What's the best self tanner ever EVER?

[CheerfulYank]

Something that doesn't look fakey and orange and isn't drastic, just gives a bit of a glow?

And also doesn't stink?

Definitely Vita Liberata - gorgeous natural colour goes on evenly and easily, lasts well, minimal smell and suitable for my very sensitive skin .available from Debenhams and Gordon's Chemist.

I'm just trialling M&S gradual tan (only £2.50) and will report back. So far, so good and smells lovely!

I'm heading into town tomorrow with the sole purpose of getting some tan product. Last year I used Johsons I think. ( the one in the big yellow bottle) but I found it a bit smelly.
Any other recommendations?

Maverick, I bought some tan from superdrug the other day think it's called NKD skin and it is really lovely. After googling it, it's made by Vita Liberata and is only about £10!

Cheerful, it's tinted so you can see where it's going, is really easy to apply (I got the mousse and applied with a mitt) and you don't have the biscuity smell either!

I put it on over a week ago and has faded perfectly even, no patchy inner arms like usual.

St Tropez. Looks completely natural. No lingering after smell.

Ooooo Fcukfifa that's really good to know thanks ;)

Cocoa Brown.

Just that. It's fool proof. Does not smell like biscuits or day old sweat.
It's really inexpensive too. I was very surprised.

Do those mit things make a big difference?

Oooh, thanks for the replies!

Also I'm in the US so I'm checking to see what's available here and/or by mail order. :)

I second Cocoa Brown 1 hour tanning mousse. Amazing. Better than Fake Bake !!

2 in my opinion come out on top.

budget wise - st morritz - better than any expensive tan ive used. streak free. smells inoffensive. and works. all for the princely sum of £2.99. i love it.

not budget wise its got to be sienna X. lovely.

St tropes reeks and sucks every last bead of moisture out of your skin.

I'm using a boots one at the moment. It's actually quite good. Although I find that it's better the next day than on the day I apply

Am going to check out the super drug
Option. I used to use an Estée Lauder one. It was good but never quite right and quite expensive hence my decision to go back to cheaper versions. Have been meaning to test Clarins as sil swears by them.

St Tropez mousse goes on really easily with a mitt and is a lovely natural tan.

For a gradual, the Garnier or L'oreal ones are fab and not as streaky as I found the Johnsons.

Fake Bake also very good.

I've always used the Boots mousse. Relatively cheap and works brilliantly. The colour is natural and doesn't streak at all.

Can anyone recommend a fake tan that has a bit of colour when you first apply it, so that you can see what you're doing? Apologies if that's a minor hijack.

All of the self tans I've used have a guide colour in, not so much with the graduals though.

Vita liberata. Amazing stuff, I've tried so many - St tropez, xen tan, fake bake, Johnson's, Clarins....VL is so much better, smell barely noticeable, colour fab (comes in 3 shades) and fades beautifully, no little orange patches. I like the mousses best.

Does it last as long as it claims to sleep?

Is Vita Liberata expensive?

The phenomenal one is £37 (often 3 for 2 or 30% off in Boots though). If you do two coats it does last 2 weeks ime, 3 weeks pushing it though. Swimming and hot yoga are fatal however . The cheaper mousse still lasts a week I'd say.

I like decleor gradual tanner and have tried them all It is the only one I don't find orange

I used to swear by Dove but they've changed the smell. Grrrrrr

Can I ask a silly question (last time I tried self tanning was 25 years ago and I leave to your imagination why "never again" stuck). Do you buy a different product on your face? And why spend £37 on the self tan when you can get a spray for £15-20? Does the self tan last 2-3 applications or is it just a single use?

Yes, I use a different product for my face @OffLikeADirtyShirt - I use the St Tropez face one in light/medium. It's a lighter shade than the one I use on my body, but as I wear blusher and bronzer, it all evens up in the end. I suppose the pros of a self tan over a spray tan are that it's less hassle in many senses and also some people aren't comfortable with getting naked in front of someone else and then being sprayed wearing nothing but paper pants!

I wouldn't ever spend £37 on a self tan! I use the St Tropez aftersun which has a lower amount of self-tan in it and is therefore less prone to streaks/mistakes. You just whack it on like a normal aftersun. I build up the colour over 2 - 3 days and then it lasts for about a week.