to expect. When you're using a self tanner, do you exfoliate every time you shower or just before you want to reapply again?

By Jann on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 10:19 pm:

Yes, very normal. This type of tan doesn't permeate anything but the top layer of your skin. When you exfoiliate, it's gone.
I always exfoiliate before applying the self tanner, not at every shower.

By Tink on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 12:15 am:

I only exfoliate the day I plan on reapplying. Shaving will also strip off some of the color. I usually apply the tanner after shaving to make up for it.

By Mrse on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 04:49 pm:

A little story to tell you guys
One day my girl friend came over for tea one hot summers day, she was wearing a sun dress that was rather on the short side. She had applyed the tanning stuff, so she was nice and brown, but when she got up to go to the bathroom, I looked at the back of her legs and all the lotion had smeared leaving the back of her legs all streaky. It would have been no big deal but she just got back from the mall, and she had walked up and down the mall with her dh, who did notice her legs but never said anything to her, she could have died!!! she had sat on leather seats in the car and her legs started to sweat I guess.