MY $3.95 VACATION: Alba Botanica Sunless Tanning Lotion
Written: Sep 08 '04 (Updated Sep 08 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: no odor, very natural looking, inexpensive, sunscreen,
Cons: lots of attention might get frustrating, must use gloves, sunscreen
The Bottom Line: I didn't think that I could find a sunless tanner that actually LOOKED natural, but this is it! I constantly get attention for my perfect tan. This stuff is FUN!
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| Caprig's Full Review: Alba Botanica Sunless Tanning Lotion SPF 15 |
Do you know what it is like living for two years with almost no sunlight?
Every area of the world has its advantages and disadvantages. Here in the Northeastern US, life can be very challenging. Elected as one of the top five darkest areas in the country year after year (many times in the top three), our area can be one of the most frustrating and depressing if you let it.
Winter after winter that drags on, everyone waits desperately for the sunlight of spring and despite the virtual standstill that it brings, most people welcome the horrendously humid hot summers for two months. A stark contrast to the pale grays and whites of the seemingly neverending winter, summer brings a short reprieve of bright colored flowers, green grass, and suntanned bodies.
This past two years, however, have been probably the most challenging that I can ever remember. Not only has the winter been harshly cold and gray, but the summers have been almost completely gray as well. Constant rain and gray skies have led to rather bizarre behavior in the general public as the weather battered people are forced to face the inevitable torture- winter is coming very soon again. This time with no relief from summertime.
I knew that things were getting bad when a friend with black skin was complaining about being too pale and having to get in the sun!
WHAT IS A PERSON TO DO?
As we approached the dead of winter this past year, I was really going through withdrawl. My pale skin was making me feel anemic, and I was getting tired of applying makeup base- something I usually only have to do for a month or two at the end of winter before being kissed by the spring sun.
I had tried many sunless tanners in the past through recommendations of various people, only to end up with very horrible odors and fake orange looking skin. Streaks and smell- well, it just was not worth it.
Almost two years ago now, I had the fantasy experience of a lifetime- I won a basket of almost $750 worth of expensive department store cosmetics. In this basket had been a full sized tube of CLARINS SUNLESS TANNING LOTION, which went on white and then developed into a golden nice tan. However, when the tube was empty, I could not afford the enormous price tag for another tube. Besides, I did not think that the color was that remarkable anyway. It was just the best that I had tried.
When I had finally decided that I would just forget the whole thing, I happened to read a review that someone had written about another self tanner that was supposed to be so natural looking that no one seemed to notice.
I had it thrown into an order of some other shampoos and such that I had to order anyway and decided to give it a try.
What I experienced was quite unexpected.
ALBA BOTANICA GOLDEN TAN SUNLESS TANNING LOTION
I read the instructions on the tube:
"Thoroughly clean and exfoliate skin. Apply lotion evenly. Use sparingly near hairline, knees, ankles, and elbows. IMMEDIATELY wash hands with soap and water after application. May stain fabrics. Allow at least 15 minutes to dry completely. Avoid swimming, bathing or exercise. Avoid eye area."
Hmmm.
I wonder if that means that you are only supposed to sit in a chair after using this stuff and smell from not bathing ever. So exactly how long does this abstinence from all human activity last?
I decided to give it a try.
I donned a pair of SILICONE hair dresser gloves (the kind you get in a box of FERIA, HERBAL ESSENCE, or other professional type hair color kits). Carefully, I applied the lotion to my entire body as if I were wearing a bathing suit, but I did it right after taking a shower.
I got as close to my eyes as I could to avoid raccoon eyes, and I got right up into my hairline. I did not take any care to avoid the allocated areas (other than eyes). I let the stuff dry, and then got dressed, forgetting about the whole thing as the day went on. To do my hands, I took off one glove, applied to the back of the opposite hand, and then used a plastic bag on the other hand, because I would get the newly lotioned hand messed up if I put on a glove with it still wet.
The most remarkable thing was the lack of odor. No sunless tanner I had ever used had a lack of smell. Usually a horrid smell too. CLARINS had been the closest, but this one had CLARINS beat, at least on my skin.
I forgot that I had put on the sunless tanner, as I really could not see a difference. I attended a class that I had been involved in and was shocked at the reaction.
"Hey, did you get to go south for vacation last week?"
"I am jealous- look at that tan."
"Wow, you look so healthy and tan, I wish I could go somewhere to get so tan."
"Working in the garden, have you been?"
I had to stifle a laugh. It was still winter- how the heck could I have been working in the garden? There WAS no garden to speak of!
I thought that everyone was just giving me the business, but they weren't. That was the first time I had ever received comments about a sunless tanner.
As time went on, I used the tanner about twice a week. I am completely serious when I tell you that a week NEVER went by without someone talking about my amazing tan. This was such a novel experience that I found it really hilarious. No one would believe me when I told them that it was a sunless tanner.
INGREDIENTS
The ALBA BOTANICA GOLDEN TAN SUNLESS TANNER is supposed to be a more "natural" type product, lacking chemicals usually found in other tanners. I have found this to be true from my skin reaction. Here are the ingredients:
Certified organic infusion of green tea, calendula, echinacea pupurea, ginko biloba, certified organic aloe vera barbadensis, glyceryl stearate, dihydroxyacetone, silica, walnut extract, erythrulose, C12-15 alkyl benzoate (vegetable fatty acid), stearic acid, vegetable glycerin, cetyl alcohol, xanthan gum, lactic acid, d-alpha tocopherol, carrot oil, methyl/propylparaben, phenoxyethanol, botanical fragrance.
This sunless tanner also has three active sunscreen ingredients in case you believe in using that kind of thing, which I do not.
7.5% Octinoxate, 3.5% Benzophenone-3, .05% Avobenzoene-Parsol 1789
If this self tanner did not have the sunscreen ingredients in it, I would be a lot more satisfied with it. In my opinion, sunscreen is one of the biggest marketing scams since processed foods with poisonous ingredients in it that give you cancer put in pretty packages to make you think you are getting something "good for you".
FINAL COMMENTS AND DETAILS
A tube of ALBA BOTANICA SUNLESS TANNER has about 4 oz (118ml) of product in it. The color is sky blue with purple writing on it. This is part of the SUN line of products from the ALBA BOTANICA company. The retail price is about $8.95, but I have found it for $5.95 at a local grocery's natural foods department. I have also purchased it from the Vitamin Shoppe.
I find that a tube of this stuff will last me about two months, if I use it once or twice a week on my entire body- I do use it sparingly.
It is imperative that you concentrate when you apply this stuff. It will leave a line or streak if not blended in well where I leave untanned skin. Make sure to blend this on well. Avoid palms of hands, and blend the line from back of hand very well or it will look like you have on sunless tanner.
If you happen to drop an extra drop of this stuff on your skin, it will leave a darker spot- looks like a scar or other type skin imperfection. However, it will not come off unless you wait for a week. Best to wipe it off right away if you touch your skin to an already lotioned area.
Another thing that you need to know about this sunless tanner is that it will wear off unevenly after a couple of weeks if you do not reapply. There will be a period of about a week where I look like I have a lot of freckles. I have been told over and over by people that it still looks natural even in this stage, and I do not think that they were trying to be nice. They were really sincere.
One last warning- DO NOT USE LATEX GLOVES TO APPLY THIS. THE CHEMICAL REACTION IS HORRIBLE AND YOU WILL END UP SMELLING LIKE A SKUNK!!!! I know from experience.....
WHERE CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE?
I have purchased this product at a local grocery store in the natural department. I have also seen it at a natural foods store.
On the web, you can find out more about it at
www.albabotanica.com
And you can purchase it at a decent discount at www.vitaminshoppe.com
The cheapest I have gotten it for is about $3.95 as an introductory price.
CLOSING STORY FOR THOSE OF US WHO MOAN ABOUT WHERE WE ARE OR THE WEATHER
You know, as human beings, we have this tendency to always moan about where we are and think that life is so much better somewhere else. Life in our area is so gruelling in the wintertime, that many people spend months literally fantasizing about being somewhere else. I was having one such winter about 5 or 6 years ago. Depression was constantly knocking at the door as each gray day ran into the next with no hope of sunshine at all.
My husband and I were at the grocery store and I was plodding through the snow to the car, when another lady plodding along side of me seemed to be a sympathetic listener.
"I HATE this weather. I wish the sun would come out. If I get any more gray skies, I will hop in my car and just drive somewhere to get away. I can not STAND this anymore." I opened up my complaint box and sprinkled her with midwinter cheer.
"Oh, I know what you mean," she said in a very friendly voice. " I used to feel the exact same way."
She continued with a story that would change my perspective forever.
" In fact, I hated it here so much that I finally packed up my kids and my mom and said I was going to Hawaii, the heck with this horrid place. So we rented a condo and off we went for a month of rest and sunshine. "
She continued with great enthusiasm, "Everything was beautiful. The weather was awesome, the colors were breathtaking. My mom and kids were finally relaxing. I met this guy on the beach, and he was so nice. I thought to myself that this was a place I never wanted to leave."
"The next morning, however, the police came to my door. They held up a photo of the really nice man I met the previous day and asked if I had seen him. I told them of my meeting him the previous night. They informed me that they found the top half of his body and were looking for the rest, because he had been bitten in half by a shark."
"So, I packed up my kids and mother and took the first flight home. You know, the snow and gray here is not so bad after all. I have never complained again. I would rather have this any day than that!"
I have to tell you, every time I start complaining about the weather, I think of that woman and her experience, or the people who are caught in horrid catastrophes like Florida is right now and I think, geez, maybe life isn't as bad as I thought after all.......
So, for $4-6 I can have a nice tan and pretend I am on vacation, after all, everyone seems to think I have been!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Caprig
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Location: NE US- 2 email me delete REMOVETHIS
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About Me:
Product-Evaluation/Information-Specialist. Too Busy to Be KIND to Others? You are TOO BUSY.
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