I love Bare Escentuals Faux Tan. You can buy it on QVC.com or you can call BE's beauty hotline. I think the hotline is a bit less expensive on s&h than QVC. It is a very natural looking tan and it has a nice aroma...kind of like almonds and honey. Clarins also makes a good product. Both BE and Clarins products have an instant bronzer that shows you where the product is going. It makes it somewhat idiot proof. I always wear disposable gloves so not to get any on my palms. Also, before you use any self tanner, make sure you exfoliate your skin well. If you don't, when the tan fades, you'll end up with lizzard skin.
One suggestion on application of self tanners...I usually apply at night. I'll shower, exfoliate and moisturize then apply the self tanner. I then get ready for bed, brush my teeth, floss, etc. By the time I'm done, my tanner is dry so I can wear my jammies. Be prepared to wake up to brown sheets (don't worry it comes out in the wash), and to see brown shower water running down your legs. That's just the bronzer. If the color isn't deep enough, that leaves you time to add a second application. I don't use self tanners on my face or upper body, just on my legs. For some reason, this time of year they are a lot paler than the rest of me!
There is another product that just recently came out...by Jergens. It is a self tanning type of lotion that very gradually and slowly builds color. Some of the ladies on the Delphi BEAddicts forum have been raving about this product. I haven't tried it yet, but I think if you're looking for a natural "glow" instead of a tan this might work. But if you're looking to be tanned, you'd probably be best to use a self tanner.
