Recently I’ve started using self-tanners daily on my face once again. I don’t like to look overly tan, so I generally use self-tanners that do double-duty as moisturizers, so that I get a subtle look.

Currently I use:
L’Oreal Sublime Glow, Daily Moisturizer For Face
and
Neutrogena Build-A-Tan Face

These are good products because they don’t contain pore-clogging ingredients, so they should be okay to use if you are acne-prone. Most self-tanners smell horrible to me, but these are tolerable, and the scent fades after a few minutes.

Both the L’Oreal and Neutrogena contain SPF 15, but I kind of wish they didn’t. Neither product contains zinc oxide, which is the ingredient I look for in a sunscreen. Both products sometimes make my face sting a bit due to the chemical sunscreen ingredients. The results from them look the same, so it’s hard to recommend one over the other. They are both good, light moisturizers, which should be good for anyone with dry to normal skin.

Where did my tan go?
I’ve been using these self-tanners for a year or two and thought they were great. Within an hour of use, you have a subtle tan, and there’s absolutely no streaking, and the effect is very natural. With daily use, your tan is supposed to build to a nice, natural tan. It wasn’t until last week that I realized there was a problem with the self-tanners, and I was just too oblivious to notice. The tan washes away when you wash your face! Every morning I wake up, and my face looks just as pale as the day before. Maybe it’s ever so slightly darker, but not much. With regular self-tanners, the effect lasts several days. I exfoliate my skin quite a bit, which should help the tanner penetrate better.

I think the problem is that the self-tanner is tanning the moisturizer, which sits on your skin, and acts as a barrier. So little of the tanning product actually touches your skin. Do you have this problem? What self-tanners do you like for your face?

I’ll be looking into new self-tanners again soon, and will see what is available. I can’t remember the last non-moisturizer tanner I’ve used, since it’s been several years. I like how self-tanner moisturizers are foolproof, but I also want something that doesn’t require a daily application!