L'oreal from the Sublime to the ridiculous (L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Gel)

Member Name: englishrose

Product:	L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Gel
Date:	26/10/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Applies smoothly

Disadvantages: Too dark for me (see user name!)

L'OREAL SUBLIME BRONZE SELF-TANNING GEL - Tinted

This cost me around £9 from my local Boots. It's a self-tanning product, also known as fake tan, in a squeezy tube which is easy to identify as self-tanner because it's in those typical colours of bronze, brown and gold.

The tube is 150 ml in size, and apparently it is for both the face and the body.

Unlike some tanners, this one has both a long-lasting tan which develops over a few hours, and also an instant tan - it is sparkly bronze in colour, and it also contains a 'light reflecting formula'.

This means that you can see where you are putting it straight away, so there is no guesswork.

It is applied in the usual way, rub in to the areas that you want to 'tan'.

The first thing I noticed when I squeeze some into my hand, is that I really should be wearing gloves, so I wash that bit off and go and put on some latex gloves (Saved from a hair dye kit!).

The gel is quite runny and easy to apply - it spreads out very nicely across the skin, and apparently it contains AHA's (the scientific jargon which means that it will help to reveal fresh skin and get rid of old skin).

I rub it in well, making sure I haven't streaked it or otherwise messed it up (so easy with fake tan!). This time, I just apply it to my face, neck, chest and shoulder areas.

Then, I go off for a few hours and wait for it to develop.

Looking in the mirror, you can immediately see the instant effect: I am bronzed and slightly orange straight away, with a shimmer about me that seems a bit alien. The information on the label says that you can go out with it on like this as soon as it has dried, but I don't think I would, as I would feel greasy and a bit whiffy.

The kids come and inspect my face, telling me that I look different and smell horrible. Thanks! But it's true: it is quite strong smelling, typical fake tan aroma of wet digestive biscuits. Never mind, I am going to wash it off before I go anywhere.

Around four hours later, I do wash it off and am pleased to find that I am very tanned indeed, if verging on the orange side: I am glad to lose the shimmery face, which washes down the plughole, and am left with just a normal tan.

The next morning though, I find that the smell is still really strong, and I think maybe the colour is a shade too dark for me (I am naturally very pale) . For someone slightly darker toned than me, this product would be perfect.

A negative side effect though, is that the next day, my skin feels very dry and tight, and I have to apply copious extra moisturiser to compensate for this: maybe this is the AHA's doing their job, and my skin is too sensitive for it.

All in all, a good self tan product generally, but maybe too strong for myself.

Summary: A great product for someone else