CLEVELAND — Looking for that summer glow without breaking a summer sweat? Or risking your skin in the sun or a tanning bed?
We tested three brands which cover all price points. And picked testers who know a thing or two about sun kissed tans.
When you're showing a LOT of skin to a paying audience, pasty white just won't cut it. Just ask the ladies and gents of Cleveland Burlesque. Some who've been baring their bodies for years.
Burlesque dancer Holly Grail says sometimes feeling beautiful IS skin deep.
"I don't feel I have to tan but I am more comfortable, I feel better with a little glow," she said.
International award winning Bella Sin, who founded the revue, rounded up some dancers to review some popular self tanners, including Camp Wannakikki Drag Contest competitor Carly Unimemclite, whose name means "dress" in German, and Grail, who's an award winning tassel twirler.
They got their sexy on with Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Mousse, Jergens Natural Glow "Instant" Sun Mousse and St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse.
First they took a trip to the Isle of Paradise on their left arm. It costs $29 for a tan from them.
"This is the sign of a good self tanner," says Carly as she applied a layer. "It has a noticeable green base."
On their right arm was St. Tropez; named after the French Riviera town with a price to match at $42.
Then they bronzed with bargain priced Jergens Natural Glow on their legs. At only $9 it's supposed to produce results instantly.
Carly noticed right away that it wasn't applying evenly. "The self tanner did not congeal on my arms," she says. "But look at my legs!"
As for the results of Jergens Instant? Well, it wasn't so instant.
Holly didn't see much color and Bella says she essentially got nothing.
They also didn't like its smell or the texture.
"Yeah, it's sticky," says Bella. "It's just sticky and it smells like alcohol.
And 24 hours later only Holly glowed from the Jergens. Still, her holy grail was the Isle of Paradise.
"I did love the instant color of this one," she says. "And I loved the darker color of this one."
As for Carly and Bella, it was the St. Tropez that gave a tan suitable for a beach by that name.
Bella calls it the best ever. "The undertones that it's giving my arms are so natural looking as opposed to any other self tanner that I ever used," she says.
And while the St. Tropez was supposed to take at least four hours to see the full effect, for these exotic dancers it was instant gratification. So it seems the best sun kissed tan can be pricey.
Bella says she would use the $42 lotion again. "Definitely worth the money I think."
Especially when you consider the alternative.
"You want a sun kissed look," she added. "You don't want to look like an Oompa Loompa."
The makers of Jergens did not respond to our email for comment.
You can see the dancers and their tans at the 9th Annual International Ohio Dance Festival from August through August 8th at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland. For tickets, click here.