Comment from Ashley
Time: May 30, 2007, 10:14 pm

I’ve been using L’Oreal’s Sublime Bronze to supplement my very, very sparse visits to the tanning bed. I only use it every few days, so it has a few days to settle in and I know where I’ve missed, or don’t need any the next time. Good luck!

Comment from mo
Time: May 30, 2007, 11:36 pm

i don’t know how helpful this is because i live in another country. ANYWAY, there is this company called johnsons (i am sure its global) and they have this stuff called ‘holiday skin moisturiser’ which sounds kind of like what you had, but this stuff is really good. i tend to the olive end of the spectrum but i live in jeans and so while i have nice brown arms year round, in contrast my legs end up scary pasty white. and i don’t have the patience to sit in the sun (although laptop and wireless helps). this stuff works well for me within a couple of applications and doesnt stain hands or anything like that. i’ve always been wary of the fake tanner thing, so i found this a nice compromise.

Comment from JMH
Time: May 31, 2007, 2:38 am

I like the L’Oreal Sublime Bronze too, but it smells like a self tanner. Latley, I have been using the Dove Energy Glow and I like the smell and color of the “tan” too. Plus, it works quickly (I saw color after the 1st application)

Comment from heidi
Time: May 31, 2007, 4:01 am

i was in a wedding on friday and needed color badly because i had the dark arms/ white legs thing goin’ on. i knew i wanted to mystic tan but i was terrified of being orange and/or streaky. it took me three weeks to build up the courage to finally go to the tanning salon. mystic tan was pretty quick and easy. though, if you can’t hold your breath for longer than five seconds, be prepared to inhale the nasty fumes. if you decide to use it: DO use the blocking cream on knees, elbows, fingers and toes. it works well from staining those dry areas and magically does not leave white blotches in those areas. i decided to use the booties to keep the bottoms of my feet and toe knuckles from getting gross. i’m glad i did because it also served the purpose of giving me my only “tan line” which me gauge my color. also, if you wash your hands afterwards, you won’t get the weird staining on your fingers.

overall, the color was OK. it probably looks as natural as can be next to real sun. i didn’t smell too terrible afterwards, even though the stuff smells when it’s being sprayed in the booth. it doesn’t last very long, so i’d only use it a day or two before an occasion, unless you want to shell out $25 a pop once or twice a week to keep the constant color. but if you do that, you run the risk of being freaky dark like jessica simpson has been lately, and who wants that?

Comment from KLJ
Time: May 31, 2007, 4:47 am

Try Hawaiian Tropic’s Island Glow in medium. Try to put the fact you are giving money to Ron Rice out of your mind. Has an acceptable green tea smell and has a lot of room for error. I have found the reviews at Makeup Alley always helpful.

Comment from jonna
Time: May 31, 2007, 4:47 am

I’ve been Mystic Tanned for a wedding, and it worked fine, but I agree, it’s too expensive for any sort of maintenance. Also, my best friend is super-pale, and it streaked all over her to the point of hilarity - so extra-pale girls, beware!

Comment from paige
Time: May 31, 2007, 5:09 am

I have tried Mystic Tan, and while I didn’t turn oompa loompa orange, the color faded waaay too quickly to justify the price. Good for a special occasion though. Also a tip, when you’re wiping off afterwards, make sure you wipe EVERYWHERE…including where the, uh, sun may not shine. I had some crazy streaks around my, um, well you know…okay, around my crack! I had streaks around my crack! The shame. Both for the streaks, and for admitting I had streaks. But I only share in the spirit of helpfulness!

Talk of my crack aside, I’m glad I’m not the only one who felt let down by the almighty Jergens.

Comment from Sarah
Time: May 31, 2007, 6:53 am

I second the Dove recommedation. I tried the Jergans stuff when it first came out and had to stop after a few applications because 1) I didn’t see that much of a change and 2) God, I reeked. I HATED the smell.

I picked up the Dove Energy Glow stuff on a whim and love it. I must admit, I was using it every day and it got to be a little too bronzey, but when I backed off, I achieved a happy medium. Be careful around your elbows though. That was also a lesson I learned with the initial go-around.

Comment from Cara
Time: May 31, 2007, 9:42 am

First, a little story about that Jergins stuff: The hubs, kids and I went to visit my parents last summer. My mom had a bottle of that Jergins stuff in her bathroom. My 14 year old stepson took a shower in there and was in there for an extra long time. An hour or so later, we noticed that one of his hands was totally Oompa-Loompa orange. Needless to say, the hubs had to have a little father-son talk about not using other peoples’ lotions for such things and for god’s sake child learn to READ A LABEL! Ha!

ANYWAY, I am the pastiest of the pasty white girls and last summer I got really good results with Neutrogena’s Build-a-Tan. The color lasts for several days and while it does have a smell, I thought it was a lotion-ey smell, not an ass smell. The key to making any sunless tanner not streak is to exfoliate the hell out of your skin and make sure that it’s not dry to begin with. Usually when I’m going to use it I exfoliate, shave, then put regular lotion on at night. Then the next morning I put the tanning lotion on.

Comment from el-e-e
Time: May 31, 2007, 12:18 pm

Just another echo here — I think the Jergens smelled like wet corn flakes. But I was ALL about it 2 years ago.

I’m trying Dove Energy Glow and the tan is good. The post-application smell is… only a little less like wet corn flakes. Sigh.

I’ve heard Oil of Olay has one that’s good, but haven’t tried it myself.

Comment from Patty
Time: May 31, 2007, 12:22 pm

For the past four years I have used Banana Boat self tanner and found it to work OK, but I didn’t like the smell. This year I switched to L’Oreal Sublime Bronze and love it so much better. It doesn’t smell like the Banana Boat did, it doesn’t leave streaks if you rub it in very well and it doesn’t rub off on clothing as much.

I mostly always put it on at night before bed and wear an old tshirt and sleep pants to keep it off the sheets. To keep from getting the dreaded orange palms I do my arms and upper body first, wash my hands, then do my legs and wash my hands again.

I also moisturize every day with either the L’Oreal Sublime Glow daily moisturizer or the Target brand daily glow moisturizer. I find that makes the self tanner last longer.

I prefer the home application to the Mystic Tan simply because I am lazy and don’t want to have to go out for yet another beauty maintenance appointment.

Comment from angela
Time: May 31, 2007, 12:24 pm

Sublime Bronze. Especially if you have some sort of base tan.

I don’t think you’ll ever escape the smell of self tanner.

Comment from Jean
Time: May 31, 2007, 1:22 pm

Cara, that is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard re: your stepson and the self tanner. Thanks for the laugh!!

Comment from Josie
Time: May 31, 2007, 3:27 pm

Dove stuff is really good. I’ve heard that the one for your face is good too, but I haven’t tried that. The Dove stuff eventually smells like self tanner, but the initial smell is much better than the other stuff. I’ve used the Loreal Sublime bronze stuff too and the gel is nice.

Comment from Jamie :)
Time: May 31, 2007, 4:05 pm

I’ve been using the new Olay Body Touch of Sun OVERNIGHT! And it works fabulously! You apply it fifteen minutes before bed (it smells alright for a tanner) and then it magically colors you while you sleep. The nice thing is, you can shower in the morning to get rid of the smell, but keep the tanned legs!

Comment from janet
Time: June 1, 2007, 12:43 am

i’ve done the mystic tan once. i had the medium spray done for a party i was going to later that week. i thought the medium spray was too DARK and ORANGY. i was really disappointed! i ended up scrubbing away some of the color so it wouldn’t make me look like an orange weirdo. and what’s worse is the color keep getting darker for a few days. for some people, it made them look tanner. on me, i just looked like an orangy tan, which i heard is not supposed to happen. maybe if i did the light spray instead? who knows? i might try it again near july for a wedding i’m supposed to attend. if you want, i could let you know how they mystic tan in light goes! oh also, the sucky part is this shit goes up your nose too and its a cold wet spray that is totally shocking and unexpected. oh the crazy shit we do for fashion!

Comment from janet
Time: June 1, 2007, 12:46 am

oh and i think the jergen’s stuff smelled like ritz crackers and i totally hated it! i wonder if anyone makes a unscented tanning lotion. man, i’m telling you, tanning bed tanning is so much easier than all this craziness. i just wish it wouldn’t kill us in the end.

Comment from Donna
Time: June 1, 2007, 4:34 am

try the neutrogena sprayon tan stuff, it stinks after awhile, but if you put it on, and then go shopping or something, it works really well. Then you wash it off and moisturize like crazy, it tends to be a little drying, but it doesn’t streak as much. and no orange hands!

Comment from Vicki
Time: June 1, 2007, 7:08 am

I have been using Aveno self tanning. It still smells but it’s not very noticable esp. after it drys. I am very fair and this one is subtle with is great because my goal is not really to look tan. I just don’t want to blind people with my legs.

Comment from Sonia (DDM)
Time: June 1, 2007, 7:00 pm

I did airbrush tanning for my friend out of her tanning salon for a little over a year. I recommend an airbrush tan if 1)done by an actual person, not a machine and 2) it is a California Tan sunless product. When I was doing the spray tans, I saw terrible, awful, no good results come out of machine applied sunless tans. Basically, unless you have naturally very dark skin, the machine applied ones can be drippy and scary.
I can recommend a fantastic spray tan salon and the woman who owns it does THE BEST job of application. E-mail me if you’d like her info.

Comment from christen
Time: June 1, 2007, 8:36 pm

I am a pasty Irish girl and I got my first Mystic tan last weekend. Love. It. It does have that fake tanner smell for about 2 days–but looked fantastic. Also, Neutrogena Micro Mist is the best OTC tanning product I have found, and I have tried them ALL. It’s the only one that doesn’t stink horribly, and does not make me sweat buckets the instant I put it on.

Comment from Katie
Time: June 3, 2007, 8:06 am

I, too, am ridiculously pasty white. I am also not coordinated enough to apply a true self-tanner, so I stick with Aveno daily bronzer lotion (the lightest one) and it does produce nice, subtle color without totally smelling like ass. It’s very subtle and I have yet to make myself streaky.

However, every single one of my friends who uses self-tanner swears by Clarins. It’s obviously more expensive than OTC stuff, but, according to them, it’s so worth it. It’s a gel that absorbs instantly (so you can get dressed 5 mintues later and it won’t get on your clothes) and it gives you the full color in a couple hours (can you tell I’ve gotten the hard sell more than once? Clearly I’m pasty). Also, it is supposedly very subtle and easy to use. Again, I don’t trust myself to use it, but everyone I know swears by it.

Comment from Jenny
Time: June 4, 2007, 4:51 am

I do the real-person-applied airbrush tan thing if I have an “event,” as they say. (Just got back from a work junket in Vegas and I couldn’t go hang out with Josh Duhamel all pasty white, right? Is that show even still on?) Anyway, it’s a little more expensive but is by far the most natural fake tan I’ve ever had and I’ve had a lot of fake tans. Anyway, for a special occasion, it’s worth it. Just be sure to ask them before you go about when you need to exfoliate and use/not use lotion beforehand.

I’ve been using the Jergens on a day-to-day basis, but based on these recommendations, I’m going to give the Dove a go. Because man, that smell gets to you after a while.

Comment from amber
Time: June 5, 2007, 11:55 pm

Try buying a mystic package, it brings the price down to about 10 bucks a pop. I go every ten days after work. I shave that morning and tan in a “tanning bed” to warm me up and open my pores before I mystic. If you try it bring a travel pack of baby wipes in the room with you if they don’t supply them so you can rub the spray in with your hands and then wipe your hands ASAP (feet too!) I wait for about four hours and then shower before I go to bed so as not to upset my honey with the “catbox smell”… Then presto-chango, no wrinkles, cellulite or zits!

Comment from JR
Time: June 8, 2007, 7:54 am

I can’t believe no one has mentioned Aveeno tanner/moisturizer. It doesn’t have that offensive Jergens smell and it’s totally subtle and lovely. If you use after a day in the real sun, you will get a great natural bronze.

Comment from Tasha
Time: June 8, 2007, 8:19 am

I like the L’Oreal Sublime Bronze for the color, but it still has that smell. The Hawaiian Tropic moisturizer is pretty good, but it takes a little while to build up; smells better, though! I always use latex gloves to apply sunless tanner, then use a cotton ball to apply the tanner to the back of my hands. Don’t forget to wipe off your elbows, knees and toes afterward, too! It keeps them from getting too dark.

Comment from udandi
Time: June 8, 2007, 9:28 am

I use the Dove Energy Glow and it does have a slight smell after it is on, I can tolerate it more than the Jergens stink.

My friend is using the Vaseline’s version and likes it better than Jergens, too.

Comment from Linda
Time: June 9, 2007, 7:12 am

I like the Loreal Sublime but hate the smell.

Comment from Gina
Time: June 9, 2007, 9:05 am

I’d like to put in a good word for Tan Towels. I picked up mine from ::cough::HSN::cough:: I’m not much of a home shopper (well, not from the tv) and surprised myself by getting sucked into their spot for this product. I figured it was a fairly risk-free purchase since I could return it & ordered a starter pack for about $25. This will easily last me more than 2 months.

Results are great for me! I’m quite pale & 1 application takes the edge off & makes me able to bare my legs in public. 2 applications (I do it the next day, but they say you can re-apply within 3 hours) gives me a gorgeous, healthy tan with no orange. It dries so fast it blows my mind & the scent is minimal. The tan develops nicely & it doesn’t stain at all. The only downside is that the towel does not include any bronzer, so it’s not possible to see where you’ve applied, I only had a problem the first time when I forgot to do a knee. It’s very simple to use & has had great results for me!

Comment from Groovymarlin
Time: June 10, 2007, 5:41 pm

I love the Mystic Tan, I’m extremely pale and don’t tan naturally, just burn. Mystic Tan, using the lightest setting, works perfect for me. I also usually use the clear, rather than tinted, option. I found that if I bought a package it was pretty affordable, as someone else mentioned, it worked out to about $10 a pop and I really only needed to go once a week, maybe twice before an event.

I’d also like to give a vote for this instant bronzing self-tanner stuff by Boots that I got at Target recently. I got the light-medium tone, and it works really well. Gave my legs a very nice, even color, and the tint that lets you see where it’s being applied is subtle. Also didn’t seem to have much of a fragrance, which is good.

Comment from Kristin
Time: June 11, 2007, 7:10 pm

I like the L’Oreal Sublime bronze instant tanning gel as well. Jergen’s was ok and Dove streaked like crazy and was way too orange. Jergen’s facial tanning moisturizer made my face break out like crazy. Neutrogena instant bronze is nice too, it can be a little too dark but I like it. I just don’t like how all self tanners look streaky after swimming in a pool….

Comment from karina C.
Time: June 18, 2007, 8:55 pm

I like the Jergins Self Tanner, but it rubs off when i get wet. I am currently using the Dove engergy glow its good too but It also rubs off.
Is there anyone who knows what self tanner wont rub off when you get wet?

Comment from lindsay
Time: June 25, 2007, 4:34 pm

honestly I have tried it ALL!!!!!!!!! The best one that I have found is a spray by body drench called Quick Tan. Its a proffesional product so you can only find it at places like CB sullivan. The color is so nice and brown with a little hint of pink…. like a real tan. ITs sooo messy though, be sure to spray outside or in the shower otherwise it makes a mess

Comment from lthnlhdcdb
Time: July 3, 2007, 12:38 pm

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Comment from marci
Time: July 7, 2007, 2:08 pm

i neeed help on what self tanner to get qiuck im going to a party in 3 hours and dont want to look like a ghost!!! help!

Comment from Entropy’s bitch
Time: July 7, 2007, 11:29 pm

XenTan. Nordstrom. Dark. I’m pasty white, and with this, I look like i’ve been in the tropics and it’s fabulosity. FABULOUS. And the medium for the face..YAY! I don’t look crazyorange. Get one of the tubed microfoliant concoctions, and do your upper body. Get a cheap tube of it and have at it. Go for the wrists, neck, decollete and then use a wedgie sponge and blop it on your face, and then get out the dark stuff and go for your arms and chest. Next day..it’s great. I’ve also been using Wet and Wild liquid bronzer mixed with NoAd sunscreen, and it helps the glow.

Comment from kristin
Time: July 19, 2007, 12:21 pm

I was extremely impressed with www.sunlabratories.com. I have tried many of thier products for both indoor and outdoor tanning. I have tried so many products but few compare to the results I got with Sun Labratories.

Comment from Deb
Time: October 20, 2007, 9:11 am

Go to sunless.com. Great site for self tanning recommendations and reviews. I have also had great results with Sun Laboratories products. I also love the Beach products - especially the Coconut Rum scent. I swear by Estee Lauder face tan. It’s the best and very forgiving. I don’t use the body self tan because it’s way too expensive. You can get alot of the self tan products from tanforless.com. Good luck!

Comment from Boshena the Spray Tan Expert
Time: December 2, 2007, 4:28 pm

If you have one of those in your area instead of Mystic Tan try a MagicTan Versaspa. Its and incredible spray tan booth. It produces so little “fumes” that the whole booth is open- it does not have any doors. Also, you don’t need booties, because it does not stain your feet, and it actually dries your tan while you are still in the booth, so you just step out, get dressed and go.
It’s a new generation in spray tanning - oh and so is the solution, it does not give you orange tan at all. I am in love with it.

Comment from Lexi
Time: March 14, 2008, 3:59 pm

I can’t belive no one has remcomded the OLAY touch of sun!! well, its 2008 now so, what eva. its march and I am a lighter/ mediam color in the winter, lighter if i say myself. And I 100% recomemend OLAY touch of sun mousizer lotion, it has NO orangness, NO streaks and gives a touch of sun all year round! It looks natural and if u use it every night or even once a week it won’t get too dark! It stays a nice medium and blends in like it knows the color u want!! i love this and I use it on my legs, belly, chest, and arms. there’s problem on knees or elbows i think everyone should try this product!!

Comment from laura
Time: April 2, 2008, 3:38 pm

i used glowfusion from fusionbeauty (same company that makes lipfusion). you can buy it at sephora. the product’s tagline is:

“no odor. no streaking. no staining. no kidding.”

all true. and the color is beautiful. ive never had anyone question the authenticity of my tan.

Comment from amy
Time: April 3, 2008, 7:43 am

I LOL’D @ ALL THE SELF-TANNING BLOOPS, I’VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A SELF TANNER LOTION THAT WORKS AS WELL AS “HEMP”(IT ALSO HAS A SKIN FIRMING EFFECT THAT WORKS) BUT I NEED ONE THAT DOESN’T SMELL FUNKY…MY HUBBY DOESN’T LIKE THE SMELL BUT LOVES THE TANNED UP SEXY LOOK. I DON’T WANT TO SPEND A FORTUNE OR RUIN MY SKIN EITHER. HELP ME OUT WITH A SUGGESTION IF YOU CAN! AMY

Comment from Shawn Grant
Time: April 21, 2008, 5:01 am

I loved a product called CMI self tanner. It came with a lotion and a exfoliater. you had to wear gloves to but it on and it came out black so as to not get streaks. it let you so golden brown even the white white people look like the were in florida for a week. I can’t find it anymore and would love to find something like it where it comes out black. i got it from the shopping channel in toronto..please help.

Comment from Sophia
Time: April 29, 2008, 9:33 am

Loreal Sublime Glow micro mist;
Love it only on hands, feet, face, and neck (great if I wore jeans and long sleefe tops all summer). Difficult to apply on legs and arms. Each application makes it look worse. Seems like a lot is wasted in overspray.

Comment from sunshowers
Time: June 13, 2008, 10:21 pm

Everyone’s reviews seem to echo my own experiences. I too was rather underwhelmed by Jergens after hearing all the hype about it. I used Loreal Sublime Bronze gel for a few summers, but now I prefer Dove. The Sublime Bronze stuff just took forever to dry, and while the medium gel didn’t give me enough color, the dark gel made me orange. The Dove lotion actually smells good when you put it on, not chemical-ly or smelly at all. Of course, after a few hours it does develop that self-tanner smell, but I don’t think you can ever avoid it completely.

Comment from Kelly Squier
Time: June 29, 2008, 5:08 pm

RE: CMI Self Tanner. I used it too and loved (love) it. I found it at http://www.cmicnpmfrs.yp.ca/ and they ship it for $10. They are located in Vaughan, Ontario and (if you’re local) you can pick it up at their warehouse. They now have the ‘original’ that has the brown tint and they have one without the tint as well, although the original works best, in my opinion.