sangria808k's Full Review: Origins the Great Pretender Shimmery Self Tanner
I've never spent an exorbitant amount on self-tanner in my life, though I have always been curious as to whether or not there really was a difference in quality between drugstore and department store self-tanners. One day, I happened to be passing by an Origins store and like a compulsive addict, I couldn't help but stop in and see what I could try. That's how I ended up walking out with my own tube of their shimmering self-tanner.
About The Great Pretender
This self-tanner comes packaged in a turquoise, 5 fl. oz. tube and matching box. It measures about the length from the heel of my palm to the tip of my middle fingers--so about 5 or 6 inches in length.
The self-tanner itself is a thick, silky golden-bronze gel with a hint of shimmer and has a soothing peppermint scent with the afterscent of a self-tanner.
Sun in a Tube
Even though I once thought that the Neutrogena Self-Tanner was THE product to buy, I think it's no way near the caliber of this one, so if you feel this review turns into a comparison of the two, it's not intentional. At least not really since I've only experienced two self-tanners thus far.
One thing I especially love about this self-tanner is its peppermint scent. Other products usually try to mask the scent with tropical coconut or banana, and some like Neutrogena, don't try to mask it at all. And if you've ever used a self-tanner, you know that there's always a certain afterscent that remains once the product is absorbed into the skin.
While this product also has that same afterscent, it's not as bad when you're initially enticed by its blend of peppermint.
The color is very natural. While some self-tanners can be orange, this one wasn't at all. It was more of a bronze. I never realized how orange my other sun tanner was until I tried this one and went back to the other one for a few days (and I have yellowish undertones).
I also noticed that while the Origins self-tanner isn't as opaque as the Neutrogena one, there's not as much streaking, but it still performs just as well. And because it's not as opaque, you could easily build the color layer on top of layer if you wanted a deeper tan without running the risk of making some huge splotches. Its transparency perhaps also helps it blend in easier with your natural skin tone.
Another great thing is the actual "tan" lasts longer with this product than with the Neutrogena product. I don't know if it's the self-tanner part that actually lasts or if it's the instant bronze. Don't get me wrong--the Neutrogena Instant Bronze Self-Tanner leaves a nice glow, but I often found myself reapplying it every other day, whereas the Origins product, it'll last a day or two, sometimes even three before I have to put another application.
Overall Performance
I've been really happy with this product and will more than likely never go back to the regular drugstore self-tanners unless its an absolute emergency. What really won me over about this product was its scent and it's longevity. The $18 price tag will probably sway other consumers, but if you've ever wanted to try a higher-priced self-tanner, Origins would be a good place to start.
Availability
You can find this self-tanner at any Origins store or online at their website at http://www.origins.com.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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