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Sunless Tanning: Ratings of Sources
Total of 25 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. Beautipedia.com
As of Feb. 2010
Self-Tanners
by Paula Begoun
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This subscription-based website is an excellent resource for research on nearly every type of cosmetic product, not just sunless tanners. Author Paula Begoun includes medical journals, industry reports and the Food and Drug Administration among her research sources, providing thorough information on each cosmetic's ingredients and potential problems.
2. Which? magazine
Not Dated
Self Tanning Products
by Editors of Which? magazine
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Sixty-two testers review 24 top-selling self-tan products for U.K.-based Which? magazine. While most of the products noted here are not available in the United States, this article offers useful information about how self tanners work and how to use them.
3. Orange County Register
Feb. 25, 2008
In Search of a Subtle, Self-Tanning Glow
by Iris Yokoi
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Reviewer Iris Yokoi tests five different daily moisturizers, all with a hint of self-tanner in them, on five different people. Each sunless tanning moisturizer is tested for a week; testers note the smell… and the resulting tan on the first day, midweek and on the seventh day. According to tests, Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer and Aveeno Active Naturals: Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion are the only self tanners that produce a tanned appearance over the course of a week.

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4. Good Housekeeping
Not Dated
Video: Self-Tanners Tested
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Editors test five instant and five gradual sunless tanners, comparing them for ease of use, smell, even application and streaking. Nivea Body Sun-Kissed Firming Moisturizer is the winner in the gradual… tanning category, while Guerlain Terracotta Sunless Tinted Self Tanning Gel earns top marks for an instant tan. Editors recommend Neutrogena Sun Fresh Sunless Foam and L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Mist as budget options. Non-winning tanners are not mentioned in this video.

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5. Real Simple
June 2009
The Best Gradual Self-Tanners
by Sarah Smith
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Real Simple magazine editors test more than 40 gradual self tanners to find those least likely to leave streaks or an orange hue. Winning products are chosen for both the face and the body, but the… non-winners are not mentioned. For the face, Olay Complete Touch of Sun Daily UV Facial Moisturizer and Jergens Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer are said to be good bets. Lancome Glow Sensuelle Daily Luminous Body Butter (now discontinued) and Nivea Sun-Kissed Firming Moisturizer are recommended for the body. Testing criteria for this review are not mentioned.

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6. ConsumerReports.org
June 2007
Sunless Tanners Put to the Test
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Editors test six self tanners on 14 people, saying the best products are also the least expensive. Products are individually rated on fragrance, color, length of tan and ease of use, and each gets an overall score. Application tips are also included.
7. Kaboose.com
Not Dated
And the Winner Is: Bronzers and Self-Tanners
by Dierdre Uria
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Kaboose.com, a website for families, tests bronzers and sunless tanners and lists the best in several categories. Winning tanners include products from Clinique, Neutrogena, Origins, L'Oreal and Boots No7, but neither judging criteria nor non-winning products are mentioned.
8. Shape magazine
Sept. 2009
The Shape of Beauty Awards 2009
by Editors of Shape magazine
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Nearly 5,000 readers, along with Shape staff and beauty experts, weigh in on skin, hair and cosmetics for the magazine's annual beauty awards. Both Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer and… Victoria's Bare Bronze Gradual Tan Firming Body Moisturizer are named winners in the sunless tanning category. Only products that launched in 2009 were eligible to be included in this contest, and judging criteria is not provided.

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9. Allure
Oct. 2009
Best of Beauty 2009
by Editors of Allure magazine
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Allure editors, along with cosmetics, chemists and dermatologists, test thousands of products and choose 189 as the best for their 2009 Beauty awards. Both old and new products are tested in order to find… the best on the market. However, judging criteria are not explained and non-winning products aren't mentioned. Self-tanner winners for 2009 were St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse and Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer.

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10. Health Magazine
June 2009
America's Healthiest Beauty Buys 2009
by Elizabeth Woodsen
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Dermatologists rate beauty products for Health magazine, but the identities of experts are not revealed. PurMinerals Get a Little is the only self tanner to make the list. Editors praise it for using a moisturizing base and for creating a streak-free, natural-looking tan. Only the winners are listed and judging criteria is unclear.
11. InStyle
April 2009
Best Beauty Buys 2009
by Editors of InStyle magazine
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment InStyle editors list more than 140 top beauty picks based on the favorites of industry experts for their annual poll. The winners are listed and a brief description is provided for each. Top-rated sunless tanners are St. Tropez Everyday, Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Cream Gel and Diana B. 60 Second Miracle Tan. This article isn't critical and products aren't tested.
12. Self Magazine
May 2009
2009 Healthy Beauty Awards
by Eleanor Langston
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Readers test beauty products in order to find the top 86 in their respective categories. Products are listed under face, body, makeup, hair and sun categories and each includes a brief description, but there's no formal rating system. Products from Jergens and Lancaster are rated the best self tanners. There's no mention of products that didn't make the grade.
13. Boston.com
Spring/Summer 2009
Color Me Good
by Brigid Sweeney
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Editors at Boston magazine test sunless tanning treatments to find those that leave a believable color. Four treatments are listed, each with a positive review, but they aren't ranked and it isn't clear if… any others were tested. Making the list are: Dove Energy Glow, Kiehl's Sun-Free Self-Tanning Formula, Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel and an unnamed professional tanning application from a spa that consists of an exfoliation treatment followed by a manual application of sunless tanner.

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14. LifeScript.com
March 8, 2008
Beach in a Bottle: We Test 5 Top Bronzers
by Carly Young
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Along with application and maintenance tips, this article provides the results of unscientific testing done on five self-tanners. Each of the products tested is listed, along with a brief description of the… author's experience with it. Most of the descriptions are positive, and none of the self tanners are ranked. The author does, however, list Hawaiian Tropic Island Glow Daily Moisturizer as her favorite, although it is now discontinued.

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15. Cosmo Girl
Sept. 2008
Kiss of Approval: 2008 Beauty Awards
by Editors of CosmoGirl! magazine
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Editors along with readers and celebrities choose their favorite beauty products. There are no comparisons or descriptions of the beauty products listed. Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer and L'Oreal Sublime Glow Daily Moisturizer are chosen as top sunless tanners.
16. Washingtonian
July 1, 2006
Sunless Tanning
by Kim Forrest
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Writer Kim Forrest tests several popular sunless tanners, including a couple of professional applied products, namely Mystic Tan and a technician-applied airbrush tan. She shares her experience along with the pros and cons of each. Overall, Forrest says Mystic spray tan was the easiest to apply while Jergens Natural Glow was cheapest and the most natural-looking.
17. Allure
May 5, 2009
Daily Beauty Reporter Blog: Our Top 5 Self-Tanners
by Jessica Prince
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Five editors select their favorite self tanner. Lancome Flash Bronzer Instant Colour Self-Tanning Leg Gel, Dior Bronze Self-Tanner Natural Glow Body, Tan Towel, Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer and Guerlain Terracotta Sunless Self Tanning Spray all make the list. The products are not ranked or compared, however.
18. Self Magazine
June 25, 2009
Lucy's Blog: The Only Safe Tan
by Lucy Danziger
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Lucy Danziger, editor-in-chief for Self magazine, tries several products and lists her favorites in this article. Products from Jergens, Rodial and Neutrogena are recommended for a gradual tan that builds up each day, while Estee Lauder, Clinique and Tan Towel have notable products that deliver instant results. Self tanners in this article are neither rated nor compared to one another.
19. Prevention Magazine
May 16, 2009
Get a Grown-Up Glow
by Paige Nestel
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Writer Paige Nestel suggests five options for a sunless, bronzed look. Only one of the options, however, is a sunless tanner (the others are wash-off products) and it isn't clear if any were tested or compared to similar products. L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Luminous Bronzer Self-Tanning Lotion is suggested for all-over, streak-free color.
20. About.com
Not Dated
Mystic Tan Review
by Jen Adkins
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Jen Adkins, skin care guide for About.com, gives Mystic Tan a poor rating because it required her to stand in a small space, aggravating her claustrophobia. She also says the resulting tan didn't look natural, especially on her face. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
21. About.com
June 29, 2008
Best Self-Tanners: Department Store & Drugstore
by Julyne Derrick
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this brief post, About.com beauty guide Julyne Derrick lists two of her favorite self tanners: Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel and Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. While Clarins is her "self-tanner staple" she says she was pleasantly surprised by how well Jergens works. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
22. About.com
Not Dated
Top Selling Self Tanners
by Daniel Billett
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Daniel Billett, About.com's guide to men's fashion, lists his picks for self tanners, but gives only a short paragraph describing each and no ratings or comparison information. He says he has used three of… the products with good results and that his personal trainer has used a fourth. Self tanners making the list include Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel, Model Co. Tan Airbrush in a Can and St. Tropez Whipped Bronze Self Tanning Mousse System. ((Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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23. Drugstore.com
As of Feb. 2010
Sunless Tanning
by Contributors to Drugstore.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Drugstore.com allows readers to post product reviews, including reviews for self tanning products. Products in each category can be sorted according to the average user rating (a scale of 1 to 5). Most of… the 5-star products receive only a few reviews, but some items such as Banana Boat, L'Oreal and Coppertone are highly rated by several dozen reviewers. This website is a good resource for gauging a self tanner's odor, performance and ease of use.

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24. MakeupAlley.com
As of Feb. 2010
Product Reviews
by Contributors to Makeupalley.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

MakeupAlley.com is an informative website that allows users to post reviews about different beauty products. It also lists tops picks, most popular products and best buys according to their separate… categories. Reviews can be searched by category heading, brand name or product name and can be sorted by average ratings. Several products listed here have been discontinued, however. One product that rates well at the time of this update is Bare Escentuals Faux Tan. The website does not offer any product information other than the user reviews.

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25. TotalBeauty.com
As of Feb. 2010
Self Tanner
by Contributors to TotalBeauty.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Top self tanners at TotalBeauty.com are not reviewed nearly as often as they are at MakeupAlley.com. Still, reviewers are plentiful enough to make this a useful source of user reviews. Highly rated self tanners with the most reviews include Banana Boat Summer Color Sunless Lotion, L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion and Jergens Natural Glow Face Daily Moisturizer SPF20.

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