Banana Boat Summer Color Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist: It's No Beach

Have you been thinking about buying a self tanner? Does the idea of laying outside in the sun, collecting sun burns and tan lines scare you? What about the thought of baking in an indoor tanning bed? If these are things you want to avoid, you have probably considered self tanners that you can use in the comfort of your own home. I too, was in search of a fast, safe, great looking tan and ended up buying the new Banana Boat Summer Color. It is a self tanning mist, with an airbrush color. I bought it because it stated on the can that it provided a streak free self tan, and that it had a nice scent. I will admit that the can being pretty aided in my choice also.

This self tanner comes in a gold, metal spray can, approximately seven inches tall. The actual name of the product runs across a dark brown band. There is a splash of green on the front of the can that really stands out against the gold and brown. The front of the self tanner also says that it has a fresh citrus fragrance. Apparently, this is advanced fragrance technology because, it also says so on the front of the can. This product claims to last up to seven days and is for all skin tones.

This product claims to make self-tanning quick and easy. The spray is supposed to allow you to get to all those hard to reach areas, while providing a fresh citrus smell to neutralize the odor of sunless tanning. It also states that it has Time Release Color technology. This technology is supposed to provide a more natural looking tan that will last up to seven days. This self tanner is quick-drying, oil free, and enriched with vitamin e and aloe vera.

I first used this product a little over a week ago. I chose only to try to "tan" my legs first. The directions say to use in a well-ventilated area, so I went to my garage and opened up the door. I had just taken a shower, so my skin was clean as the can instructed. It said to use sparingly around knees, ankles, elbows, and hairline, which I had learned from previous experiences with self tanners. I rested my foot on a lawnmower tire, pointed the can, and sprayed my leg in what I thought were nice, even motions. I could already picture how great and golden I was going to look. I pointed my big toe into the concrete floor, twisted my leg, and sprayed the back. I held the can further away from my legs to spray my knees, ankles, and feet. I felt like I didn't get my knees very good, so I kind of rubbed the product around a little with my hands. After applying the product to both legs, I allowed them to dry like the can instructed. Then I began to wait.

I started to notice the color within two to three hours as the product claimed. Unfortunately, I also started to notice the areas that I didn't quite get too. My knees were almost as blinding white as they were before I used the self tanner, as were my feet. I had horrible splotches of color stamped across my legs in random places. I decided to wait over-night to see if maybe, magically, everything would even out. When I woke up to the same multi-color legs that I had the night before, I knew I had to try to fix them.

Let me just say, it is quite hard to try to fix a self tanner that doesn't show up for two to three hours, but I tried. When the second application of the self tanner dried, I wasn't any more impressed. My knees and feet did have more color, but it didn't match the rest of my legs. I will say that the one side of my leg that I managed to get perfect, looked pretty good. It was a nice golden color. Maybe if I knew how to use a spray self tanner a little better, I would have had better results. I tried to get the "tan" off by using alcohol, and then baby oil, but it was stuck on. Just my luck, the tan I hated was stained on my legs with no hope of removal. Why can't it be that way with the "fake tans" that actually look good? The color has finally faded, so it definitely stands up to the claim of lasting up to seven days.

I will definitely not buy this product again. If I buy another self tanner, I will stick to a lotion instead of a spray.