After a long winter, summertime is finally here, which means sandals, shorts, skirts, tank tops and, of course, white legs for many of us. The Counter Intelligence email box was full of questions asking about the best self-tanners on the market, so we decided to test out some of the biggest beauty brands on women in our office to get real-life opinions and experiences.
Andrea: Darphin – Skin Bonze – Self Tanning
How often did you have to use the product? Twice a week.
What was your initial reaction to the product? The instructions were clear: scrub, dry, carefully apply and then wait. The cream has a lovely texture to it and spreads easily. It also has a slight tint to it so it was easier to tell what spots had been missed. It takes a full 30 minutes for it to dry which was tough. But, I found that mid-way through the mornings that I used the product I had nice natural colour on my legs. The moisturizer in the product kept my legs feeling really hydrated.
What suggestion do you have to make this product better/or apply easier? While the tint makes it easier to not miss spots, this cream is not fail proof so make sure you blend.
What is your final opinion of the product? This is a luxurious cream tanner that delivers a natural golden tan.
Would you recommend this product to anyone else? Definitely! A seasoned cream tanner will have no problem with this product and will love the natural looking tan. A cream tanning newbie should make sure they have time to spend applying and not rush the drying process.
Stephanie: Aveeno Continuous Radiance
How often did you have to use the product? Every day
What was your initial reaction to the product? It was nice. I liked the look of the package and the fact that it was gradual.
What suggestion do you have to make this product better/or apply easier? The change was a little too subtle for my taste. It didn’t really accomplish the colour I hoped it would after two weeks.
What is your final opinion of the product? It was pretty good.
Would you recommend this product to anyone else? No. I’d go back to the one I usually use.
Bonnie: Neutrogena MicroMist Tanning Sunless Spray
How often did you have to use the product? I used it every other day for a period of 3 weeks
What was your initial reaction to the product? I loved it – the aerosol spray made for an exceptionally easy and even application, the spray dried quickly within 5 min of application. I had some reservations initially about the potential “colour” results (fearing “orange” rather than “tan”) but my fears were quickly put to rest
What suggestion do you have to make this product better/or apply easier? I noticed my skin was drier than usual a couple of hours after application – I’d like to see if they could include a hint of moisturizer in the formula
What is your final opinion of the product? I would definitely seek out this product for a personal purchase; Neutrogena is a trusted brand in the skin care business and the results were true to their claim. I believe the cost for this product is reasonable; good results/ good price = good value
Would you recommend this product to anyone else? Absolutely – especially for people concerned about their ability to apply self-tanner evenly
Robin: ROC – Minesol Self-Tanning Lotion
How often did you have to use the product? Daily
What was your initial reaction to the product? Loved it compared to other self-tanning products. It was easy to apply with no streaking.
What suggestion do you have to make this product better/or apply easier? I had a hard time figuring out how to apply it properly over the feet.
What is your final opinion of the product? I loved it. It was the first product which really worked for me and I’ve tried many.
Would you recommend this product to anyone else? Yes
Jennifer: Lancome Flash Bronzer
How often did you have to use the product? One application showed immediate results. It gave a nice brown, not orange coloured glow. The second application gave it a darker yet still natural looking tan. I didn’t apply it for more that two days in a row, as the result would have been very dark on my fair skin.
What was your initial reaction to the product? I was very pleased.
What suggestion do you have to make this product better/or apply easier? The product was easy to apply, but the cream itself was very dark. It was good to be able to see the application clearly, but you need to wash your hands thoroughly when you are finished.
What is your final opinion of the product? I really liked the product. The result was almost immediate and lasted for days. It gave a very natural, yet dark enough glow, which was much like a real tan. There was also a very soft, pleasant scent to it as opposed to other bronzers I have tried. Having used other bronzers in the past, this is my new favourite.
Would you recommend this product to anyone else? Yes, I would, especially during the summer season when people want to go for a tanned yet natural look. It would pass for the real thing!
Melissa: Bare Escentuals Faux Tan
How often did you have to use the product? Every day for a week
What was your initial reaction to the product? It went on nicely hydrating my skin and the smell wasn’t offensive. It smells like cocoa butter.
What suggestion do you have to make this product better/or apply easier? Nothing, it was super-easy to use.
What is your final opinion of the product? The colour was great. It gave a subtle, natural tanned look. However, my sensitive skin started getting itchy bumps so I had to stop using it.
Would you recommend this product to anyone else? If I didn’t have a somewhat allergic reaction I would still be using it and I would definitely recommend it.
Marie-Pierre: Lise Watier – Lait Bora Bora
How often did you have to use the product? 4 times per week for 2 weeks
What was your initial reaction to the product? “It smells really good” and the next morning: “Oh wow! That thing really works!” I could easily tell the difference after one application. And it was obvious where I missed some spots!
What suggestion do you have to make this product better/or apply easier? I found that it took quite some time (at least one hour) before the product gets fully absorbed by your skin.
What is your final opinion of the product? It was the first time I ever tried a self-tanning product and thought it was really good. It smells good, hydrates your legs quite a bit and stays for a while. It’s easy to apply but a little difficult to make it even. After a few days my legs were a nice butter-caramel color.
Would you recommend this product to anyone else? Definitely! Lise Watier is my new best friend!
Is there something else you would like us to test for you? E-mail us at counter_intelligence@hotmail.com