I decided that if I was going to take the plunge, I should start with the one that I heard was the best - Clarins Self Tanning Milk with SPF 6. Women's magazines have repeatedly named it an "Editor's Choice" product, and now I know why. Clarins made my skin a smooth golden brown like I'd just been on vacation in the Bahamas. Clarins Self Tanning Milk comes in only one color, so it tans your skin according to how dark you are naturally, and you can build from there to the color you want. I found it really easy to apply, and it smells terrific. A definite winner!

My second try at a tan was with Physician's Formula Sunshield Sunless Tanning Lotion with SPF 20. This lotion was easy to apply, absorbed quickly (so you can get dressed in about 20 minutes), and didn't streak at all. The color I got after one application was more golden yellow than the brown I got from Clarins, but it still looked natural. I also like the SPF 20 sun protection, since you'll probably want to show off your new "tan" outside!

I have mixed feelings about Garden Botanika Sun and Sport Self-Tan Lotion for the Body with SPF 8. The color I got was a nice golden, almost brown that I think looks most like what I would really tan, but there was one problem. The lotion itself smells awful, like stale bread! If you don't mind the odor, the color is nice and the texture is more like a traditional sunscreen, so it spreads easily and absorbs quickly. This wouldn't be my first choice to buy again, but it's still a good product.

For my final test, I chose Clinique Self Tanning Body Balm on the recommendation from the saleswoman that it would be the most natural looking of their self tanning products. Most of their others, she said, result in fairly dark color that might not suit someone who either hasn't tanned before, or who has fair skin. I wanted something subtle that wouldn't scream "LOOK AT MY FAKE TAN"! That subtle color is just what I got with this product. The pump dispenser is great for easy application, and the balm itself is more moisturizing than most self tanning lotions I've tried, which is nice for dry skin.