What To Look For
When shopping for a moisturizer with self-tanning ingredients, it is important to find the brand and product that will work the best on your skin color. Self-tanner moisturizers contain differing amounts of DHA, the sugar compound that interacts with and darkens the top layer of your skin. Using a product with too much DHA for your skin type can result in the dreaded orange tint appearance, instead of the golden tan you wanted. Buy a product formulated for your natural skin coloring of fair, medium or dark.
Common Pitfalls
Make your selection among reputable brands that have a low percentage of DHA to allow you to gradually build your tan to your desired shade. Avoid using a self-tanning moisturizer designed for the body on your face. All of the brand-name products sell separate formulations designed for the thinner skin of your face. Some brands have an unpleasant odor, so test to make sure you choose one with a scent you can live with.
Where To Buy
You'll find less-expensive brands of self tanning moisturizers for sale at drugstores and mass retailers such as Walgreens and Target. The more expensive brands, such as Lancome or Clarins, typically include extra moisturizing ingredients and are sold at department stores such as Macy's or Nordstrom.
Cost
According to Real Simple magazine, the best self-tanning moisturizer for the face is Jergen's Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer which retails for about $9, as of August, 2010. Real Simple chose Nivea Sun-Kissed Firming Moisturizer as the best product to use on your body. This formula is described as a smooth lotion that absorbs quickly into the skin. It generally retails for $7, as of August, 2010. Among the more expensive brands, Real Simple recommends Lancome Glow Sensuelle Daily Luminous Body Butter which retails for about $45, as of August, 2010. This luxurious cream softened skin and contains light-reflective minerals to give you a subtle shimmer. As an added bonus, it has a pleasant fragrance derived from peaches.
Insider Tips
Purchase a non-greasy skin exfoliating product to use on your skin right before you apply the self-tanning moisturizer. This extra step will enable the lotion to interact with an even layer of skin cells to give you streak-free color. It will also prevent the sudden appearance of peeling or splotchy color in the future.
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