OT: Best gradual self-tanner for the very fair skinned - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: Best gradual self-tanner for the very fair skinned

Kim

Veteran

As the subject line says, I'm looking for a good gradual self tanner for very fair skin. I'm as white as a sheet and going to New Orleans in a few weeks where I don't want to scare them with my glow in the dark skin...LOL I do tan a bit, but my tanning days are loooooonnnnng behind me, and I would like any tan I get now to come from a bottle.

I've tried Aveeno, and liked it (for Med toned skin) but it is discontinued here in Canada now. I'm also pretty frugal too, so inexpensive is better!

You all are a vast wealth of knowledge so I thought I'd check here first before randomly trying products.

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Sara

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I've just recently been trying Jergens Natural Glow, and it's not bad. The color is subtle and gradual, and it doesn't have a strong smell. It's also not as pricey as a lot of self-tanners. I mainly just use it on my legs because my arms always seem to get color more quickly. I'm not going for a dark tan, just a bit of color to help my pale, veiny legs look nicer in my shorts and skirts.

Freckles

Veteran

I don't have the patience for self tanners but the Jergens is a nice one.

yankeebelle

I wrote a review for one of our magazines on Estee Lauder's self tanning line (which I now use!). You can read it and all of the other reviews here:
http://healthy-aging.advancewe.....views.aspx

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Another occasional Jergen's user here. I like that they have a firming/tanning combo lotion for the legs. A one, two punch lol!

MsMary

Veteran

I use Jergen's, too. I don't like the smell but the color is nice. I have super-fair skin and I use the "medium" formula to get more color. Also, they have an "express" formula that (a) works faster and (b) does't small quite as bad.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Occasional Jergen's user here too.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Alos do you know this site? http://www.sunless.com/index.php it has a good guide on how to apply and how to avoid streaks, orange look etc.

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I've tried A LOT of self tanners. My favorite by far in from Bath and Body Works. Mine is called "Strike Gold" but i think they recently repackaged it so it may have a different name now?

I'm very fair skinned too and this gives you a nice, natural glow that does not look orange! It's super easy to apply. I've never gotten streaks with this stuff. While i do find the smell a tad strong my husband always says he loves the smell. So it could just be personal perference; i have a sensitive nose. Seriously, i love it. If they ever discontinue it i will cry.

I tried to add some photos to help out. Picture 1 is me wearing it (i think you can see it best in my face and legs?) and Picture 2 is my natural skin tone. I won't make you super dark but it adds color while still looking natural. HTH!

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Di

(website)

Veteran

I'm a huge fan of Mary Kay's version. It's the only product of theirs that I particularly care about, but I think it's great. The smell is the mildest I've come across, and it's not at all orange or yellow-y.

MsMaven

Veteran

I tried the Jergens again this summer. It works pretty well but I just can't stand the smell--it lingers all day and all night on me. So I'll just stick to covering my pale legs with matching Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs, which covers veins & marks just enough. You spray it on your hand and smooth it over your legs. I've never tried a shade darker than my skin, so I don't know how it will work as a fake tan.

Reneeb

Veteran

Another vote for Jergens start with Fair to medium skin tones

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I will umpteenth the Jergens Natural Glow - it's the only one I've found that doesn't end up too dark and fake looking for my pale skin.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Another one that I like is Nivea Summer Touch for fair skin. It gives a very gradual colour; you need more than one application really to notice it, but it's natural-looking (on me, at least) and non-streaky, on the whole, assuming you exfoliate reasonably well. My skin is dry and seems to love the emollient properties of the product. I find the odour much less offensive than others I have tried, including Jergens, but that's a personal thing; some people hate the Nivea product's smell. It doesn't make me look tanned; it just takes away the shock effect of the white-white skin and gives me a sort of summer glow, I'd say. Also, it seems to blend well with any natural suntan that I unintentionally get. Available at Shopper's Drug Mart. Inexpensive, too.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I don't like the jergen's, if you aren't careful with it, it can give you a line between your tanned and untanned skin, like a make up line.

I much prefer olay touch of sun for fair skin. It is hard to find. I can only get it at the local acme. It is much more subtle and takes a few days to build up to the final sort of warmish glow. It never really looks like a tan. I like it in the winter to take the pinkish pale edge off of my face.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....GZ25TJQE9A

lynn

Veteran

I like the Loreal tanning/moisturizer. It does smell after several hours but I use it before bed and then shower the next morning. It is similar to the Jergens but I find the smell a little less offensive. I am very white and my legs look fairly tan (for me).

Anonymous

Another vote for Jergens Natural Glow. It's pretty much fool proof. It gives just a bit of color but you get more if you use it often. If you want a deeper tan, you may need to try something else.

Sara

(website)

I am very fair and have used the Jergens Natural Glow Express (but only on my legs) in the fair shade. One application didn't leave me super dark, just a little more tan and less pasty, but I felt like my legs looked dramatically better. I didn't do another coat because I was afraid of streaking. As others have said, the smell isn't great, but it does wash off.