Product Review: Sunless Tan

I'm not even going to pretend that my tan this year is real.

 Usually I try and find time to tan during the summer.

Visit a tanning bed. Lay by the pool. Lay on the back deck. Whatever.

But for some reason this year, I haven't even given it much of a thought.

Plus, with this lovely Georgia weather we've been having, it's darn near impossible.

So, for the first time in my life, I've been fake self-tanning.

That's right. I'm admitting to it.

Fake self-tanning.

Here are the products I've chosen to try:

Banana Boat Summer Color vs. Neutrogena Micro-Mist

 Now, like I said, I had never self-tanned before, so I'm most definitely not an expert and these are simply my opinions from my experiences.

Banana Boat Summer Color

$9.99 at Ulta

• Pros:
• Easy to apply
• Color is for all skin tones
• Color, for the most part, is natural
• Inexpensive
• Convenient (Can be bought at Walmart & Target) 
• Safer than tanning beds, or laying out in the sun

• Cons:
• Citrus scent hardly masks the odor
• Sticky until you shower
• Does not last for 7 days unless you reapply
• Noticed a major fade in color after two days
• Can be streaky if not applied in smooth coats

Neutrogena Micro-Mist (Medium)

$11.99 at Ulta

• Pros:
• Easy to apply, even by yourself
• Medium color was perfect for my paler skin tone
• Color appears very natural, real-tan appearance
• Convenient (I bought mine at Kroger while grocery shopping)
• Safer than tanning beds, or laying out in the sun
• Color lasts up to 7 days without reapplying
• Non-streaky, even color
• Dries quickly

• Cons: 
• Scent lasts until you shower
• Tan rubbed off from my wrist due to my watch
• More expensive than Banana Boat

Which self-tanner would I chose to use again?

Neutrogrena Micro-Mist!

Even though it's a couple dollars more than the Banana Boat, it's completely worth the price. I tanned Friday night, and I still have a tan color six days later. I chose the Medium color, as opposed to the dark, because my skin tone is on the fair side. I've been completely happy with this product and can't wait to use it again!

Self-Spray Tanning Tips

• If you can get somebody to help you, let them. Cody helped me spray tan the very first time I tried. He was able to keep a smooth flow of the spray, as well as reach areas I had a difficult time reaching.
• Wash your hands after you spray tan. First mistake I made, was not doing so. My hands looked dirty, especially around my knuckles.
• Spray lightly on your feet, elbows and knees. Like your hands, they can look dirty if you spray too much.
• Spray tan at night. I spray tan a little bit before I go to bed. I let it dry, slip my pajamas on, and go to sleep. Both the spray tans take 3-4 hours to settle and take effect. So, I'm able to shower when I wake up, with no worries of the spray tan washing off.
• Speaking of, shower before you spray tan. Make sure your skin is clean of product, your legs are shaved and smooth, and you exfoliate your feet, knees and elbows. 
• Use lotion religiously. It helps the spray tan last longer, and keeps your skin looking silky smooth and tan.
• Make sure you have enough left to cover your entire body. Learned this the hard way. Thought I had enough to cover my entire body, ran out on my legs. They looked streaky and spotty. Or at least spray tan the parts people see first. 

And last, but not least...

That's my motto!