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Get Your Glow On
Gradual tanners can brighten up your skin this winter
While you may be dreaming of a white Christmas, you’re likely not as excited by the thought of the white arms and face that come with the season. There is always the option of self-tanners, but they may be too much when most of your comrades are sporting a whiter shade of pale.
Enter gradual tanners. These products combine moisturizers with low levels of DHA (a plant-based color additive), giving a hint of color that increases with every application. The result? You control the intensity of your “tan” by how frequently you apply the product.
There are many options, so we tested some of the more popular brands for you.
Aveeno Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion
Description: Features a patented dial dispenser with five settings for color customization. For all skin tones, 7.5 oz. $14.99
Color quality: Natural, highest setting gave deep glow, lower settings gave a lighter glow. “I used a No. 4 setting and it was very nice and rich-looking,” said one tester.
Pluses: Easy to use, softened skin, absorbed quickly, no bad smell.
Minuses: Some trouble blending it when at higher setting
Overall: A great product
made even better with
the custom dial
Coppertone Gradual Tan Moisturizing Lotion
Description: Contains Vitamin E and moisturizers to hydrate skin. For all skin tones, 9 oz. $8.99
Color quality: One tester said she got a “beautiful, natural-looking tan” after just one application; another tester found it gave her a light orange tint.
Pluses: Nice scent, went on smoothly
Minuses: Slight streaking, according to one tester
Overall: A good value,
especially for its
ease of use
Jergens Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer
Description: A new take on Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer that adds collagen and elastin to tighten and firm the skin. Available in fair, medium and medium/tan, 7.5 oz. $7.99
Color quality: Nice golden glow, although one tester described the color as “yellowy”
Pluses: Moisturizing, one tester loved the smel
Minuses: Needs frequent reapplication to maintain color, one tester disliked strong smell
Overall: Testers seemed
divided on this one, giving
it either a big thumbs
up or down.
L’Oréal Sublime Glow Daily Moisturizer and Natural Skin Tone Enhancer
Description: Mixes skin enhancers and light-capturing micro-pearls with moisturizers such as mango butter and sweet almond oil. Available in fair and medium, 8 oz. $9.99
Color quality: A natural shade, which one user described as a “nice sunset glow”
Pluses: Nice smell, nongreasy, easy to apply. “The micro-pearls sparkled on my skin all day after applying,” said one tester.
Minuses: Took a couple applications to see any color
Overall: Worth the money
Neutrogena Build-a-Tan
Description: A moisturizing gradual tanner that delivers color within two hours. For all skin tones, 6.7 oz. $9.99
Color quality: Natural. Although one tester found the color “minimal,” another said, “I was pleased with the color I got after the first application and only had to apply it every four to five days to maintain the subtle glow.”
Pluses: Even color, easy to use, went on smoothly, no streaking or “oranginess”
Minuses: Slight “tanner” smell
Overall: A good buy because of the natural color and ease of application