sunscreen & sunless tanners
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

free skin care · Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:31 pm

Well, I am finally convinced. Skin care is a new passion and it is time for me to take the sun seriously.

Here is my problem, the old passions are going to be hard to give up!! I go to Mexico or the Dominican in Feb every year and usually get a base tan in the tanning salon first. With my new interest in skin care, I realize that is a big no-no.

As I prepare for this trip, I would like to ask for suggestions about sunless tanners (another old passion is weight training and call me vain, but the definition achieved by all that hard work just jumps out a lot more when the biceps and triceps are tan - can't help it, I have been dedicated to weight lifting for many more years than skin care - oh yes, and did I say anything about my vanity???)

Anyway, I would like to know what sunless tanners offer good results and also one that is less likely to give me huge welty hives (Neutrogena's sunless tanner did just that several years ago and I have steered clear of them since then.)

ALSO -- if you can suggest a great sunscreen for the face especially, I would be grateful.

free skin care · Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:32 am

On MUA, everybody raves about a sunless tanner called "Savage Bronze" and you can get it at your local Sallys Beauty Supply store. Here's the link, if you want to read what everyone says about it: http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemID=10402/Savage_Bronzer/Unlisted_Brand/Self_Tanners/

I've only tried the Savage Bronze once...I liked it well enough (it gave me a gorgeous, "realistic" color without a hint of orange and I'm very fair -- I can't go into the sun without sunscreen because instead of tanning, I simply burst into flames!!), but I was pretty lazy this summer and didn't use a sunless tanner as much as I have in years past.

The other brand I really liked was by Decleor, but I can't recall the exact name. I think it was something like Sunless Bronzing Emulsion w/ SPF 6 or something like that. Of all the sunless tanners I've tried (both drugstore and higher-end), it was my fave.

I haven't done this myself, but a couple of the women I work with go every 7-10 days to have it done, and they absolutely swear by the so-called "Mystic Tan" that you can get at many tanning salons. Apparently you put on your bikini (or go in the buff, if you don't want tan lines) and step into this booth that mists the tanner all over your body....One of the friends is a fair, strawberry blonde, and her tan turned out really light and natural looking (she spaced her Mystic Tan session out about every 10 days). My other friend is also a blonde, but she seems to favor a DEEP/DARK tan so she went to have her Mystic Tan re-applied more often (2-3 times per week)...personally I thought she looked a little "well-done," but that's just me. Anyway, that might be something for you to try. Apparently it's about $10 a session, though many tanning salons offer specials (i.e.: 10 visits for $50).

Anyway, hope some of this info might be of use to you!
Carrie

free skin care · Fri Dec 10, 2004 7:00 am

I love decleor self tan, I use it all the time. I have also used Ecotan in the past and was pleased with the results. St Tropez is excellent as well.

In September in Spain I used Lancome flash bronzer. Its the longest lasting self tan I've ever used and was really impressed with it. I still used the decleor on my face though. The lancome is £17, and the Decleor is £18. Ecotan is about £12..

Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:48 am

i think marykay and arbonne have good sunscreens. its hard to find a good high spf that won't burn your face Confused

free skin care · Fri Dec 10, 2004 9:09 am

Deacon,
I, too, am going to hot and sunny Mexico in a couple of weeks and based on someone's recommendation here, I ordered some Proderma sunscreen from their website I also got some of their lip balm because my lips get so dry even when I'm not in the tropics. I'm definitely going to try one of the self tanning products mentioned above too. Anyone know which one lasts the longest, or how often does it need to be used to maintain some color? Thanks.

free skin care · Fri Dec 10, 2004 9:37 am

I was in Spain in September for 17 days. I used Decleor self tan on my face every morning. I used the Lancome spray flash bronzer every 2 days, but did exfoliate every 4 days...the tan is still with me....Obviously I've been using it regularly since I've been back home but it still looks good...

I dont sunbathe at all, so the self tan was great....and I even got comments about what a fantastic tan I have!!!

free skin care · Fri Dec 10, 2004 9:53 am

Gucci,
Did you use something on your arms and legs too?

free skin care · Fri Dec 10, 2004 9:59 am

Oh sorry...I meant I use the flash bronzer (Lancome) on my body every other day. The time before when I went to spain I used Decleor all over....

free skin care · Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:49 am

I've used the Lancome Flash Bronzer too -- the formula specifically for legs. I loved the color and the application, but I think I had an allergic reaction to it or something because I got this terrible "contact dermatitis" type rash right at the back of my knees...I dunno, maybe I didn't wait long enough for it to dry thoroughly or something, but I remembered it burned like hell at first, then it got scaly and itchy. I was scared to use it after that so I gave it to my mom....

Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:48 pm

I really like St Tropez for the body - this is one of the few that gives little pale me a natural looking tan instead of turning orange. It's also tinted (VERY tinted - it's dark brown!) so I can see what spot I've missed.

I have been reading lots of good (and bad) stories about spray tans but have not yet tried (although I'm tempted!).

Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:34 am

I was wondering, does the Decleor self tanner and ecotan have a orange color or is it natural looking. I have tried everything it seems like, fake bake which has a nice color but it rubs off on your close. I ordered scott barnes which makeup alley raved about stating it had a natural color, it is orange as they come. If anyone could give me some guidance. Someone also told me that Murad self tanner and california north titanium was good also. If anyone could help me I would be so greatful.

free skin care · Tue Dec 27, 2005 12:02 pm

The only sunless tanner that hasn't wrecked my facial skin is Aviva (Avivalabs.com). It's popular on the sunless.com board. It's a little pricier than I like ($25 for 6 oz.) but a little goes a long way, and it has ingredients usually found in quality skin care products.

For body I use Jergens Natural Glow (medium). It's ok but cheap. I add vanilla to counteract the self-tanner odor produced by the active ingredients (yuck).

Automatic Message

If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.

Click Here to join our community.

If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site.