How to Find the Right Sunless Tanner

With summer now kicking off into full gear, those of us who do not have a year-round tan, are now resorting to drug stores and department store beauty counters for a quick fix that doesn't require spending hours underneath the sun's harsh rays. But, how do you know what sunless tanner is the right one for you?

Well, as the years have gone by, companies have gotten smarter about their formulas and application options. This means that there are many choices for the consumer. The latest trend seems to be in the daily moisturizers that also allow for a gradual tan. But there has also been progress in the more "immediate" self tanners that promise dramatic results in just a few hours.

So, whatever the occasion is that you're looking to wear a tan to, the product options definitely abound.

Sprays
Neutrogena MicroMist Tanning Sunless Spray
Sprays always prove useful if you are trying to get color in places that are difficult to ensure a smooth application. I like Neutrogena tanning spray (except for when the nozzle gets clogged, but that's an easy fix). You have to remember to still rub the spray in after applying it. A lot of people who have never used a spray, think they can just spray a coat on their legs and be done with it. Do that and you will end up with an uneven finish that dries to show drip marks. Make sure to do this an open area away from clothes or fabrics, because you run the risk of staining them.
Price: $10 at drugstores

California Tan After Glow Body Spray
If you are going for a bronzer, this is the right product for you. It allows you to obtain color that provides great definition to your legs and arms if you want to look like you just stepped out of a magazine. It has an almost glossy sort of finished appearance. The problem is that you have to find a salon location that sells the product, so the hunt to find where to buy it may not be worth results that are not that different from what you can out of drugstore finds.
Price: $21 at californiatan.com

Quick and Dramatic
Body Drench Quick Tan Sunless Tanning Mist
Color usually appears within just a few hours. Although it promises to provide immediate color, I still say you should apply this a few hours before wherever it is you need to go. It doesn't leave behind any sort of greasy film and usually lasts four to five days. I would say to use this only on your arms and legs - unless you are a pro and feel confident enough to use it on your face.
Price: $19.99 at folica.com

L'OREAL Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion
If you are looking for a dark, bronze-like finish, this is a great lotion. You put it on and can see significantly better results within four to five hours. The only downside is that this smells like a sunless tanner (though the smell isn't unbearable) and it does not dry quickly - so you'd have to make sure you are wearing a short skirt or shorts, while the lotion dries and seeps into your skin for about an hour or two. The upside is that this product can be found in any drugstore at a reasonable price and I think can be used by even a first-timer. The application goes on smooth and it has SPF 15 sunscreen in it.
Price: $8 at drugstores

Moisturizers/Dailies
Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
If you don't need a tan right away, Jergens Natural Glow lotion is good for obtaining more natural color. You can usually get results within two or three days. I've found that starting with a lighter shade can yield the best results - don't forget if you are applying the lotion everyday, you won't see the full-on results until day two or three. So, if you start with a darker shade, you may get an overly unnatural, orangey tan.

Avon Skin So Soft Satin Firming Glow Firming Body Moisturizer
This lotion promises a lot - moisturizer, firming body lotion and sunless tanner all in one. Buying the lotion for medium skin tones is a good starting point. The color comes gradually. If your skin color is really pale and you are trying to get a bronze appearance, this is not the right lotion for you. The results are not that significant in the tanning department. As far as an everyday moisturizer, if you do not have overly dry skin, this works double duty as an everyday lotion, although the scent is somewhat medicinal. It's not bad, but it's not preferred (especially when there are so many other options out there). As for the "firming" promise from this product, I would say be realistic. Products that promise multiple things are usually iffy at best. I wouldn't expect dramatic changes in this department, but I wouldn't say results are impossible either.
Price: $12 at avon.com

CVS Pharmacy Essential Glow Daily Moisturizer
If you are not into name brands, CVS' daily moisturizer and tanner is just as good as Jergens or any of the other daily moisturizers/tanners in the drugstores. In fact, I've found no difference in terms of results and actually find the scent to be fresh and summery. The lotion dries fast and doesn't feel overly heavy like some sunless tanners. You will notice results in two to three days and a more dramatic difference in color within five days. I, of course, find the price an added bonus, and at 7.5 ounces it is sure to last you a long time.
Price: $7 at CVS

Pricey
Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel
I don't know if it is because this formula is a gel, but this sunless tanner goes on really smooth making streaking a non-issue. It also dries much faster than traditional lotion tanners. Although this is on the more expensive side, one purchase will last you a long time. An even-looking tan for those with light to medium skin tones can usually be obtained within a couple of applications (I've found you have to apply this more than once to get the desired result - although some would beg to differ - it depends on what shade you are going for).
Price: $30

Skin Ceutical San Soleil Sunless Tanning Lotion
This lotion does seem to glide on and absorb into the skin very quickly. As far as results though, I wouldn't say that the resulting tan is any better than a drugstore find. The company boasts that it contains dihydroxy acetone (the tanner) along with erythrulose, which ensures that your skin is moisturized to avoid an uneven appearance. But if you just make sure that your skin is even and not dry before you put on a much cheaper version of this product, you save money and the tan is just as good as a $60 one.
Price: $59 at amazon.com

Face
Clarins Self Tanning Face Lotion Light Tan
First off, I like this because the resulting tan is light which ensures a smaller chance of messing up on the application and going overboard. The words "natural tan" are ever-more pressing when it comes to the face given that it's the first thing people see and react to, especially when staring at something that looks overly "baked." Make sure to put your hair in a ponytail and clip back bangs before spraying this on your face. Start with only a little bit and add additional applications slowly. The fact that this is SPF 15 is a bonus, smart benefit.
Price: $32 at sephora.com

Kiss My Face Instant Sunless Tanner
If lotion is the medium at which you are most comfortable, try Kiss My Face Sunless Tanner. This gives a light tan, which again is a good thing for your face because you never want to do a complete 180 and transform from your current skin color to an obviously fake, bronzey tan. While the name of the tanner is "instant," color does not actually appear for several hours. So, if you are going somewhere in the morning, apply overnight because you will not see results right away. Because this is a lotion, in some cases it may be easier to control your application of the tanner - if you prefer lotions over other application methods.
Price: $11 at amazon.com

Olay Complete Touch of Sun Daily UV Facial Moisturizer
The lighter to medium color is good for a gradual change on those starting out with pale skin and allows you to do multiple applications at a slow pace before arriving at a natural and desirable tan color. I like this because it gives you the appearance of some healthy color as opposed to looking like you applied a powdery bronzer to your face. The added bonus is that ingredients such as vitamin E (antioxidant) and SPF 15 makes this great for everyday use.
Price: $14 at drugstores

Non-Lotions
Estee Lauder Go Tan Sunless Towelettes
I thought these towelettes made perfect sense for convenience sake. They seemed to dry very quickly because you don't have to deal with a lot of lotion goop like most traditional tanners - but that is where the list of pros ends. The problem is that they don't cover large areas in the same way a spray or lotion can. Additionally, I didn't find the resulting tan results at all impressive. I'd say these are good for fixing small areas while traveling - if having a tan is important to you while you are on vacation and you don't want to have to deal with a lotion.
Price: $23 for 10 wipes