Summer is here which means it is time for tank tops, bikinis, and light summer outfits. You want to look your best so are thinking about using a self-tanner to achieve that sun-kissed golden glow to your skin. Which product will deliver on your desires while avoiding that streaky, orange, oven-baked appearance that gave these products a bad rep in the past? We gathered up three of the best self-tanning products including L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Pro Perfect Salon Airbrush Medium Natural Tan, Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water by Sephora, and Clinique Self Sun Body Tinted Lotion. With a little care and informed expectations, you can head out to the beach this year with a tan ready to boost your ego. Let's find out which one performs the best with the least smell and the lowest price.
All three of these self-tanning products offer multiple skin-tone products, but the Clinique and L'Oreal only feature a medium and deep choice. The Isle of Paradise by Sephora uses the base tone of your skin to pair with the right tanner, whether light, medium or deep. Grabbing a deep tanner for light skin can result in an orange appearance.
The L'Oreal comes in a spray with a wide nozzle for quick application and will miss fewer spots while providing an even mist. The Isle of Paradise is a pump spray in a light liquid. Clinique is a light lotion. Wash your hands thoroughly after use to prevent damage to fabrics and surfaces. All three products recommend smoothing out the tanner with a mitt for the most seamless tan.
The L'Oreal tanner reports results in as little as two hours and will continue to deepen for up to four hours. The Isle of Paradise takes four to six hours for the best results and the Clinique requires a full day to reach a deep, rich tan.
All three self-tanning products will provide a tan that will last from 4 to 10 days. How quickly it fades depends on how often you shower, if you go swimming, wear abrasive clothing, etc. All self-tanners are changing the color of your surface skin cells. When new skin appears, it will not have a tanned appearance unless you reapply the product.
The Clinique tanner comes out of the bottle with a very strong odor, which dissipates as the product dries. Coming in second is the L'Oreal Sublime Bronze as the odor doesn't make you turn your head right away. The best of the lot for low odor is the Isle of Paradise which infused their product with eucalyptus for a more organic smell that masks the tanning chemicals.
The best bang for your buck is the L'Oreal self-tanning mist, which can be found at most drug stores for under $10. While Clinique and Isle of Paradise can be ordered on the internet, it won't save you any cash vs. visiting the beauty counter at your favorite department store. Expect to spend between $30 and $50 depending on promotions.
All three products are dermatologist tested, but only Clinique backs up their Self-Sun lotion with an anti-acne claim. All three do not recommend use for overly sensitive skin and users are reminded that the self-tanners do not protect you from the sun's damage. Apply sunblock over your tan just like normal.
The hardest part in achieving a super smooth self-tan is applying the product evenly. Since the lotion or mist disappears in an instant, it is hard to see where you hit and where you missed. A tanning mitt used in long strokes over the applied area will even out the application and provide a better tan.