Tell me about St. Topez tanner

[redredwine]

My sister  is getting married next week and I was thinking of getting a spray tan, but for the same price, I might as well get a good self tanner instead! Feedback of St. Tropez? I'm very fair and don't want to look orange, but heard this is the best. What about their "in shower" kind? How long does it take to build up and how well does the tan last through things like water and heat?

[majick143]

A lot of ladies like their mousse but I found it messy and not as brainless to apply as the gradual daily tanner they have. I get really awesome color with their gradual tanner. I just apply like lotion, wash my hands and go. Do go lightly on elbows and knees and ankle bones as they absorb faster. If I want to be thorough, I'll apply lotion to those areas first to try to avoid too much absorbing and making them darker. I'm not super fair skinned and tan easily and their medium\dark works great for me, they have a light\medium that would probably work better if you're lighter.

I get color from it within a few hours. It's usually easiest to apply before bed and be a sun goddess in the morning.

[sunshineandpinot]

I am a huge fan of spray tans, professionally applied. I think it is worth every cent.
I'm also allergic to sunless tanning lotion, lol, so I cannot give feedback on that.

[kris356]

I would go with the professional spray tan personally. I have used St. Tropez(actually for my sister's wedding) and while it was okay if I had to do it again, I would get a spray tan.

[redredwine]

Jul 6, 2015 15:17:14 GMT -5 majick143 said:

A lot of ladies like their mousse but I found it messy and not as brainless to apply as the gradual daily tanner they have. I get really awesome color with their gradual tanner. I just apply like lotion, wash my hands and go. Do go lightly on elbows and knees and ankle bones as they absorb faster. If I want to be thorough, I'll apply lotion to those areas first to try to avoid too much absorbing and making them darker. I'm not super fair skinned and tan easily and their medium\dark works great for me, they have a light\medium that would probably work better if you're lighter.

I get color from it within a few hours. It's usually easiest to apply before bed and be a sun goddess in the morning.

oh! important question! How does it smell?! I hate the smell of most tanners...

[FormerCityGirl]

I've used the bronzer mousse with the mitt since I'm very fair skinned. I tan with some work, but the bronzer works the fastest according to what I was told at Sephora. I had DH apply it thinking I would get a more even application. I should have known after the tan in a can streak incident that it was a disaster waiting to happen. I liked the color I got, but DH will not be helping with that again soon. The scent isn't strong at all and goes away quickly. The mitt is a necessity with the mousse. I love spray tans, but getting an appointment in this town is like getting an appointment with the Queen they have them booked so far in advance. Mine lasted for about a week or a little longer. I really liked the product. I barely used any of it yet. My top half is all convertible tan and I need to even out my legs again. I like it.

[majick143]

Jul 6, 2015 15:35:52 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Jul 6, 2015 15:17:14 GMT -5 majick143 said:

A lot of ladies like their mousse but I found it messy and not as brainless to apply as the gradual daily tanner they have. I get really awesome color with their gradual tanner. I just apply like lotion, wash my hands and go. Do go lightly on elbows and knees and ankle bones as they absorb faster. If I want to be thorough, I'll apply lotion to those areas first to try to avoid too much absorbing and making them darker. I'm not super fair skinned and tan easily and their medium\dark works great for me, they have a light\medium that would probably work better if you're lighter.

I get color from it within a few hours. It's usually easiest to apply before bed and be a sun goddess in the morning.

oh! important question! How does it smell?! I hate the smell of most tanners...

It's no Chanel #5 but it's not bad. I don't mind it at all.

[majick143]

I should probably add my two cents on the professional spray vs. the bottle. For a wedding, I would go and have a professional airbrush tan, (not a booth spray tan!). It's worth the price for something like that. I like the gradual stuff just to apply every few days through the summer, no important dates or anything

[redredwine]

Jul 6, 2015 16:09:25 GMT -5 majick143 said:

I should probably add my two cents on the professional spray vs. the bottle. For a wedding, I would go and have a professional airbrush tan, (not a booth spray tan!). It's worth the price for something like that. I like the gradual stuff just to apply every few days through the summer, no important dates or anything

It's not like a super formal wedding or anything. She planned it 2 weeks ago and it's in 1 week, so I'm not even buying a new dress, lol. I just don't want to look super white or be tempted to lay out in the sun to get "tan" (AKA-burn)
I'm camping the 2 days before the wedding day, so the only day I could get a spray tan anyway would be 3 days before, which I wonder if it would last that long...

I LOVE a good airbrush tan, but for a one day thing, I'd rather buy something I can use the rest of summer. 

[majick143]

Jul 6, 2015 16:12:09 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Jul 6, 2015 16:09:25 GMT -5 majick143 said:

I should probably add my two cents on the professional spray vs. the bottle. For a wedding, I would go and have a professional airbrush tan, (not a booth spray tan!). It's worth the price for something like that. I like the gradual stuff just to apply every few days through the summer, no important dates or anything

It's not like a super formal wedding or anything. She planned it 2 weeks ago and it's in 1 week, so I'm not even buying a new dress, lol. I just don't want to look super white or be tempted to lay out in the sun to get "tan" (AKA-burn)
I'm camping the 2 days before the wedding day, so the only day I could get a spray tan anyway would be 3 days before, which I wonder if it would last that long...

I LOVE a good airbrush tan, but for a one day thing, I'd rather buy something I can use the rest of summer. 

Yeah girl, if I were you, I would do the gradual stuff.  Like I said before, the St Tropez mousse is sitting in the bottom cabinet in my bathroom, mitt and all. It just wasn't as easy for me to apply and that is saying something for a girl that can do just about any sunless tanner, it's just a matter of how easy and how much work I want to put into it.  I have some heavy duty sunless tanners in addition to the st tropez mousse, like Xen-tan and Sun Labs and while they definitely do an awesome job, they require WORK to get them even and perfect. I use the gradual stuff every couple days and barely have to give it a second thought.

[redredwine]

majick143 - which is the gradual stuff? I want easy and just enough to take the pasty off!

ETA: This ? 

www.sephora.com/gradual-tan-plus-firming-4-in-1-tan-tone-firm-moisturise-P373906?skuId=1425321

[scout8]

If you aren't used to using self tanner, I wouldn't try it for the first time for a wedding. I used to use it regularly (before I decided I would rather be pale than be tan and smell bad), and it took a lot of practice before I could do it well. I would pay for the professional one. Or use a gradual one. It is hard to mess up too bad. Jergens & Suave both make one.

[redredwine]

Jul 6, 2015 16:58:51 GMT -5 scout8 said:

If you aren't used to using self tanner, I wouldn't try it for the first time for a wedding. I used to use it regularly (before I decided I would rather be pale than be tan and smell bad), and it took a lot of practice before I could do it well. I would pay for the professional one. Or use a gradual one. It is hard to mess up too bad. Jergens & Suave both make one.

I used to use Jergens but I can't stand the smell...

[pooh8402]

I am fair and easily turn orange with self tanner. I can't use most self tanners because of the orange. even the gradual stuff turns me orange.

but I LOVE St. Tropez mousse! it doesn't have an offensive smell, it turns a nice tan color, not too dark, and I find it easy to blend.

[thejen626]

For this, I would just use the Jergens. I put it on at night and then shower it off in the morning. Your skin is so fair, I would be scared to try a new product right before the wedding. After all, you need to look prettier than her in the wedding photos

What dress are you wearing?

[scout8]

Jul 6, 2015 18:05:50 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Jul 6, 2015 16:58:51 GMT -5 scout8 said:

If you aren't used to using self tanner, I wouldn't try it for the first time for a wedding. I used to use it regularly (before I decided I would rather be pale than be tan and smell bad), and it took a lot of practice before I could do it well. I would pay for the professional one. Or use a gradual one. It is hard to mess up too bad. Jergens & Suave both make one.

I used to use Jergens but I can't stand the smell...

I heard they changed the formula and that it smells better now, but I haven't tried it. 

[majick143]

Jul 6, 2015 16:32:23 GMT -5 redredwine said:

majick143 - which is the gradual stuff? I want easy and just enough to take the pasty off!

ETA: This ? 

www.sephora.com/gradual-tan-plus-firming-4-in-1-tan-tone-firm-moisturise-P373906?skuId=1425321

www.sephora.com/everyday-gradual-tan-for-body-P261324?skuId=1256924


There ya go!

FTR, I've also tried the Jergens one that has the improved scent. It's not as horrible smelling as the original but the color doesn't hold a candle to this stuff  Good luck!!!

[redredwine]

Jul 6, 2015 21:32:13 GMT -5 thejen626 said:

For this, I would just use the Jergens. I put it on at night and then shower it off in the morning. Your skin is so fair, I would be scared to try a new product right before the wedding. After all, you need to look prettier than her in the wedding photos

What dress are you wearing?

Lol.
I just can't stand the smell of Jergens and dont want it on my sheets, blech!

She suggested black, to go with the groomsman. A color of mourning, perhaps?! I have a cute black dress I bought at Banana years ago that should work great. And duh!! I totally need to look better, lololol.

[franklin]

Jul 6, 2015 16:20:46 GMT -5 majick143 said:

Jul 6, 2015 16:12:09 GMT -5 redredwine said:

It's not like a super formal wedding or anything. She planned it 2 weeks ago and it's in 1 week, so I'm not even buying a new dress, lol. I just don't want to look super white or be tempted to lay out in the sun to get "tan" (AKA-burn)
I'm camping the 2 days before the wedding day, so the only day I could get a spray tan anyway would be 3 days before, which I wonder if it would last that long...

I LOVE a good airbrush tan, but for a one day thing, I'd rather buy something I can use the rest of summer. 

Yeah girl, if I were you, I would do the gradual stuff.  Like I said before, the St Tropez mousse is sitting in the bottom cabinet in my bathroom, mitt and all. It just wasn't as easy for me to apply and that is saying something for a girl that can do just about any sunless tanner, it's just a matter of how easy and how much work I want to put into it.  I have some heavy duty sunless tanners in addition to the st tropez mousse, like Xen-tan and Sun Labs and while they definitely do an awesome job, they require WORK to get them even and perfect. I use the gradual stuff every couple days and barely have to give it a second thought.

what didn't you like about the st tropez mousse? I've tired jergens (but it's been awhile) and the smell wasn't great and I didn't really see a difference.  I've also used this link but have a lot of issues around my ankles/knees/elbows no matter how careful I am. I tried my dress on (with a large open back) for my bro's wedding and I have a decent tan line going on. the wedding is on the 24th and we'll be going up to the cabin a few times between now and then so I need to figure something out soon!

[majick143]

franklin, I'm not sure about the mousse exactly. It was just kind of runny and intense and even with the mitt I felt like getting an even application was harder work than I was willing to put in. In your case, you might want to try the St Tropez gradual tanner and apply it a couple times just to even things out. It's SO EASY to put on that I could literally ask my husband to do it and it would turn out fine. If you want good color, do the medium to dark and just be sure to blend it well, I get awesome color with that.

Elbows\Knees\Ankles are still challenging for me too. I exfoliate them to death, then I put lotion on them first and then apply the tanner going really really easy over the spots. When it's all done and rubbed in, I go back and rub a dry cloth on those spots to try to remove what I can. It works relatively well but not perfect, enough that I feel comfortable with it anyway.

I've spent so much time trying to figure out something that works for me. I always feel better having SOME color but I don't have a lot of time to spend doing it. This ended up being the perfect match for me

[veruca5839]

I love the St. Tropez Mousse. I apply it with the mitt and find it very, very easy to blend and get even coverage. It has a very faint smell, but compared to other self-tanners it's not bad at all. Many self-tanners turn orange on me but the St. Tropez mousse does not. It also lasts a pretty long time for me and fades evenly...some others I've tried in the past would get splotchy looking as they faded which looked awful.

[redredwine]

Update! Bought the mousse last night (with mit) and I love it! The lady at Sephora was super helpful and I felt sorry for her VERY tan hand after she tested out all of the kinds they offer, lol.

I liked the mitt actually-I found I was able to blend so much better (though once I saw myself in the day light this morning, I realized it wasn't 100% perfect, but whatever-I have a few days to correct it)

Asf or the smell-eh...it's self tanner. It's not bad when you put it on, but I couldn't stand it when I slept last night. I did like my healthy glow this morning, so... worth it!

[majick143]

YAY! So glad you found something you loved! Have a fabulous time at the wedding too!!