California Tan X Power Tanning Bed Lotion Review

Just when I was losing faith in California Tan lotions, along came X Power. X Power is a step 2, non-bronzing, non-tingling, dark tan booster. Apparently, X Power had been taken off the market by California Tan, but now it's back by popular demand.

I was a California Tan girl back in the day. I didn't mind spending the extra money on their best tanning bed lotions, but these days, except for CT 7, I haven't been too impressed. The after-tan odors weren't really doing the job, and I wasn't emerging from the tanning bed a bronzed beauty, no matter which product I tried.

Last night I tried X Power for the first time in a level 2 bed. At first I wasn't impressed. The lotion was thick and it smelled funny - a little like a banana daiquiri, although the scent wasn't banana at all. I normally use half a sample pack at a time, but last night I used the entire pack this time, because of its thickness - it wasn't as easy to evenly spread as some of the new lotions containing silicone.

When my tanning session was up, I instantly noticed a major difference in my color. As soon as I sat up I looked at my legs and it caused me to do a double-take. I was dark, and darker than I've ever been. This means a lot coming from a red-head with naturally pale skin. X Power really did its job.

I can't speak for all fair skinned people, but the nature of my skin sometimes makes me look a little orange once I start to get dark - after I break through my initial tanning plateau, even without the use of bronzers. X Power had me looking brown, probably for the first time in my life. I instantly wished I had bought more than one sample packet of this stuff.

If there is a downside, it's only California Tan's after tanning odor eliminator, Biosaccharide Complex, because it doesn't really do its job, no matter which lotion you are using. After testing out a new tanning lotion, one of the first questions I ask myself is, "Could I go to work right after tanning without showering and not offend people with the after-tan odor?" The answer to this, and all other California Tan lotions is no. Their Biosaccharide Complex is weak in comparison to Supre's after tanning odor eliminator Ordenone.

The slight stink is forgivable considering how well X Power works. Once I finish testing all of my sample packets, I'm definitely buying a full-sized bottle of X Power. This stuff is amazing, and I can understand why California Tan decided to put this back on the market.