Heading on holidays and don't want that white whale look. But also don't want to lie in the sun to get "healthy"! What is your best recommendation for sunless tanning products? Thanks.

There is a web site - sunless.com

Chat with others about different products. Useful tips.

I just returned from a trip with a friend who had used Banana Boat and she looked great. She said it's a spray and it comes in three shades; I believe light, medium and dark. It looked very natural, there was no streaking at all. I'm going to try it out.

I have a couple of girlfriends that get 'airbrushed' and it looks fantastic!

I have used the one from Clinique, and also Estee Lauder. They're both great, although I found the tinted one from Clinique can smear off on your clothes after putting it on.

In case you're interested: I've been doing this for years, here are my tips for the application:

- get a tinted tanner, it's easier to see where you've put it, and that it's not thicker in some areas,etc...Go lightly on feet, hands and dry areas

- when you wash your hands, try not to get water all over your arms (just wash your palms), or you'll get streaks...

- I wet a kleenex, and lightly wipe over my forearms/wrists, knees, and anywhere that tend to get darker.

I used a "Tan Towel" which was a foil wrapped "moist towelette" type application that I got from either HSN or QVC. It was the easiest to apply evenly and gave the most natural look of any sunless tanning product I've tried, but was way too expensive. Now I use Banana Boat.
As for application tips: I don't put it on my arms because my arms tend to get enough color my spring outdoor activities (kids' track meets and golf tournaments) so I just do my legs. I use a fingernail brush afterwards to scrub my palms, between my fingers, and especially my cuticles, where the lotion tends to collect. If I'm using a tinted tanner, I go ahead and where latex gloves for the application.

Go to Walmart and get No-Ad self-tanner in a big 16 oz bottle for about $5. At that price you can get 2 bottles. I've been using it since May and it has the same color as Estee Lauder, Claritin and about 90-95% cheaper.

I second Banana Boat. I've used the one that lets you adjust the amount you want by how many applications.

The rage these days however is the Mystic Tan. Most tanning salons now have them. You stand in a booth nekkid, and get sprayed. Takes about 10 seconds. Cost about $15. Lasts about a week. Haven't tried it yet, but my daughter did. Looked SO natural.

There's a great website that I discovered that will give you all the information you need - and more about sunless tanning. With the rainy spring we've had here in the east, a little colour on my certainly perks me up!
www.sunless.com. It has lots of good tips about how to apply the products, as well as ratings for them.

My favorite is Lancome. Looks very natural; easy to apply. I've done the Mystic Tan also, but it's expensive.

I would like to know of a product that's primarily for faces..I'd also like one that's not tested on animals. Any suggestions that might meet that criteria?

Hi canuck!
I am pretty sure that Clarins as well as Clinique and Prescriptives are all natural and not animal tested!
I use Clarins and some stuff my dermatologist gave me~

You can find a list of cruelty-free companies at:

http://www.allforanimals.com/alternatives1.htm

Hi Austin

That is a good list, thanks!

thanks Austin et al. ..I called Banana Boat people. They say no animal testing but unfortunately the sunless tanning products areen't available yet in Canada. I'll have a look at the websites recommended and make a decision.

Canuck, do they sell it at Sephora? You can order from them online.
www.sephora.com

Browse the site and see if there is anything for you there~

I get a can of Benjamin Moore Montana Agate in laytex. I use the roller, the brush, it comes out perfect and blocks harmful UV rays!

Loki: Don't paint-- Texture-Coat! One hundred times thicker than paint, and stands up to sun, wind, rain, sand! And you get a lovely stucco finish....

I personally find those tanless products give an unnatural orange tint to most skin. I can spot them from two miles off. Even the better ones will go orange in direct light. Caveat emptor, I say. And don't forget, you may still need sunscreen on top of the paint.

Loki
Have you considered doing a faux finish?