A Just A Little Bit Orange Feature
By Clara Pettitt. Copyright © 04/23/2000. Revised April 4, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Sunless tanning on a budget? Well worth trying, the products below are the equal of department store brands up to three times the price. In alphabetical order, Sunless.com presents...

The Ten Best Drugstore Sunless Tanning Products

1. Bain de Soleil Mega Tan
   Inexpensive, effective, easy to apply, and great color. Difficult [impossible?] to find in stores. An excellent product for both men and women because it has a neutral suntan lotion scent. Best for skin type II. Available from drugstore.com for $6.99; up to $8 retail.
2. Bain de Soleil Streakguarde Self Tanning Creme, Dark
   If you are worried about streaks, try this product. The color results are almost always even and natural. Please note, however, that the light version is ineffective. Even if you are super pale, get the dark. Available from drugstore.com for $8.99. Easy to find in retail stores.
3. Banana Boat Sunless Summer Color Tanning Foam, Deep Dark
   One of the first sunless foams on the market, this is a dependable product that produces even results. Most people find it sticky as it dries; you can take care of that with a light dusting of cornstarch-based baby powder a few minutes after application. Available from drugstore.com for $6.99; up to $8.99 retail.
4. Coppertone Endless Summer Sunless Tanning Gradual Tan Moisturizing Lotion
   Darker than most gradual sunless tanning products, so if you are very light-skinned, this will be the only product you need. The scent is suitable for both men and women. Works best for skintype I and II. Available from drugstore.com for $8.99; up to $11.00 retail.
5. Coppertone Oil Free Effortless Color Sunless Tanning Lotion
   A great product from Coppertone, which they have thankfully not discontinued! Try the light/medium if you are skin type I; get the dark if you are skin type II or III. Easy to apply, fast drying. Does not need to be applied heavily, so it's economical to use. One of the best drugstore products for the face. Available from drugstore.com for $7.99; up to $8.99 retail.
6. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion, Deep
   L'Oreal has come up with something unlike any other drugstore product: a transparent, easy to apply formula that is moisturizing without clogging pores. Both the medium and deep versions are effective. Color is unusually long-lasting for a drugstore product. Available from drugstore.com for $6.79; up to $10.00 retail.
7. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes
   These are almost big enough to do the job. If a towelette runs dry before you finish, spritz a sunless tanning spray on it and keep going. Towelettes work well as a blending step after applying a sunless spray all over, too. Don't use the L'Oreal sunless spray, however, as it is extremely drying. For skintypes I and II. Available from drugstore.com for $9.99; up to $12.99 retail.
8. Neutrogena Sunless Tanning Foam in Deep and Extra Deep
   Fills a much needed niche in the extra dark category. Fast drying with minimal fragrance. One of the few drugstore brands that works well for skin type III - IV. Available from drugstore.com for $8.99; up to $10.00 retail.
9. Neutrogena Sunless Tanning Spray Micro Mist Deep
   The only drugstore aerosol product worth buying. It's close to alcohol free, and the spray mechanism works from any angle, even upside down. For best results from aerosols, be sure to read Vicki's tips first! Works best for skintypes II and III. Available from drugstore.com for $8.99; up to $12.99 retail.
10. Savage Bronze
    A chocolate scented sunless tanning mousse that is an overwhelming favorite with sunless.com visitors. Sold exclusively in Sally Beauty Supply retail locations, it is finally available online from tanforless.com for $13.95; retail price averages $8 - $12. Sally Beauty Supply stores carry the Savage Bronze line during Spring/Summer only.