Customer Reviews

Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel, 4.4-Ounce Box

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is the best self-tanner I have ever used and I've tried a lot of them. This has a gel-like consistency and goes on smoothly. I always moisturize my knees, feet, and elbows to ensure an even tan. This will not turn you orange, it will give you a very natural looking tan without the sun damage. I've only used this on my body but it suggests to use it on your face too. Another benefit of this product is you can get dressed right away without having to worry about this product transferring onto your clothes! I have already gone through several tubes and will keep buying it. I highly, highly recommend this product. Oh just be sure to wash your hands well after applying it.

I saw that another person reviewed this product with 5 stars, but had only used the product on their body. I have used it on my face and it is flawless; no splotchiness. This product is definitely worth its value. I have really dry skin, especially on my fact, and this gel actually seems to add moisture back in (along with the perfect amount of golden tan, not orangey). I've also used quite a few sunless tanning products, some of which have been pretty good, but this one beats them all out.

'Tis the season for every beauty magazine to once again dust off their alarmist articles about the dangers of skin cancer and tout the latest self-tanning products. Having seen my father go through two surgeries to remove cancerous lesions from his face as a result of not using sunscreen, I can vouch for those dangers. However, vanity will not allow me to expose my dead-white skin to the masses after spending the entire winter covered up and I've begun my annual quest for the ideal self-tanner.

I decided to try this product after reading several favorable reviews on Amazon and other websites. But at $29.50 for a 4.4 oz. tube it's expensive. The only reason I didn't immediately pass on it was because I had a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate. Otherwise I would never consider purchasing something this pricey.

True to its description, the gel goes on smoothly and evenly. It leaves a slight sheen so you can see where you applied it. The product dries a little slowly but I've learned to apply a small amount daily and let the color build over a few days rather than slather it on in one shot. I did that the first day and waited nearly 40 minutes for the product to completely dry before getting dressed.

Unfortunately I haven't noticed much of a color change. I'm certainly less pale but nowhere near what I'd call tan. Worst of all, the product smells like nail polish remover. It doesn't smell as bad as some other self-tanners, but I don't want to smell like acetone either.

In the end I gave it three stars for ease of application and superb skin softening offset by slow color change, odd smell and high price. I don't mind spending more for a superior product, but this isn't it.

It's gel, so it goes on clear. Pay attention to what you're doing because you won't be able to see where you missed till later. It's kind of sticky at first, but that goes away.

It smells, but that goes away pretty quickly too.

I'm have really fair skin, so I was really surprised at how tan this made me. Very tan - for about three days and then it started to turn orangish and fade away. (mostly from showering, swimming, shaving, etc.) But for the days I wanted it for a particular dress, it worked great.

I didn't wash one of my hands good enough, so had a bit of orange in the web part of left hand, but nothing to crazy noticable. I have lots of freckles and this didn't make them too dark and glaring, just slightly darker.

And it's expensive, but since it works so much better than other tanner's I've tried it's worth it to me.

It took about three hours before I noticed I was turning darker, and then by the evening it was perfect (for me at least). My friends are all trying it out now - I'll update if anyone feels differently than me.

I happen to really love this product. It does have an obvious smell to it, but to me, it reminds me of summer. However, if you don't like the fragrance, I find it disapates after a couple of hours.
The two bad things I'll say about it is yes, it's a little pricey and two, these days you can buy tanners with color already to them so you can see your mistakes - you don't get that with this. Having said that, it is the most natural look I've ever achieved while using any kind of fake tan. It's so much safer than going to a solarium (should be banned), and after a little practice, you'll get this right. Make sure to exfoliate well before using it and then moisturise. I find this gives me the best coverage and natural look. I really love this and highly recommend you give it a go. It won't go orange and you look great with it on.

I highly recommend it because this is the ONLY TAN that doesn't streak AND doesn't clog pores! The tinted self tanners are the ones that streak and stains. Also, they'll easily fade away with the first shower! But this one is so easily applied you just smooth it in and it will dry out with NO STREAKS plus a golden hue!! NOT ORANGE!
ways to apply it is u should exfoliate 1st then apply lotion all over (if you're applying it to your face then u should moisturize it because thats what I do), wait for it to get absorbed by the skin for 15-30 mins then apply the clarins self tanner. If you want a darker color re-apply it after 3 hrs or so. THE BEST!

This is one of the best sunless tanners I've tried, and I plan on purchasing it again. I used it on my face and body.

The Pros:

1. The color turns out really natural looking, not orange at all.

2. It does not darken pores. Before trying this product I was using Fake Bake. Fake Bake did give me nice color, but it also darkened every pore on my face. The Clarins product does not do that, it goes on very even.

3. Some sunless tanners seem very drying to the skin, but this one left my skin feeling soft and moisturized.

The Cons: (why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5)

1. There's no color guide, it goes on clear. So if you miss a spot it's a little hard to tell. For the most part I didn't have a problem, just a little bit near my ankles at first. It just takes practice.

2. The price is a little high for the amount you get. However, a little bit of this stuff goes a long way.

3. It does smell! The smell is the strongest for about the first hour you put it on, then fades. The smell does go away completely after you shower.

ive used clarins self tanning instant gel for about a year now. this has to be the best self tanner ive used for my body. however i have used it on my face and noticed that i had breakouts and it would be blochy in the areas where there is dry skin, so i dont recommend it for the face. i used it on my legs and found that its not that great either, the color is really good and natural, it wont streak or look orange, its just that it comes off from shaving your legs and if you use it during the summer, it will come off in chlorine and in the ocean. i use it on my arms, chest and neck and i absolutly love it. its so unbelievably natural. the only thing is that i am very pale so it looks okay on me doesnt give me a tan, it just gives me a color so that i dont look pale. i think it would be best on darker skined people and give them really good color. just be sure to wash your hands after it will leave them orange. ive just ordered the clarins radiance plus self tanner instant gel-cream. ive read a lot of good reviews on this and am going to try it on my face, hopeuflly its good! i recommend the clarins self tanning instant gel and think everyone who is looking for good , natural color should try this!

This product is awesome. I live in the Caribbean. I spent 10 yrs sailing the Caribbean. I now live in Tortola BVI and don't do the beach and sun like I used too. I am 56 and know the damage sun can do, but to be tan I really didn't care. Somehow I look much better than I should, due to Retin A, but prefer to be tan. Based on the reviews, I tried this product, and even though I am always tan, this product enriched my color and without lying out in the sun everyday, I look great. No orange, have had no issues with it staining my clothes, dries quickly, and the color is nice, not orange. Just wash your hands well after applying. I usually apply in the am, get dressed and on my way. I just ordered another 4 tubes, but they won't ship down here so have them sent to my sister and she mails them down. I told her to keep a tube (she lives in Fla.) and try it. I highly recommend it, and I have tried a lot. Typically they won't go beyond my initial tan, but this one works. Denise

I bought this after researching self tanners online. It got good reviews and seemed promising. I used it on my legs in the spring so I could start wearing shorts without having to go to the tanning bed. I haven't tried applying it anywhere else on my body yet, but I have faith in the product that it would do fine.

PROS: I am fair skinned and it works great. I was so pale that I had to use two coats until my legs had been in the sun long enough to get some color. The color is brown- not orange and if applied correctly provides even color. Looks so natural! It is so much safer than the sun and a tanning bed and looks just as good. My legs feel so sexy when I use it and am able to wear shorts earlier than other people. The gel dries really quickly and is easy to apply evenly. The smell is nice compared to other self tanners that I've tried. $33 seems expensive for a 4.4 ounce tube of stuff- but it goes far.

CONS: I would say that the main thing that I don't like is it is hard to get it to look natural around the ankle and sides of the foot. You have to make sure you barely brush it on. The first time I did it I put a bunch on my ankle and it looked streaky around my ankle and the top of my foot. Also, it doesn't last as long as the woman at the store counter told me it would. She said seven days...but I would say that it looks great for 4 as it slowly fades due to your skin replenishing itself and shaving.

TIPS FOR USE:

I shave my legs, put on regular lotion and then wait about 10 minutes before applying the tanning gel. You can also exfoliate your legs before shaving to make it last longer (but I don't always do this). I've applied it without lotion and it doesn't seem to do as well. I use a rubber kitchen glove to rub it in so my hands don't turn color. I apply the gel on my legs except my knees, lower ankle, and sides of feet. The most important thing is to use very sparingly around your ankle/foot area and knee. I wait until it is almost all of the glove and then rub whats left on the glove briskly on my ankles and foot and knee. I also put on pj pants afterwards- not shorts. I accidentally rested my arm for a while on my legs after I had applied it and my arm was a little tanner in one area for a day :)

I really like this product and tell my friends and family about it. I don't normally write reviews but I wished soemone had told me about this last summer so I would not have worn pants until I could get myself tan!