Neutrogena Build-A-Tan

The Reason
You may have many reasons for buying products like Neutrogena Build-A-Tan. My reasons were simple, I don't like to tan. I don't think it's healthy to lay in the sun for hours. Yet, I also don't want to look completely washed out and white as can be all summer. This is why we buy fake-tans. You may have other reasons for trying a fake-tan, but regardless of why you want to - I'm here to say you shouldn't use this one.

The Plan
Build-a-Tan is meant to be different from all other tanning products. Instead of putting on some lotion and instantly appearing to be returning from an island vacation, this product wants you to tan gradually. Spread one layer of Build A Tan on your skin (everywhere - trying your very best to be even) and within a few hours you'll notice your skin is a few shades darker. Would you like to get even darker? Put on another layer of Build A Tan and in a few more hours you'll get even darker.

There's really not much to using it, and since I'm not recommending this product, you shouldn't care anyway.

The Ideal
Ideally, you'd put on 2-3 layers of this stuff to be just the right shade of fake tan. Ideally you would have the appearance of a tan, without looking like you've been in the sun for hours. Ideally, you'd simply be slightly darker with a natural sun-kissed look.

This is what I expected, this is not what I got.

The Reality
It took me two separate tries (2 layers each time) before I realized I didn't like the effects of this product. Here's why:

Spreading Evenly? Not possible. If you are like me, no matter how hard you try, the spread of the lotion always ends up to be thicker in one spot or another. Or, how about avoiding the inside of your arms? I had lines in places like that which looked like I spilled paint on myself - and I was REALLY CAREFUL when I put it on. The lotion comes out white like any other lotion so it's hard to judge where you've already applied it.

The smell was bad. I didn't think so when I first tried this product, but when I went for layer 2, I started to notice that I smelled weird. Even after showering with fruity shower gel, I still could smell it.

The feeling was bad. Even after showering, I had this antsy feeling that there was stuff all over me. I felt like I needed to shower again. I don't know if it was sub-conscious or what, but I didn't like it.

The color was bad. I've been told by a professional photographer that I have "olive" skin. When I used this product, I expected to turn slightly brownish, instead, it was orangy. That's always the fear with fake-tans. You don't want to look orangy. I felt uncomfortable after the second layer as if I looked unnatural.

The color lasted about 4 days as stated, and so did the icky feeling and the smell.

One good thing - It won't stain your clothes. I emailed Neutrogena to see why it works like this and they said that it reacts with a chemical in your body, so it won't react for anything else. I tested this. I spread some on a piece of paper. The next day the lotion was dry but the color was still white/clear/nothing on the paper.

The only other positives are that it does dry in 5 mins or so as stated, and I didn't really have "streaks" - just the problem with getting it in places it shouldn't be.

The Final Decision
After two unsatisfying attempts at using this, I have decided to stop trying to fake-tan. I've only done it a handful of times, but it's just easier to be tanless. There's nothing wrong with being white. In fact, my skin is softer and smoother than those who I know tan a lot.

I threw away the sunless tanner and my new theory is to go out in the sun 15-20 mins a day and try to naturally get some sun. I refuse to lay out and tan! but 15-20 mins a day, taking a walk or playing a sport, will give me a subtle amount of color. Even though too much sun can be cancerous and dry your skin, a little bit of sun can provide Vitamin D. So forget about this product, and go enjoy the summer outside!