I have used so many different kinds...but I honestly do like the Jergen’s best. I think it is bc it is more like a moisturizing lotion than a tanner. It might take a little longer to work initially, but once you get the color you want it is easy to maintain. They also make a ”wet skin” moisturizer/tanner that is very easy to apply and makes your skin feel buttery soft...but it takes a bit more care to prevent streaks. I just wash my hands after with these products.

My dd has to get spray tans for her cheer competitions and sometimes she needs a little extra when it’s a three day comp before the third day. She has this brand that is literally called “Tanned AF.” 😳😂 I remember one time we were in Dallas, and it was late, and I was so tired. She asked if I could put that stuff on her back bc she was fading a bit. I put it on her with my right hand, then collapsed into my bed. Everyone immensely enjoyed commenting and making fun of my dark brown hand the next day. It was a riot. 🙄

Not to highjack, but do girls really have to get spray tans for cheer competitions? I find that very odd in this day and age, where we are meant to be accepting of all skin tones.

No one is required to, but comp season stretches from Nov -May. They compete under the lights on an elevated stage (usually.) They wear stage makeup so the judges can see facial expressions, and some athletes that have pale skin prefer to spray tan. It’s not an “acceptance” thing...it’s for the performance aspect. My dd just likes doing it, it doesn’t harm her, so why not? 😂

I realized my question sounded contentious when that wasn't my intent. I am so out of the loop on self-tanners and such that it just genuinely took me by surprise to think that such a thing might be mandated. I can understand, based upon your explanation - so thanks. :-)

When I think of self-tanners these days, I envision the celebrities who are walking around orange (Christina on the Coast, I'm looking at you!). You'd think the product would've advanced far more than it seems to have, after all this time.

Yeah, orange skin and thick false eyelashes. It is such a theatrical look.

But to answer your question, I use Jergens just enough to get some relief from the fish belly white of my legs. Interested in seeing what is suggested for the face and neck.

Jergens makes a face moisturizer! It even has sunscreen in it! 😂 There are two formulations, one for fairer skin, and one for darker skin. I use it, and really like it. (No, I don’t work for nor have stock in Jergens!) 😂

I just go to a lady that spray tans the OU Cheerleaders and lots of my friends here in town. She is so good and inexpensive. It's not orange. I hate that orange tan look, I like the subtle reddish tan look. And, I get the light/medium color.

I'm super-duper pale. I use the L'Oreal self tanner on my legs, so as not to blind small children when I wear skirts and shorts. :)

I find the lightest level works well. It gives my legs some color and definitely takes the shimmering blindness level of white down a notch or two. The more you use it, the darker it gets.

Never tried the more expensive ones b/c this one works fine for my purposes.

I use Jergens especially for my pasty-white legs. It helps.

Jergens works good, but it does have a bit of a weird scent.

Patriceny, what type of L'Oreal do you use, isn't there a foam along with a tube of cream?

Same with you Jergen's users, which type do you prefer?

Do you all use a mit? When I used QT I did it with my hands but was really good at washing them afterward. Why I didn't turn orange is beyond me. Now I streak when I use my hands no matter how well I rub it in.

Ida, self tanners have come a long long way. IMO, it's about how you apply it which has been my problem.

I read inhaling the fumes from a spray tan can be dangerous so be careful!

Nini, a friend of mine has a daughter in competitive cheer also and they just won 1st place in another state for their age group! And yes, the tan and makeup makes the whole package when they're on stage. Competitive cheerleading should be a sport, it's not easy to do!

If I had a daughter I would encourage her to use self tanning lotion only because most girls want a tan for obvious reasons, it does make the skin prettier. Self tanning should help keep them away from sunbathing.

Anyone ever use baby oil when tanning?

I just use the lotion...I think that’s all the Jergens come in, except for the wet skin moisturizer but that’s also a lotion.

Congrats to your friend’s daughter!! Winning at the big comps is the best!

Oakley, I use the cream not the mousse. I just vigorously wash my hands after application and haven't any problems with it staining my hands, nor has it been streaky on my legs. Or should I say terribly streaky. It's occasionally less than perfect but that's my fault when I try to stretch the amount of lotion out. You want good coverage.

If I had a daughter I would encourage her to use self tanning lotion only because most girls want a tan for obvious reasons, it does make the skin prettier. Self tanning should help keep them away from sunbathing.

I so disagree with this! If I had a daughter I'd encourage her to love the skin she's in and not to feel like she had to slather it with a dye in order to be "prettier." I know plenty of younger women who believe their naturally-colored skin is perfectly fine as it is. Being tan seems to matter far less to younger women today than it did when I was in that age bracket. My lovely little 17-year old niece is pale, and she does not care at all about making herself appear darker.

It's a choice that every woman, young or old, is entitled to make -- but I'm bothered by the idea that we are somehow not as attractive unless we're wearing chemicals from a bottle. But hey, YMMV. ;-)

ETA: I grew up in the 60s/70s, when many of you did, and spent hours - I mean, HOURS - basting myself in the sun. It was just what we did; something I learned from my mother, because back in her day, it was what women of her age did as well. (She still says she feels terrible about how she and I both used to lay out together when I was a kid, turning our skin from red to brown.) It was fashionable to tan, and then it became fashionable to self-tan. I once even actually burned my eyeballs by using a tanning lamp at home without eye protection, to the extent of having to lie very still in a darkened room for several days under doctor's orders. If I am now "anti" tanning, it's not without having experienced a tremendous amount of it over my lifetime. It didn't actually make me prettier (the exposure to the sun, of course, damaged my skin and I so regret it now), and even the stuff from the bottles was just a way of falsifying sun exposure to try to turn myself a certain color that I'm just not. You do you, of course ... but I'm playing devil's advocate because I personally feel it's a discussion worth exploring.

A tan makes my skin 'prettier' - no. It makes it dry. It makes it age. It makes it cancerous.

What makes skin 'prettier' is going for a run or other vigorous exercise to get the blood pumping, good hydration, good sleep and a healthy diet. There's nothing like the glow of good health.

ETA - I am leaving Maine for the Caribbean this weekend. I will strut my pasty white legs in shorts with pride(and they will be slathered with SPF100)

I tried a few self-tanners a few years ago because I like a bit of color in the summer. But I could not find one that looked natural on me and didn't smell funky. (Jergens smelled terrible to me.) I'm active outside in warmer weather and just let a tan gradually build. I don't use SPF unless I'll be exposed for hours and want to avoid a burn.

I've used Jergens before though I don't particularly like the odor either. I would put it on before bed time - never with white sheets! - and it would add just a bit of color. I learned about it from my sister in law who showed up for an early spring vacation with a lovely glow. I haven't used it in years though. I have olive skin that is fairly light without sun but even with sunscreen I find myself with quite a tan almost year round from lap swimming spring - fall outside. Just make certain you wash your hands afterwards or you will end up with tan palms!

No, Oakley, I don't color my hair and I no longer have cosmetic filler work done. I'm not "lecturing" you; simply disagreeing with your assertion that tanning makes people prettier. I thought this was a discussion. My bad. Carry on. (And as I stated, You Do You.)

Oakley I spoke harshly and I apologize. I do realize you are speaking about self tanners not baking in the sun.

I get cranky about myths of beauty perpetuated by billion dollar beauty industry. I don’t see why we have to have a sun kissed glow, or poreless skin. Why can’t we be clean, well groomed, and tidy in appearance and still get paid the same the same as men? Why do men get to spend less on beauty products and wardrobes with their bigger paychecks? I digress.

Please look into the main ingredient in self tanners,DHA, there is a school of thought that it leads to cellular damage.

I get cranky too, and on further reflection, I too apologize, Oakley, for expressing my contrary thoughts in the thread you started to obtain product advice.

All of us modify our natural appearance to one degree or another (even if it's just combing hair and brushing teeth), and certainly I am NO stranger to cosmetics and procedures. I do think it's a good thing to weigh our ideas from time to time against what we have long held to be true when it comes to beauty standards. I really have no personal interest in what someone else chooses to put on their body, just as they have no interest in what I do with mine. I do like to discuss the "psychology" (if you will) behind why we do what we do, though. I think it's a fascinating topic to explore.

Local eater and ida; Brava. Sce keeping our -lace warm and friendly. Or some ron I cannot delete to correct our PLACE🤔

So nice keeping our place . For some reason: my iPad or this site? Anyway, kudos, gals🤗

The Abnormal Beauty Company has a DHA free Glow Booster. It’s an oil so mixes nicely with my face cream. It gives me the most natural look of any I’ve tried. My daughter tried it first and I kept thinking Her skin looked so good but couldn’t quite figure out why. It’s subtle but healthy looking, IMO.

I see that Clairns also has a “Glow Booster.

My personal favorite are the wipes. They are especially handy when traveling and I can get several uses out of one wipe. I use only them occasionally, but do like the soft glow, blurring effect, and even "tan" they give. I haven't had good luck with even application of the lotions.