Search for the Perfect Sunless Tan - Part I
Written: Feb 14 '07 (Updated Feb 14 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Looks great on stage and in office lighting.
Cons: Turned BRIGHT ORANGE when exposed to sunlight.
The Bottom Line: While I rated the product as "very natural" and "no problems," that is my INDOOR USE rating. Outdoors, it turned harsh orange. This may be a red-head issue.
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| hularider's Full Review: Banana Boat Sunless Deep Dark Tanning Kit |
I perform in a lot of Hawaiian cultural productions, and so a deep tan is part of my "costume." Now that I am undergoing treatment for skin cancer, a truly natural tan is no longer an option, so I am exploring the sunless tanners.
The most recent experiment is with "Banana Boat Sunless Tanning Creme, Deep Dark Blend." I am going to gradually work my way through several brands, but I was attracted to this one because it lists henna as an ingredient. Why? Ah dunno - maybe there is not even enough henna to make a difference, maybe it is the major coloring ingredient. But having henna in there gives me a warm fuzzy.
It also contains the usual unpronouncable collection of chemestry you find in most cosmetics: Purified Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Caramel, Petrolatum, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, VP/ Dimethiconylacrylate/Polycarbamyl/Polyglycol Ester, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamine E), PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dimethicone, Steareth 20, Steareth 2, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Henna (Lawsonia Inermis) Extract.
I'm learning that with ALL sunless tanners, they work best when applied immediately after a shower. Scrub down with one of those skritchy toewls, BufPuf, or other mild exfoliant as the dead skin will not take color as evenly, and can have dark orange, mottled places.
Wearing a pair of rubber gloves (like the ones in a hair-coloring kit) or using a sponge make-up applicator will prevent the palms of your hands from turning orange.
Smooth the dark brown goop on your freshly scrubbed skin making sure it is evenly applied. Go thin on areas like elbows, knees, ankles. To get the most natural look, be sure to get between the toes. Topside, blend evenly around the neck and up behind and onto your ears to avoid that "masked" look. Use care at the hairline, as it can stain your hair. Blend smoothly, again, to avoid the "mask."
Last of all, do your hands. Squeeze a dab of the product on the back of one hand and rub the backs of your hands together. Work it in smoothly, sliding your ingers between each other so the product blends nicely around the fingers. Avoid getting the product on the palms and insides of the fingers. Use just the thinnest amount on the insides of the wrists and feather the product back up to the arms so that there are no lines - just nice, smooth blending.
Banana Boat was nice and easy to apply. It went on smoothly with no clumping or streaking.
It takes 2-3 hours for the color to fully develop, but it is tinted, so you will have some color immediately. You'll just look as though you are wearing full-body makeup. If you wear shoes, sandals, etc before waiting the full three hours, you will end up with lines on your feet.
I found that it does make a good foundation for my stage makeup.
Banana Boat does, indeed, give a nice dark tan. Under artificial light. I find it great for the stage. It gives a lovely bronzed glow - but not a Polynesian tan - it's too orangy-bronze for that. But under stage lights it looks fantastic, and it looks even better under office flourescents.
Going out in the sun is another story. About 15 minutes after uxposure to sunlight, I had turned BRIGHT orange. My husband and I had taken the day off, and were riding our bikes in Puna Ma Kai, and by the time we got to the gas station to fill up, I looked like a large orangatang on a silver motorcycle. It was scary. But at least I brought smiles and laughter to the other bikers we met along the way. I'm self-confident enough to handle embarassing situations. But I wouldn't want to repeat it.
Once the stuff goes orange, DON'T reapply. You'll just be a darker orange.
They say the color will last "several" days. On me, it goes about 3. Then I have to exfoliate and start over. Applying over old stuff just turns me orange. I would not use more than twice a week, as there is a build-up.
Some people do not mind the fragrance. I find it somewhat metalic and annoying. I would not apply the product the day of a date - maybe the day before so the scent can wear off. It makes your perfume smell really nasty.
You also need to remember that a sunless tanner does NOT give you the protection of either sunscreen or of a real tan, so if you get out in the bright sunlight, no only might you turn !ORANGE!, but you could also get a nasty sunburn.
And don't put it on anyting sensitive - like eyes, lips, and mucous membranes.
I purchased the Banana Boat at Long's Drug Store in Downtown Hilo, but I have also seen it at WalMart and other department stores. I paid around $7.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
hularider
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Member: Leilehua Yuen
Location: Hilo, Hawaii, USA
Reviews written: 70
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
HulaRider is an author, artist, and educator who specializes in Hawaiian culture and arts.
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