I hate to sound like a broken record, but there is absolutely no such thing as a safe tan — at least, not if it comes from the sun or from a tanning bed. To put it bluntly, tanning will make you look grizzled before your time, and it increases your risk of developing skin cancer.
That doesn't mean you have to give up the appearance of a tan, though. Self-tanners have come a long way in the last few years, so you're no longer stuck with awful orangey options. This week marks the launch of Jergens Natural Glow Express ($7.99). Like the original Natural Glow moisturizer, it's meant to be used on the body daily to create allover sun-kissed color. The difference is that instead of taking an entire week for full results, this new formula takes only three days to achieve a full "tan."
I started using Natural Glow Express this morning, and already I'm seeing a subtle shift in skin color. It looks natural and pretty, and it's nowhere near Oompa Loompa territory. Smells a little bit like the beach, too, which is making me yearn for a long weekend in the Bahamas. Guess I'll just have to settle for looking like I had one.
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i just bought this the other day and it works like a charm! i will be verry tan by spring break time in a couple weeks....
1Ooh, I can't wait to try this! I loved the old version and if the new one works faster and smells better I think I might be in love!
2I was in HS when Oompa Loompa tanners were the rage, so I've been weary ever since. Just the other day I was wondering about the new lotion kind. Thanks! I'll try it.
3aww Bella i'm from The Bahamas but away from home now and I wish I could be there for a long weekend too!
4I tried this last summer, it works ok. Still a bit orange.
5Oh, IslandGirl, I am so envious. You must have grown up in such a beautiful environment.
6I love the regular Jergens Natural Glow and have used it since it came out. I am going to try this one for sure!
7I might try this out
8awesome! i think i'll have to get some
9I think my mental image of self-tanners will always involve vibrant and streaky orange, so I'm unlikely to try this (or any other tanning product)... besides, I'm pretty fond of my skin the color it is naturally.
10I love the original Jergens self tanner, so I will definitely be trying this!
11are they coming out with a face daily moisturizer aswell Bella?
12I currently use their natural glow Face spf 20 that i bought last summer... i dont really feel like it makes me looked tanned... but its sitll a moisturizer and spf so i'll keep using it till the tube's empty. But i cant seem to find this anywhere in drugstores anymore. maybe its a spring/summer thing only? i'm in search of the best daily moisturizer with SPF AND that will give me a little bit of fake tan.
Regenerist Touch of Sun UV Defense Regenerating Lotion looks promising.
love this stuff, but one must remember to apply on the back of your hands too
13This makes my skin REEK. It must be something with the chemical reaction and my skin in particular, but I CANNOT use self tanners. I've tried a few brands, and every time my fiance comments on how awful I wind up smelling until the tan fades. Anyone else have this problem or am I literally the only one?
14This is such good news! I have a military ball to go to two weeks from tomorrow and was thinking about the options for a little color. I am down right pastey!
15This stuff is so great! Had used the older version and it didn't smell very good but the color was great. Was happy that it smelled so good when I tried it again!
16I used this, and after a while I started to look like a tanned Barbie. So, I stopped.. I think it's because my makeup shade is alabaster or porcelain. Sometimes that's not light enough..
17julieulie, you're not alone! if i apply any self-tanner in the morning, i end up smelling like urine (!!!) by bedtime. talk about a deterrent.
18At first I thought it read 'bleach' instead of 'beach', so I was a bit concerned. Good thing I re-read it
Anyway, ordered a sample at Walmart a couple of weeks ago, so I should be getting it soon. Thanks for the brief review!
19I've tried self tanner that made me ORANGE before (oh it was some sight to behold mind you), and this one I totally agree w/ Bella, it's pretty decent product and very affordable.
I have it and she's right, on the first day you notice a difference (subtle), the problem for me is, I ditch it after the 3rd day, and pick it up again a week later when I think I was losing my 'tan.'
I'm concerned that I'd look too 'tan' wearing this...anyone has tried it continuously without any 'days off?'
20I'm very interested in trying this product, I do have to be careful after breast cancer, I have to limit my time in the natural sun and a tanning bed is out of the question, this product sounds like it may be the answer.
21I have a question. What if you're naturally darker...like I have a light brown coloring skin but I LOVE when I get "tanned" when I'm at the beach...you look so bright and happy and healthy. Would this work on darker skin? I want to achieve the sunkissed look...
22julieulie, you are SO not alone on this. I love going for a fake glow once in a while, but that after-smell just kills me. And has anyone else had the fake tan rub off, like, days later? On a white towel or (worse) on your significant other's sheets? Not cute.
Bella, do you have any suggestions to prevent this?
23My problem with self tanner is that it always makes me break out.
But I am so pale right now, that
I would love a little color! Powder bronzer is usually OK but you still have to look at a sickly face after you wash up. 
24I've tried this and it's amazing.
25The Natural Glow lotion made me break out in to a hideous rash like poison ivy. It got so bad that my skin actually started bruising from me itching it. By the time I finally when to the doctor, my legs and arms looked like I had been beaten within an inch of my life. The doctor and nurse actually gasped when they saw me. Needless to say, I will never use this stuff again!!
26I love natural glow, I've been using it since it came out. Yes it does smell but I use it before I go to bed and when I wake up the smell is gone.
27I can't wait to try this stuff! My only problem...I have horrible skin on my faceand break out all the time so I can only use certain facial moisturizers, Cetaphil. So, my body is nice and tanned and my face is pale white! Bella....any suggestions on how to get my face nice and tan to match my body?
28I agree that I HATE the smell of this stuff, but other than that, it's really good (when you're not allergic to it).
29love this stuff. Makes me look hot, hehe
30i saw a commercial for this the other day and wanted to know how it worked....i've tried to non-express kind and liked it!
31as much as i am dreading looking do pale come spring and summer (and even now at the gym) i am so afraid of putting such harsh chemicals on my skin...i have heard self tanners are the worst! supposedly, aveeno has a more natural self tanner that doesn't smell as bad and is safer. as for HOTTPINK, when matching your face to your body (due to sensitive skin on your face), just use a bronzer on your face with a nice blush. jane iredale makes an amazing mineral based bronzer that doesn't make your break out, and that also has spf15. trust me, it is worth the price and then some.
32Julieulie and others...I have extremely sensitive skin and also the most sensitive sense of smell and EVERYTHING irritates me. I tried this self tanner because I can ONLY use regular jergens moisterizer on my skin (ultra-healing) and everything else makes me itchy or gives me hives and this did the same - it has mica in it which is very irritating to the skin. I have tried every self tanner from drug store brands to the most expensive and the one and only the actually works, has a nice (almost non-existent) smell and moisterizes while giving color and no irritation is the Aveeno brand gradual tanner. Coming from a girl who has tried it all - I highly recommend it! It's also only about $8.99!
33Gillianbeth, I can't speak for the others, but for me personally, it's not the scent of the product out of the tube that bothers me. My issue is if I put it on at night, everything is fine and dandy for the next few hours -- but 8 hours or so later, when I wake up in the morning, my skin smells awful -- not from the scent of the product, but due to some chemical reaction with my skin. And then my skin continues to smell stale for the next few days, until the fake tan has completely faded.
34I did Bella...I really really did
.
35i saw this in the store today, i do find it a bit annoying how tiiiny the bottles are!! they're teensy weensy! sure you get tan faster but if you use it every day you're going to have to replace it so much sooner. i wish they'd made them the same size
36I have been a user of Jergens Natural Glow for years and never had a problem until now. I went to the drug store, and they were out of the regular kind. I bought the new one "firming." I broke out into a terrible rash.. It is a bunch of small blisters much like Poison Ivy. I've had it over a week and still can not get rid of it. I do not have sensitive skin and have never had an issue with moisturizers before. Be careful with this product. Historically, it has provided a nice glow for spring, but it has not been worth the discomfort.
37Very nice site!
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