Self-Tanning Lotion Reviews

Don't fall victim to telltale stripes or an orangey fake bake. Less is more, so be sure to apply product to your skin judiciously, since overdoing it is likely to cause the dreaded tangerine look. And, areas of the body most prone to pesky streaks include the knees, elbows, and feet, so be extra careful in applying product sparingly to these areas. Also, be sure to gather insights from those who've tread before you in the land of the tanned. Reviewers weigh in on the best (and the worst) self tanning products on Buzzillions. Gain from reviewers' wealth of knowledge and mishaps by reading ratings on products and sifting through "cons" like "bad smell", or "uneven tan". Check out reviews sorted by unnatural color or products that users deemed "greasy" to help you narrow down your choices.

Our Brand Compare tool allows you to make comparisons between any of the brands you are interested in. We compared the brands with the highest number of reviews, including Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, L'Oreal and Neutrogena. Banana Boat earned the highest marks by our reviewers for being "easy to apply", while L'Oreal was crowned with delivering the most "natural tan". Seventeen percent of Buzzillions reviewers who ranked self tanner products thought that Neutrogena had a "bad smell". Visit our Brand Comparison tool and get the scoop on top brands' highs and lows - at a glance!

Self-tanning veterans say that since many products do not contain sunscreen, the best time of day to get that faux bronze is at night, before bedtime.
Allow for at least a couple of hours to complete the process from start to finish.
To maintain your healthy glow, you will want to avoid harsh soaps with exfoliants or any lotions that contain alcohol, as these offenders will speed up the fading process.
Read on for more tips on how to properly apply self-tanner and how to fix tans gone wrong.

Look no further! Be a golden god or goddess from head to toe, with special formulas that were made for the face. Rankings on product that achieve the best faux glow for your face are on Buzzillions! Click here for many a review on self tanners made especially for the face, and read about beloved brands as well as those that ranked not-so-golden.

Jergens, Olay and Vaseline carry popular gradual tanning foams and lotions, which contain a small amount of self tanner mixed into moisturizer. These are great for beginners, and allow users to build a tan easily. Choose this if you want a more subtle sun-kissed glow.

Many users hail this type of self tanner as an easy to use option for natural-looking color. Spray tans can be achieved in the comfort of your own home with several top rated brands, such as Mystic Tan and Neutrogena.

Self-tanning products allow you to achieve that healthy glow for about 5 - 7 days on average. Some products last as little as three days, while some boast a 10-day marathon of golden-kissed skin. If you want to maintain that fresh-from-holiday look, it's recommended that you reapply self tanner every few days as directed by the product instructions. You should also avoid harsh soaps and lotions, and refrain from exfoliating. These are no-nos can all make your glow fade fast.

Prep your canvas:

1) Exfoliate and shave before applying self tanner. While you need to exfoliate your entire body, remember to pay special attention to knees, ankles, feet, elbows and lower legs, since these areas of thicker skin tend to catch more color. Inexperienced sunless tan fans know from experience that neglecting these areas can mean disastrously darker patches of skin that look inconsistent with the rest of their glowing bods.

2) Put on a pair of latex gloves to protect your palms from staining. Your skin should be completely dry before you apply self tanner. Squeeze a quarter-sized amount of product from the bottle and start applying self-tanner from the bottom up. That is, start with your feet, and work your way up to your neck, blending the product into your skin in a circular motion.

3) Continue to apply more as needed to coat your entire body.

4) After applying self tanner, you'll want to allow ample time to dry before dressing. Some formulas dry within a few minutes, but be sure to read the label and follow instructions to avoid getting stains on your clothing. Additionally, many formulations include directions to avoid water up to 2 hours after application - so read the label to make sure you don't undo the golden glow you worked so hard to achieve!

-Orange palms?
Forgetting to wear gloves before applying tanner, or simply having trouble getting that color off of the palms of your hands is a common self-tanning "oops". Gloss.com suggests soaking your hands in a bowl of warm soapy water for about twenty minutes, then finishing up with cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol after you've dried your hands. Lastly, scrub your palms.

-Streaks?
The acid in lemon juice helps to fade mistakes. Cut a lemon in half and apply it to problem areas. Alternatively, you can also use a loofah to scrub off color mistakes after you've soaped up.

-Use Protection!
Remember to apply SPF every day to protect yourself from harmful rays of sun. Don't rely on the small amounts of SPF that some self-tanning products contain, as this is usually not sufficient for skin protection.

Think of these as healthy skin ingredients; skin cell protectors that fight against free radical damage. Many self-tanning products contain these beneficial ingredients.

Non-committal cosmetics. A more temporary solution for achieving a faux glow, bronzers can come in powder, liquid form, or in a mousse. These tint the skin with a golden hue and color easily wash away with water and soap.

The science behind your holiday-kissed color. The active ingredient in self tanners, this chemical compound comes from plant sources and causes the top layer of your skin to deepen in tone. Products on the market today can contain concentrations of DHA ranging from 1% to 15%. First-time users should test a small area of skin to ensure that no allergic reactions will surface.

Multi-tasking must-have for a subtle glow. Formulas that are labeled gradual self tanners are generally moisturizers that contain a small amount of self tanner, leaving you with a buildable (non-shocking) and subtly bronzed look.

Sun protection factor. While some self tanners may contain SPF, be sure to check the bottle or packaging to figure out whether or not you need to apply a layer of sunscreen if you plan on soaking up some rays. Note that many self tanning products do not contain SPF.

No surprises here. With a tinted formula, upon application, instant color reveals where you have applied the product.