I have a love/hate relationship with self-tanner.  On the one side, it hides imperfections and provides a healthy glow, on the other side, it can look completely unnatural and splotchy and rival the smell of a toxic chemical spill.  Nevertheless, like a cookie in my pantry, I can’t seem to leave it alone.

The first time I used self-tanner I was eleven years old and in fifth grade.  And let me tell you, self-tanner has come a long way in the last thirteen years, and so has my knowledge of it.  I always have friends ask me if I know of any good brands for self-tanning and since I currently have 4 different kinds at my house, I figured it would be worth some kicks to do a little experiment.

So I created a line up:

And then I busted out some electrical tape since I didn’t have any painters tape and I made what could only seem like the start of an unfortunate DIY gladiator sandals project:

Tape on calves = not a flattering look.

From here, I applied a different self-tanner in every stripe.This is what it looked like right after I had applied each tanner.

From top to bottom: St. Tropez, St. Moriz, Moroccan Mineral Tan, Banana Boat

Now you have probably heard the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”  Well, I have my own little phrase, “Don’t judge a self-tanner before the first shower.” Some tanners, like the version of St. Tropez I used, are meant to be put on at night and washed off in the morning to reveal a beautiful color.  It’s generally a good idea to shower before you head anywhere after using self-tanner anyway because if you get wet at all, the color will run and that can turn into some pretty awkward situations (though not quite as awkward as the leg stripes I’ll be sporting for the next week).

Here’s what was revealed after the first shower:

You will note that most of the colors faded a little, which was good because some were way too dark.
You want to look sun-kissed, not like you are trying to change your ethnicity.  I have learned that moderation can be key.  When people started asking me questions like, “Are you Mexican or Italian?” I knew I needed to lay off the self-tanner a little (and the black hair dye).  If you are really fair, you may want to dilute your self-tanner with a light, mild lotion to get a more natural glow.  Or, you might just want to embrace your natural pale beauty.  Self-tanner can be a hassle and there’s nothing wrong with being fair!

Either way, here’s my take on these different products:

St. Tropez Bronzing Lotion, $42 for 8 oz.

St. Moriz Tanning Mousse, $10 for 6.76 oz on Amazon

This is a great knock off of the St. Tropez’s line of mousse tanners.  It blends easily, and dries quickly and you don’t look nearly as ridiculous as it’s drying as you do with the St. Tropez Lotion (though I bet the St. Tropez mousse is similar).  It develops into a nice color, though it still has the after-smell the next day.  It fades gradually, and naturally.  It’s one of my favorites.  It’s actually only about $4-5 dollars, but is only sold in the UK so with shipping it comes out to about $10. Verdict: Favorite.

Moroccan Mineneral Dark Tan, $26 for 6 oz

I bought this because it was marketed to be a cheaper version of St. Tropez, however; it is still pretty pricey.  I find it to be horribly splotchy and way too dark to look natural. Though it does have a decent scent, it still has the infamous after-scent. This one is my least favorite.  It’s also the tanner I’m wearing in this post where you can clearly see how splotchy it is.  Verdict: too dark and too splotchy.