We can’t be perfect, it seems. No matter how much we pluck out, suck in, or smear over, we cannot be ideal. Luckily, we are all different, and there are many products out there that can enhance our individuality. However, personally speaking, sometimes looking like I have had a nasty altercation with a school’s old chalk-duster is not a good look for me for the summer months, so I do think that it’s okay to add a little tanning product every now and then to take the edge off.
And let’s face it, with swimsuits and wedding season upon us, nobody would argue that we all look a little bit better with a healthy glow. Personally speaking, my Nordic/Celt, bluer-than-white complexion needs help from the tanning products every once in a while for fear of being mistaken for a card-carrying member of Screen Actors Guild, with a walk-on role from the Walking Dead. But spray tans, (although work perfectly for a lot of people), for me, do not wear well, as I always seem to resemble the Great Unwashed for days after.
One very important piece of advice before tanning is to exfoliate a good 48 hours before applying any of these products. Wax or shave well before, too.
Top 5 Easy-to-Find Sunless Tanners Under $20
5. Too Tan to give a Damn
From the company b.tan. This product was new to me, and I was really excited to use it. I applied the tan with a mitt because it is a mousse and I didn´t want my hands to look like I had just dipped them in a slurry tank. Initially the mousse had a greenish tint and I was a little nervous (my Oompa-Loompa c
omplex resurfaced). But after a little more blending, it developed into an olive base.
The smell was quite different from the usual tanning products. It was sweet, but sickly sweet. After my application, I felt sticky, but at least the smell subsided slightly. That stickiness did not go away and I awoke several times during the night just to unglue my legs. In the morning, I was surprised that my tan was not as dark as I anticipated. The product’s name ( Too Tan..etc.) did not live up to it. I will say, however, the tan itself was streakless, elbows and knees were evenly toned, and I was deliriously happy with the color (only because it was not as dark as advertised).
4. Banana Boat
This brand has a range of tanning products, too. I picked Summer Color to review. This has a light medium color, claims it is streak free, and gives a natural tan. The color develops in 2-3 hours. I liked this color and if it is applied sparingly on elbows and knees, it looks good. It does give a slight orange tone, though. There is also an airbrush version of this by the same name. This was quick and easy to apply and dried well. Because of this, however, I wasn’t sure if I had sprayed over areas twice or three times. It gave a good color, but did not wear well. Blotches of tan remained while other areas on my arms were pale after showering the second day.
3. Tanned AF
These are drops that can be added to moisturizer the night before and applied before bed. In the morning you should have a healthy glow. Pretty good product. A little messy if spilled, and difficult to get stains out of bathroom cabinet doors. So be careful!
Loreal’s Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Drops are very nice, too. These products are used alongside your nightly moisturizer and are great for a healthy glow the next day. Providing, of course, that you don’t lay on your face all night.
2. Jergens Natural Glow
I have been using this for a few years. It does give an overall nice tan coverage, however, the smell leaves a lot to be desired. It can be reapplied daily until you reach your personal tanning goals, and it wears away nicely and evenly. I suggest not to use this on your face, though. Jergens has a face tanning product that gives a less intense hue and proves to be a much better tan for the face. You do not want your face to end up darker than the rest of your body.
1. Love at First Tan
This tanning product promises to not give the orange tan that we all try to avoid. Instead, they claim to provide a more natural-looking tan and a healthier glow. It’s a violet-based tanner, so it does not have the orange hue at all. When applying this product on my skin, I found the smell pleasant and very close to odorless. It is also a mousse so will have to be applied with a mitt. Very happy with this product!
Winner! Winner!
There are many products available that are a lot more expensive than those that give the same orange-less tones if applied correctly. Out of all of these products, my favorite is Love at First Tan. Even though I, as a rule, dislike mousse, the product’s claims were true for me. It did not smell horribly, it gave an even, non-orange hue, and was natural and healthy looking, even around those pesky knees and elbows.
Using these products sparingly is recommended. There is nothing worse than appearing at a summer wedding like you just had a fist fight with a bunch of carrots. Less is more. Happy Tanning and remember, there is nothing more beautiful than the real you, but sometimes we all need a little help to enhance our wannabe natural hue.
