The Lipstick Page Forums Beauty Blog: Adventures in self-tanning... Adventures in self-tanning... Posted by Dain, Sunday, April 24, 2005 4:27 PM (Eastern) I'm pale as a ghost. I call myself "light" in deference to the Irish/Scandinavian pallor of those such as Rose McGowan (I'm not white white), but I'm pretty damn pale. My mother occasionally croons, "Dain, your legs. They have the skin of a cadaver." ... I think it's high time I looked into self-tanning. Of course, she means it entirely as a compliment (Asian obsession with paleness), but something obviously must be done. I've worn long pants all year round for years, so that accounts for my legs, but the rest of my body is fine. But that makes it easy, right? What could be easier than tanning your legs? I know the tricks: exfoliate, moisturize, go easy on areas that absorb lotion more (elbows, knees, hands, and feet), and repeat every two to three days. So it should be a piece of cake, right? First, since I am not willing to spend $29.50 on the much-lauded Clarins self-tanner (I'm sure it beats everything else, but self-tanner seems kind of an unnecessary product to me), I've mostly dabbled in drugstore. The first I tried was a Neutrogena self-tanner—I don't even know the name—that I had gotten as a sample. It was uneven, yellow, and smelled awful. Strike one. The next product I tried was getting a lot of copy in the fashion magazines (at that time), the L'Oreal Sublime Bronze line. I got the most basic formula (there's a tinted shimmer bronzer/self-tanner, a clear gel, and new this year, a spray), the Self-Tanning Lotion. A nice product, with UVA/UVB SPF 15 and that classic suntan lotion scent (which I dislike immensely). Alas, why did I get "Deep"? Foolishness, surely, when my skin is so pale to begin with. It was the only color left. Strike two (a good product, but it smelled awful and wasn't appropriate). Next, I tried Olay Body Quench Radiance Reviver Body Lotion. This is a different product, not a self-tanner exactly. It's meant to enhance, rather than tan, your skin tone. It's mostly Olay's new Quench body lotion, "with a kiss of self-tanner". I love this! It's really subtle (and hard to make mistakes with), and the lotion itself is really nice, silky and smooth. It's not rich, despite it being for dry skin, but it does hydrate well. And it smells lovely, a soft powdery sweet floral (a bit like vanilla, freesia, and white musk?). And it looks good, natural but not overdone at all. Success! I'm glad to have found a inexpensive and subtle product like this. And it works really well, too. Good luck on your hunt! 0 Comment(s)    Email this post Rants, raves, and musings on all things cosmetic. Profile | Current Blog Site Feed (Atom) Previous Articles ·· Odwalla fruit juices... ·· Eye Makeup for Green Eyes #2 ·· Biotherm Glossy Shine #155 ·· High maintenance... ·· Eye Makeup for Green Eyes #1 ·· L'Oreal Tone Refiner ·· YSL Touche Eclat ·· The simplicity of skin... Archives TheBroadroom.Net's Beauty Blog (archive) April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 Links Colleen's Adult Acne Blog Fashiontribes Daily