Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'm an avid self tanner and have tried just about every product you can think of (Banana Boat, St. Tropez, Tan Towels, Xen Tan, etc.) Convinced by the high reviews of this product (most I later found out were compensated for by the merchant), I decided to give it a try. This product was not great. Mind you I professionally exfoliate, moisturize, and apply my self tanner with latex exam gloves and makeup wedges to ensure I am applying it properly. CONS: - Texture The texture of this self tanner is horrible. Upon application, it smears in like chunky sunscreen that will not rub in no matter how many times you go over it. I have never seen anything like it. I suspect it to be the shea butter and heavy emollients in the lotion. DO NOT even think of putting this on your face. - Color The color of tan this lotion gives you is even worse. Very subtle and very orange. It would probably work on a ghost pale person looking for the cheap thrill of a one-time-application glow. Not suitable for us who like to maintain a natural, self-tanned complexion year round. - Heaviness left on skin This product is insanely heavy on the skin. It feels like body butter mixed with vaseline. Even 1-2 hours after application, my skin was dewy enough to cling to all my clothing/sheets. It feels like you JUST applied normal body lotion for so long. - Price At this price point, you could easily afford a much better, much more effective self tanner. Its ingredient list may attract the "organic, all natural" crowd. However, the fact that its active ingredient is DHA (chemical agent that causes reaction with epidermis to stain it brown; what all self tanners use) is counterproductive to its "natural" marketing. PROS: - No streaking Despite this self tanner's light, orange color... it does apply very evenly without streaking (despite its terrible texture). I had no problems with streaking or uneven fade. - Does not contain bronzer It is IMMENSELY hard to find a self tanner on the market that doesn't contain a bronzer in it (temporary cosmetic pigment to give skin "instant color" upon application; the thing responsible for staining all your sheets and clothes brown). This one does not and made it perfect for my white sheets and tendency to hop into clothes/bed 5 minutes after application. All in all, I would not recommend this product to anyone except a middle-aged/senior, very pale, dry skinned person who can tolerate heavy body butters/creams. It's not as bad as the cheap Neutrogena Build-A-Tans, but it's pretty close. Products I would recommend instead would be: St. Tropez Untinted Classic Self Tanning Foam (no bronzer, absorbs immediately), Banana Boat Summer Color lotion (contains bronzer; but very deep, VERY natural color at drugstore price), or Tan Towels (pre-moistened towelettes containing clear DHA, no bronzer)