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Neutrogena build-a-tan lotion
May. 11th, 2009 03:40 pmSo I bought a smallish bottle of this, for about $9. I've used it three times now: did a patch test for reaction (none) and have done my legs right after shaving, about 10 days apart.
It has all the problematic aspects of self-tanners that I remembered from my one previous experience with them, about 10 years ago: a little smelly (not as bad as it used to be), a little orange-ish (not horrible), prone to blotchiness and staining ankles and knees extra-dark and weird edge issues. It also tends to stain the hair follices, so very close up I look a little spotted in areas.
That said, it's not terrible. (This is why I used it the third time.) One application is enough to take the edge off my blinding whiteness (which is perhaps more noticeable now that I live in the Land of Tanning-Bed-Using Sorority Girls). Two applications on successive days would probably make me as tan as I've ever been in my life. It comes up much darker on just-shaved (=exfoliated) calves than on washed but with babyfine hairs thighs.
I wish they'd make this product in, say, a lotion that went on purple and dried clear, then let the tan come up (as it does) over 4-8 hours. That way you could see where you were applying it and strive for more even coverage. Like those purple glue sticks, you know?
It has all the problematic aspects of self-tanners that I remembered from my one previous experience with them, about 10 years ago: a little smelly (not as bad as it used to be), a little orange-ish (not horrible), prone to blotchiness and staining ankles and knees extra-dark and weird edge issues. It also tends to stain the hair follices, so very close up I look a little spotted in areas.
That said, it's not terrible. (This is why I used it the third time.) One application is enough to take the edge off my blinding whiteness (which is perhaps more noticeable now that I live in the Land of Tanning-Bed-Using Sorority Girls). Two applications on successive days would probably make me as tan as I've ever been in my life. It comes up much darker on just-shaved (=exfoliated) calves than on washed but with babyfine hairs thighs.
I wish they'd make this product in, say, a lotion that went on purple and dried clear, then let the tan come up (as it does) over 4-8 hours. That way you could see where you were applying it and strive for more even coverage. Like those purple glue sticks, you know?