Aveda Sun Source: Smells Can Be Deceiving

Damn, I really really wish I could recommend Aveda’s Sun Source sunless tanner to all you readers out there. It smells absolutely F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C (probably the best smell I’ve ever encountered out of a sunless tanning lotion). I can not stress to you enough how excited I was after initially applying the lotion for the first time. Not only did it smell great, but it felt great too. I didn’t feel all gooey or gross, like I do after applying other sunless tanners. Aveda’s formula goes on easy and blends into your skin as naturally as the best moisturizer’s on the market.

However, the above paragraph only tells part of the story. A very small part. Smell and feel can be an important factors in deciding what self-tanner is perfect for you, but more important than anything else is whether you can actually be satisfied with a product’s results. And in my interaction with Aveda Sun Source, that was anything but the case. After applying and waiting a few hours for my skin to transform itself, I was extremely disappointed to look in the mirror and see the not-so-natural tanned face staring back at me. And in this case, not-so-nautral is code for “friggin’ hideously yellow”. OK, I may be over-exaggerating a little bit here, but if you want my honest opinion, stay away from this product. The color that it produces is less than flattering (trust me) and the small tube and high price just add fuel to the fire.

Pros: Delicious Aroma (the best I’ve encountered yet), Fantastic Feel, Easy Application

Cons: Otherworldly Yellowish Tint (no thanks), Value