Even the whitest of the white can now appear sun-kissed
Written: Jul 14 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Quick results, with a nice, even look (if you apply it right!)
Cons: Strong salty smell, need to apply really, really thoroughly
The Bottom Line: A pretty good, quick alternative to regular tanning -- if you can manage the application and keep reapplying
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| sm71's Full Review: Neutrogena Sunless Tanning Lotion Medium |
After spending my first 30 years in a fruitless attempt to tan my freckled, so-white-I'm-almost-clear body, I finally saw the light and bought this self-tanning lotion because there was a good coupon at K-Mart and because I've always generally liked Neutrogena products. Once, about 5 years before, I'd tried to use a self-tanner, but it was streak city and I'd never considered using one again. Now, my cheapness and my dislike of my pasty white legs and arms led me to try again.
My first attempt was a bit of a disaster. I rubbed it on, in a way I thought was pretty thorough, but the next day there were big patches of white and streaks of orange. It was pretty bad because I had no idea what to do to get rid of it and it wouldn't come off despite numerous showers and scrubbing with a loofah. Of course, there was a big heat wave at the time too, and I wanted to wear shorts and sleeveless shirts, but I was too embarrassed. And of course, the "tan" lasted for a really long time -- well over a week.
I was reluctant to try again, except shortly after that I went for a massage and the masseuse mentioned that some people bring self-tanners in to have them applied. Aha! I thought. I was too cheap to schedule a massage that frequently, but I did have an even better, and free, prospective lotion-applier: my husband. And he'd had years of valuable experience in the lotion-applying area, since every time we went to the beach he was responsible for making sure I was completely SPF-ed up.
It worked. I'll admit it's a little awkward, but it's the best solution. Having someone else do the application really yields a much better result, for some reason. Maybe it's because they have a better angle (like how the hairdresser always gets better blow dry results) or maybe it's because most husbands will do a pretty good job at rubbing their naked wife with lotion, but I now have even regular tans.
A few notes of caution:
1) You need to reapply pretty consistently. Although my first disastrous try lasted forever, the subsequent applications have faded pretty quickly after about 4 days.
2) This stuff kind of stinks. It's pretty pleasant when it first goes on, but when the tan first shows up it's a really strong salty smell. Not actually unpleasant, but not a perfume-y type odor, either. It fades with the color.
3) Moisturize your skin pretty regularly, because I've found that my tanned skin shows dryness a lot more than my non-tanned self.
4) Do it at night before you go to sleep. Even if you give yourself a bit of time before getting dressed, if you do it during the day, it will get messed up somehow, or you'll get it on your clothes.
5) Do adhere to all the traditional recommendations -- exfoliate first, put less on hands, feet, knees and elbows, and if you wash your hands, make sure that you're careful. One time I didn't dry thoroughly enough and a white drip mark appeared on my arm from where water ran down!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sm71
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Location: Haverford, PA
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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