-
-
Ad Space
(728 x 90)
-
-
Style news
Shopping streets
-
Ad Space
(120 x 240)
-
Test drive
Self-tanners
George Hamilton is positively radiant.Photograph: BAXTER/ABACA USA
I didn’t expect to transform from a pasty, pale cubicle-dweller to a tanned, glowing goddess, but I did have high hopes for the odd-looking (and brand new) ModelCo Sun Sponge ($39, at Henri Bendel, 712 Fifth Ave at 56th St; 212-247-1100) contraption. Alas, it was my wishful thinking was for naught, and it seems I’m doomed to bear a ghostly complexion until the sweltering summer temperatures set in. According to the instructions, you tap the sponge, which has a built-in bronzer, on your skin twice to release the formula, and then smoothe it all over your body in long strokes. The sponge is at the end of a long wand to prevent gross gook from getting on your hands, but it seemed impossible to evenly smear the liquid on my legs, which led to a streaky, blotchy, barely tanned appearance. All I wanted to do was rub it in with my hands, which I guess defeats the purpose of the product.—Rachel LeWinter
Bliss’s A Tan for All Seasons self-tanning mist ($36, at Bliss, 541 Lexington Ave between 49th and 50th Sts; 212-401-2001) promises to provide instant color and a longer-lasting tan than even Father Helios could provide, so you get instant gratification and long-term results and you don’t have to play Russian roulette with skin cancer. And it’s simple to use: Just spray it on and rub it in. I guess I must not have done a very good job rubbing, because when it dried, the results were uneven to say the least. I had streaks and drips galore, which shocked me because I had been so thorough (I am a veteran when it comes to obtaining a faux glow). The good news is that the color (as far as I can tell from the spots where it took) is a very nice shade of bronze, as opposed to the orange Oompa Loompa shade many tanning products turn you. But unless you are a complete expert when it comes to application, or you have someone else to do it for you, proceed with caution.—Corinne Mohr
I’ve pretty much accepted my fair complexion—it’s the price I have to pay for living in New York City rather than, say, Maui. Fake tans sound okay in theory, but I’m deathly afraid of orange palms and the overbaked Lindsay Lohan look. To my delight, the Urban Decay Santa Tanita Body Bronzer ($28, at Sephora, locations throughout the city; visit sephora.com for info) went on smoothly and blended in easily while giving off an unexpectedly welcome cooling sensation. Also, the formula was nonsticky and didn’t rub off, though it didn’t smell as good as I had expected. Other than that, the difference in my skin tone was minimal—my skin was enhanced by a subtle shimmer, but the color remained about the same. Unless you’re extremely fair-skinned, I’d suggest something with a little more color.—Jessica Wang
Developed by actor Lindsay Lohan and “celebrity airbrush tanner” Lorit Simon, Sevin Nyne ($35, at Sephora)—named for Lohan’s lucky numbers and stupidly misspelled—spent three years in development (according to the packaging), and includes such fancy-sounding ingredients as goji berry and chardonnay extract. I unleashed the stuff on my left arm one morning, and was immediately overwhelmed by a coconutty stench—as was anyone who came within five feet of me for the next hour. There was also an unfortunate stickiness that eventually faded, but the result—which took about four hours to manifest—was surprisingly even and subtle. Only one spot where I accidentally overapplied looked a little too dark—almost bruisey. But hey, if you’re going to use a product marketed by a celebrity train wreck, you have to expect to look at least a little banged up.—Ethan LaCroix
Two things prevent me from ever having a Gisele-like tan, even in skin-baring warmer months: my almost-irrational fear of skin cancer (beaten into me by every girly mag I’ve read in the past few years—I get it, I use SPF 60 all the time!), and the fact that I’m way too lazy to bother with self-tanners. Thus, Lorac’s TANtalizer Award-Show Glow body-firming mousse ($32, at Sephora) appealed to me: the instructions—shake can, rub solution onto skin, show off hot new tan—were super simple. Sadly, the product didn’t deliver. After a couple minutes of vigorous shaking, the solution came out gloopy and still in a near-liquid state, rather than moussey; it also had an off-putting slightly chemical smell. After I smoothed it into my skin, I noticed a nice subtle bronze color, but I also noticed a less-than-subtle sheen; in fact, my leg (where I applied the product) had the too-shiny look of a Barbie doll limb. Plus, it wore off the next day in the shower. Maybe I’ll just stick to being pallid after all.—Amy Plitt
This sure is some expensive spray paint: at least that’s what I thought after using Dior Bronze Sun Powder Spray ($60, at Sephora). As per the instructions, I held the can arm’s length from my face and spritzed, but when I looked in the mirror, I discovered a giant brown splotch on my cheek that made it look as though Stephen Sprouse had tagged my face. But that’s okay, subtlety is not the point here. The goal is to go way beyond “healthy glow” and to achieve a worn-leather-brown tint that one only gets when they’ve been stranded on a tropical desert island with no form of shelter. On the plus side, the spray-powder formula is pretty neat-o: Through some kooky chemistry that I will never understand, it sprays on in liquid form and then dries to a matte, powdery finish. Bronzing my face alone took about 15 squirts, so you might need multiple cans if you’re looking for a head-to-toe glow. The results of a full-face blasting were even, thorough and very…metallic. Unless you’re going for a Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder look, I’d suggest passing.—Erin Wylie
Dimethyl ether, the main ingredient in Sally Hansen Airbrush Sun ($10, at Walgreens; visit walgreens.com for info), is not my friend. I followed the directions on the can—clean desired-to-be-tanned area, shake can, spray, rub in, do not bathe for six hours—and not only did I not see a difference, the fake beachy smell gave me a bitching headache. The can promised results in an hour, and further development in the next 12. These results I did not see. The can also suggested I reapply the spray until I reach my desired darkness. Sure, I’ll do that, and we can see which happens first: I look tan, or the blood vessels behind my eyes explode.—Lisa Freedman
Time Out New York / Issue 711 : May 14–20, 2009
Leave a comment
-
-
- Subscribe now and save 90%!
- For just $19.97 a year, you'll get hundreds of listings and free events each week, plus our special issues and guides, including Cheap Eats, Great Spas, Fall Preview, Holiday Gift Guide and more!
-
- Time Out New York respects your privacy. We will only use your e-mail address in order to contact you regarding to your subscription and to send you our weekly e-newsletter. We will not share this information with anyone.
-
-
Ad Space
(320 x 53)
Ad Space
(300 x 250)
-
Right now, we want...
Shopping report
New York's best: Shopping
New York's best: Indie shops
-
Most viewed in Shopping
-
Ad Space
(160 x 600)
Ad Space
(160 x 600)
-
- Visit our sister sites:
- Time Out New York Kids
- Time Out Chicago
- Time Out London
- Time Out Worldwide
It's a fake bake, and I'm not quite fascinated of that fake tan or maybe he doesn't carry it well that's why it doesn't look good. He looks burn out. <a href="http://www.www.moderncosmetics.com/MAC-Lipstick">mac cosmetics lipstick</a>
All so negative!!! The process of fake tanning will never be 100% perfect but it's still a safier/better option than roasting yourself in the sun. I've honestly tried half the products above with great results - so I don't understand why other people just don't get it. I think the trick is to exfoliate properly first.
I want to tell Amy Plitt that LORAC Award Show Glow is not a self tanner. It is a body makeup and has no claims of being anything other than that. She needs to get her information straight before including a product in a review that should have never been in this category. And she also sounds like she didnt apply the product right. Get a clue.