A natural looking self tanner for a reasonable price (L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Gel)

Member Name: AuntyFabulous

Product:	L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Gel
Date:	25/07/09 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tan is brown and not orange

Disadvantages: Goes on the first item of clothing you wear - so make sure its the pyjamas!

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze

I've always been self conscious about my weight and it is true that having a tan makes you look slimmer.

When I was in my twentys I used sunbeds regularly so that I always looked tanned & slim. I also like the feeling of the warms rays on my skin, especially if this was in the middle of the cold winter months, brrrrrr......

It was watching programmes which show you the effects of what too much sunbeds have on your skin that made me switch over to using self tan from the bottle.

Like most products you have to try and test them and decide for yourself which one suits you. I started of using St Tropez lotion. It is expensive and the colour is lovely but for me this only lasted until the following day. I also liked Fake Bake, but again this is expensive if you are someone who uses fake tan regularly.

I then decided to go down the scale in terms of pricing, but at the same time was looking for a quality product.

I have tried several products over various price ranges and I have to say that L'Oreal Sublime has the complete package in terms of pricing, colour and lasts.

This is available from most high street chemists and supermarkets. This costs around £11, however occasionally Boots or Superdrug have it on offer for about £8. I normally buy this from Superdrug using the 10% survey discount receipt.

Although this is described as a gel, I would actually describe it as a "runny cream". I normally put this on after coming out of the shower. Before using fake tan always ensure your body is hair free, exfoliated and moisturised. Always put on latex gloves when applying, this prevent the self tanner going on your palms - not a good look!

I normally start of with applying to my feet, legs and gradually working my way up the body. If there are any areas which you feel need slimmed down, then you can top up these areas so they look darker, and blend so that you don't have any obvious lines. I find it difficult to get certain areas of my back, so if you were backless tops regularly, then get someone to assist with this area.

After the whole body is done, take of the latex gloves and squirt a tiny drop of the self tanner on the back of your hands and rub both of the backs of you hands together until the tan is evenly applied to the backs of boths hands. Don't forget to rub the backs of both your fingers together as well. That way you get the tan all over, except the palms of your hands.

After that is done, I don't walk about the house naked like a robot waiting for the tanner to dry. There is no way the tan will dry quickly if you are still in the bathroom after the shower while the bathroom is still steamy. If you want the tan to dry quicker then go to a one of the cooler bedrooms in the house. I normally do this late at night and then put my pyjamas on and "sleep in it".

This product is easy to apply and there is little prospect of making a mistake because you can see where the colour is going when it is being applied. Like most products, this will come of on your clothes, which is why the first thing I put on is the pyjamas.

When I get up the following morning, I have a quick shower to get rid of any excess. If I was wearing a white top or dress I would use the tanner at least two days before so that the tan stays on your skin and not your clothes.

My experience is that this lasts at least two or three days. I normally use this tanner at least twice a week.

This sounds a bit cheesy but people who I have not saw for a while always ask me if I have been on holiday recently because the result is so natural and not the "you've been tangoed" orange tanners that first came on the market. They seem surprised when I tell them I've been to Superdrug.

If a new self tanner comes on the market then of course I try it and like most products, if I do not like something then I will not buy it again. If I like it I go back to it.

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze is the one I have been consistently buying for over four years now and will continue using for a long time and would recommend it.

Summary: Good price, natural colour and available from the high street.