Tan-tastic (Banana Boat Tanning Dry Oil SPF8 Ultramist Continuous Spray)

Member Name: MarcoG

Product:	Banana Boat Tanning Dry Oil SPF8 Ultramist Continuous Spray
Date:	03/12/08 (283 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Non greasy, easy to apply

Disadvantages: Low SPF

Faced with three weeks in New Mexico, with nothing to do but read, sunbathe and do a bit of surfing on t'interweb...I wanted to be prepared for muchos sun exposure. But, I'm not really one to spend time trying to get a tan. If I get one from being out and about, that's fine, but if I don't, that's fine too.

So, with so much time on my hands, I set myself a little task...of getting a tan. I headed to the supermarket for suntan lotion. I got two bottles, one with an SPF 30, to start then work down to a SPF 8 - and for the lesser SPF, I chose the Banana Boat Tanning Dry Oil, for two reasons: One, I liked the name 'ba-na-na' (eh-hem) and two, it boasted a scent of coconut and almond - if there are two smells that remind me of holidays and relaxing, it's certainly those. The bottle also explained that it was a dry oil, so the lack of grease appealed, as did the fact that it came in a spray, which is handy as you don't have to rub it in...so if you reapply out in the sun, your book (if you're reading one, obviously) doesn't get oiling marks on...bonus! Also, the bottle was metallic and looked rather pretty too...double bonus!

The bottle advises that you should apply the spray 25 minutes before you go in the sun. This is to make sure your skin absorbs it properly. The product is described as having a 'ultra mist', and the I agree, the mist is very fine. It's advised that you apply it to your face, by spraying in your hands first so as to avoid inhalation. Even so, when it gets near your nose or mouth, I couldn't help but give a good cough and splutter, it is strong stuff, so I wouldn't use it on little ones (well, the SPF is too low to use on kids anyway).

So, once stripped down to my smalls, I started to spray. I noticed immediately how shiny it made my skin, it also gave it a slight golden glow (it may have been the lighting, but I tried it in different rooms, and it still looked the same). I felt bronzed and silky before going in the sun, nice. It was a weird sensation, being so shiny, I felt oily, but I wasn't oily to touch, as after a few minutes, the spray had absorbed into my skin. The smell was as I had hoped, coconutty, thus reminding me of being on holiday, how appropriate, as I was indeed, on holiday. I couldn't help feeling somewhat 'porny' though, parading round the pool (as you do) so shiny and sunkist.

It is water proof, so you are safe to swim with it on, but if you towel dry, it's advised that you reapply, incase you rub any off of your skin. I was able to stay in the sun up to an hour at a time, and I didn't burn. The spray contains UVA and UVB filters (UVA to stop the ageing of the skin, and UVB which stops the burning), which is important to note. Also, I can't remember the exact science, but it is important to either reapply the sun protection or wash it off your body, when you've been out in the sun. This is because the free radicals can be absorbed into your skin if you don't wash off (which has been found in skin cancers) or if you reapply, the lotion/spray protects them from your skin longer. It's also worth noting that this sun spray doesn't include any insect repellent, and although I didn't experience swarms of insects (only a few baby lizards) there is no guarantee that wasps or flies aren't drawn to the coconutty smells.

I paid $4 for the bottle (that was 8fl oz), which works out just over 2GBP. You can buy it on amazon for a massive 10GBP though, although I suggest having a good look in Boots or other shops that sell sun protection type stuff.

So begs the question, did I succeed in a tan? Well, it wasn't bad, I was quite proud of my bronzeness, my chest had never felt so golden before.

Recommended

Thanks for reading


© MarcoG 2008

Summary: Misty and low sun protection