Tanceuticals Self Tanner - Dark Self Tanning Lotion for Body - Gives Natural Looking & Long Lasting Sunless Tan – Quick Fake Tan, Bronze Glow - Fresh Coconut Scent & Healthy Ingredients (Dark)

This is great! So easy to apply and gave a really good color with no steaks

Great product

I did a fair amount of research before buying Tanceuticals. My usual self tanner has a super-dark guide in it, and frankly, is quite a production to apply as it gets everywhere. My usual tanner also doesn't have amazing longevity - maybe 3-4 days, tops. This product was appealing because of no color transfer to clothing or sheets, and I liked the idea of a lotion formula. My order arrived quickly, as promised. The day of application, I shaved in the morning and applied my usual moisturizer. Then, before bedtime that evening, I showered again and exfoliated with a mitt and a Castile soap with no emollients to leave behind. Using a mitt, I applied Tanceuticals starting with my lower body, working my way upward. I let it dry for about 20 minutes before I slid into bed.The smell: This smells like true coconut - not tropical, fruity fake coconut. More like a freshly cracked coconut than a coconut scented candle. Its not bad, but not amazing either. It is like coconut water, which sounds far better than it tastes. Not entirely terrible, but not delicious. After developing overnight, however, the DHA smell was pretty potent. It did rinse away after showering.The consistency/spread: This lotion is very thin - closer in consistency to salad dressing. It does seem like a little goes a long way. I blended like crazy because of no guide, trying to be extra careful not to miss spots. I did like the moisturizing feel of this tanner compared to a mousse or spray tan, which always feels super dry and leaves me looking dirty. Tanceuticals was clear and not too shiny or matte.The color: The color that developed after one application was okay, but a bit more golden than I would prefer. In spite of my best efforts, I apparently missed a few spots and allowed a little pooling around my ankles. My color wasn't dark - I'm VERY fair and never go out in the sun, even at the peak of summer. It looked natural, but nobody would think that I was "tan" per se after one application.Tanceuticals emailed me to find out if I liked the product, and I was honest that I wasn't overwhelmed. They suggested I try moisturizing BEFORE applying Tanceuticals.So, three days later, I decided to try again. My first application was definitely still visible and not blotchy at all, but I figured a little more color would be okay. I shaved the day prior. I exfoliated in the morning, applied my regular lotion, then immediately applied Tanceuticals, this time using my hands instead of a mitt. I have to say, that made a positive difference. I think that the regular moisturizer maybe somehow helped me see where I'd applied the Tanceuticals. After applying, I washed my hands very, very well - twice (using the Castile soap again) and made sure to scrub my nails with a brush so they wouldn't discolor. I wore it to work as it developed, and the smell was fine throughout the day. My skin felt hydrated and comfortable. By evening, it was starting to get DHA-y, but not awful. My final color was still more golden than bronze, but definitely not orange. It was much more even than with the mitt.Overall, Tanceuticals customer service is to be commended, and I think the product is pretty good. For the price, it does a decent job. Is it the holy grail of tanners? Not for me. BUT, alternating days with my regular favorite mousse tanner (which is half the price) and Tanceuticals over 2-3 days gives me a great "you're tan!" color with a nice bronze tone. It lasts about 5 days with no blotchiness. Tanceuticals definitely seems to help the self tan last. Self tanning is always a chore, and never without its share of hassles. Even the $65 a session spray tans have their share of inconveniences. This is a nice option.

I waited awhile once I received this to truly give it the test of time on multiple occasions to see what it was all about and how it worked for me and I just have to say WOW! Like others who reviewed this product, I've experienced many horrific examples of using self-tanners from the drug store and even another option that was purchased through QVC and they both left me looking orange and streaky and I am a natural darker skin complexion already, not dark dark but a medium tan is pretty close and in the Fall and Winter, that color tends to fade a bit without natural sun, so I gave this a try and I'm so glad I did. I've learned by using this product already for about a ~month now that less is more. As much as you want to squeeze out a huge amount, it's better to work in sections and apply evenly all around your body in order to not have the discoloration from missing spots or applying too much in one area vs. the other. The first time I tried it I applied way too much to one arm vs. the other and didn't realize it because the texture is so creamy, so I speak from experience there - less is truly more and will look way more natural. The formula also extends and then naturally fades like a normal tan, I LOVE THAT! I can't tell you how many times I would try a self-tanner and one day you are dark and then you go into the shower and it's all gone. Not with this product, they truly thought about this being a design flaw, so their formula acts like a natural tan this way. I have been using this product on my face, but I just purchased the self-tanner facial product as I read some reviews that the formulated product for the face is even better than the all-over body tanner. I can't wait to review that one too! I am a fan for life of Tanceuticals :) I hope this helps!!!