Metro 365 Dark Tan Booster by California Tan - Review

Metro 365 Dark Tan Booster is a step two non-bronzing tan intensifier made by California Tan. Metro 365 is one of California Tan's new indoor tanning bed lotions, and it's packaged to be attractive to both men and women. California Tan calls Metro 365 a "unisex design," and when they say unisex, they are referring to both the grungy urban design on the bottle, as well as the scent.

I purchased Metro 365 on a whim. I was looking for something new to help me break through my paltry base tan and I had been eyeing this new California Tan bottle for a while. I should have kept my wallet in my purse where it belonged.

I'm a huge fan of California Tan products. I've tried just about every non-bronzing indoor tanning bed lotion they make, but Metro 365 acted more like a step 1 base tan builder. First, the smell isn't great, but it was probably designed that way to attract male customers who dislike girly fragrances. The scent is pretty strong, but it smells like Pantene shampoo - not a bad scent, but not fun and/or relaxing either.

Metro 365 has an amazing texture. It's not too thick, too runny and it doesn't have that slippery silicone feel that's becoming more and more popular. It's the perfect consistency and it almost melts into your skin. Unfortunately, that's where the goodness ends.

Like other California Tan products, Metro 365 has an odor eliminator, but it didn't work as well as other products I've tried. When you're finished tanning, you don't have that full-on after tan smell, but you aren't left smelling all that great. Maybe it has to do with the fragrance itself; I'm not sure.

Like other California Tan step indoor tanning bed lotions, Metro 365 has Cu02 and TRF2000 - two ingredients that boost your tan, but when I stepped out of my level 3 bed, I didn't look any darker. Metro 365 also has an ingredient called Metrotect Complex (which I had never heard of before), which according to the bottle, "delivers intense dark color via its dynamic Ozone Bronzing Therapy for gorgeous brilliant bronze 365 days a year."

First of all, this is a tad misleading, because there is no bronzer in this lotion, but I get what they mean. However, it just doesn't perform as well as stated. I can tell what works and what doesn't after one tanning session, and Metro 365 just didn't give me the glow I wanted. I've used it several times, and was unable to break through my tanning plateau. What's sad is that my plateau was stuck at my base tan. Today, I went back with my old Supre standby, and I'm finally nice and dark after one session.
Metro 365's retail price is $48. I could have bought it online for around $24, but in all honesty, I wouldn't pay $24 for this lotion as it doesn't live up to the hype.