Self Tanners- Jergens' Natural Glow Versus Dove's Energy Glow

Summer is upon us and it is time for us all to worship the sun or at least look like we do. Me, I want that healthy glow with out all of the damaging effects of the actual sun. I go for the self-tanners that are so prevalent on the market at this time of year.

Self tanners have come a long way since I first started using them. Gone are the carrot orange hands and hefty price tags. Well, almost gone.

I decided to try a couple of the more moderately priced ones on the market. My very scientific test consisted of using Dove's Energy Glow Beauty Body Lotion on one side of my body and Jergens' Natural Glow on the other.

Let me add first that it was not easy to find products that were geared for fair to medium skin tones. I don't know why but they seem to have flooded the market with products that are for medium to dark skin tones. Why someone that sun-kissed color naturally would be using a self-tanner is beyond me, but that is neither here nor there. I had to go two three stores to find both Dove Energy Glow and Jergens' Natural Glow for fair to medium skin tones.

Okay back to the test. I have read in numerous articles that it is best to exfoliate prior to using self-tanners, so I did that. I thought about using a sharpie to mark a line down my body and label which product I used where, but I thought that I could probably remember. On to the first impressions!

Jergens is a product that I usually stay away from. There is something about there usual scent that I don't like. Let me tell you, Natural Glow smells really good. It is subtle and clean smelling.

Dove Energy Glow has a nice scent too. It is a slightly feminine suntan lotion smell. There is nothing like that just back from the beach smell, especially when you don't have the sand in your suit!

Both labels say that "for best results, use daily and to allow it to dry prior to dressing." They both remind you to wash your hands after applying. Dove Energy Glow says to "watch the color build up over one week." While Natural Glow states that, "You will begin to see a subtle development of color with in several days." To me that means that after a week, I should have seen pretty much similar results from both products.

First and lasting impressions of the lotions themselves were very different. Jergens' Natural Glow was a nice balance between silk and lotion. My skin felt immediately softer and it dried quickly and I was able to put clothing on almost right a way. Dove's Energy Glow was oily and greasy and I finally had to towel my self dry before I dared putting clothing on.

Natural Glow left my skin feeling hydrated all day. I added an application or two of lotion every day to the Dove Energy Glow side.

Results ---- after one week, I now have color on the side where I used Jergens' Natural Glow. It is just that, a natural glow, not orange or too dark. My skin feels soft and supple. There haven't been any clothing mishaps and my hand that I used to apply it with looks normal.

Dove Energy Glow, well, it didn't fair so well, to use a pun. I have no color change. No change that it is except in any light colored clothing that I wore. My whites are slightly dingy on that side. (try explaining that one to the dry-cleaner) My skin does feel soft, but since I had to use a regular Dove lotion on top of the tanner, it should.

I am surprised to say that I like the Jergens' Natural Glow better. I wouldn't have thought that Dove's Energy Glow would be so disappointing. I have used many of their products before and was always happy. They cost the same, but have very different results. Maybe it is time that I give other Jergens products a try.