Product Review: Go Bronze Plus Self Tanner by Estee Lauder

I am very fair complected. I can tan in the sun, but I have to burn first in order to do so. That ain't good. So, periodically I'll grab a self-tanner and hope that it will work. I'm always somewhat disappointed. Estee Lauder's Go Bronze for the face, however, is an item I really like.

First off I need to dispel a misconception on this item. It is listed on the Estee Lauder website with self-tanners, and the name of the thing would tend to indicate that also. Even their short blurb will lead you to believe that this is a sunless tanning product.

They say: Get an instant bronze tint plus the most natural-looking self-tan.

See there? Plus natural-looking self-tan. If you are wanting to purchase this item for that quality, then we're talking a 1-star product. I have never been able to discern any tanning at all.

However, What Go Bronze does do is serve as a nice tinted base make-up for your face. It is a lovely healthy-looking bronze tint. For me with my fair skin, if I have no base tan, then it does go on a bit dark for daytime use for me, but is perfect for a night on the town. If I have a nice natural tan though, this product highlights that and gives my face a wonderful glow. I imagine it would be the same for medium-to-dark complexioned folks too.

Like I said earlier, this one claims to also self-tan while you wear it, but if it is doing this, then whatever good it did is washed away with the make-up remover at the end of the night.

Most products of this type contain a sun block. This one does not. I have no problem with that. As fast as sun blocks still leave the shelves, I have to wonder if I'm the only one who caught the new story about 2 years ago stating that they have been wrong all these year... the rays blocked by sun blocks are not the ones which cause skin cancer. It's those other rays. heh. Whatever. I take 'expert' advice with a grain of salt. What will kill you today will save you next year it seems. (and vice-versa)

The scent is the same as other self-tanners (although this really isn't one). It is not over-powering at all, but it is noticeable while you apply it... and when you accidentally squirt it all over your nose whilst trying to remind yourself of the odor during the review writing process... ohj. (Gives new meaning to the term brown-nose.)

Go Bronze for the face will run ya a cool $22.50 for 1.7 oz. Ouch. What I have is a small .5oz (15ml) trial tube which came with a big ol' summer package special last year. Yup. Last year. A little goes a long way.

So. What to do with this little treasure. 1-star for a sunless tanner, 5 stars for a temporary bronzing base. We'll average that to 3 stars and recommend it as a nice addition to the ol' make-up bag. Now, I need to go wash my nose....