Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs (spray) in an aerosol can has been around for a few years now. It's a must have and on my 10 items I cannot live without, list. It's like an American Express card for my legs, If It wearing a dress or anything that involves my legs showimg, I never leave home without it! Well just recently I discovered that they came out with a lotion version and since I love the spray can so much I knew I absolutely had to try it. So I am writing this for all you lovely leggy ladies, (wow alliteration! My high school creative writing teacher would be proud) who want their legs to look like the girls legs in the nair commercial ! I will compare both products and give you the pros and cons of each.....
Shall we?
The shade that works best for me is "Light glow" (spray version) and "Glow" in the lotion one. I tried the medium version but I looked like I was wearing someone else's legs with my body. It was much too orange and looked like I got in a fight with an Ompa Lompa and the Ompa Lompa won. Anyway the spray version is amazing. I usually put it on after I shower and apply my AmLactin Lotion on my legs. I suffer from Keritosis Pilaris which small tiny bumps which make your skin look like you have goose bumps all the time and they feel like sandpaper. I hate it! It's unsightly and embarrassing. AmLactin is the only thing that keeps it at bay. Anyway any lotion will work. I find it soaks in better and goes on smoother after you apply lotion and let it soak in for a few minutes. If the weather is nice I wear an old crappy pair of shorts and go outside to spray it. If its not I would set up some towels or an old sheet and do it in a room away from any important furniture or fabrics. It does wash off most surfaces but its a pain in the ass and virtually impossible to avoid overspray. I tried doing it in the shower once but it got all over everything and I really had to scrub it to get it off. It doesnt just rinse away.
After I'm all set up I will spray a little area and then rub it in with my hands. It blends really nicely and dries pretty quickly. It has a sort of strange smell but it doesn't stick around too long after its applied. My one complaint is that I wish they'd make the sprayer have a finer mist more like an airbrush. It tends to spray unevenly a bit and that's why I feel the need to rub it in. It's pretty buildable too. The can version has a fine shimmer in it that's mostly noticeable outdoors if your looking closely. It give the legs a nice healthy glow but doesn't make them look too sparkly or anything. After I feel I've covered all areas and it looks even I usually give it time to dry while I do my hair and makeup and then get dressed. If you get dressed too soon it will transfer on to your clothing and its not the type of thing that will come off easily with a damp cloth. Once it does dry however, it really doesn't transfer. Mostly the sparkles do and a small amount of the color so just be careful not to let any parts of the outside of your garment to hit it. Easy enough right? It's water resistant for the most part too. I've used it on some hot days and it stayed on nicely. I also went in the pool with it on once and the next day when I showered there was still a decent amount coming off and I didn't notice any weird splotches where it was missing. I was pretty impressed. This stuff does not come off easily either. I have slept with sweatpants and you'd think the friction would wear it away but it doesn't. You'll forget its there until you hop in the shower and shave your legs and see orange foam running off and you'll think there's something wrong with your water. Even after that you'll still have a little scrubbing to do to get it off. As far as coverage goes it depends on how much you use and what exactly your covering. It will make bruises and scratches much less noticeable but not completely gone. It will even out any discoloration though. As far as varicose veins go since I really don't have a lot I've noticed it will really cover small ones.
The only complaints I really have about the spray version is that its pretty pricey, running anywhere from $11-$14 and you will only get 3 or so uses out of it. For that amount of money I'd like to get a few more uses out of each can. Either way Sally Hansen does put out coupons for it so keep an eye out and try to buy it then.
Now for the Lotion...
I believe the lotion version is fairly new. It wasn't easy to find. My local Walmart didn't carry it and neither did my Bed Bath and Beyond. I ended up buying it at Ulta and I saw it in Target. So like I said I got the medium version first and it was much too dark and orange for me. I suppose if my legs were more tan it would have been better but I haven't done too much tanning this summer so I exchanged it for the Light version. Anyway applying the lotion is much easier and convenient. I didn't have to go outside or set up a drop cloth so that was nice. I still used a lotion before hand even though it is a lotion itself. As with the spray though I found it spread out and blended well. Coverage wise I feel like the lotion is a bit heavier and a little amount goes a long way. It was harder in a way because the spray gets those hard to reach places better. The lotion version also doesn't dry nearly as fast so you have more time to work with it and really blend it in. It is buildable though too.
The one thing that upset me was that it this version doesn't have any shimmer in it! I personally like the shimmer. It's not the end of the world though you can always add your own powder pigments. I also feel like since this one doesn't dry as quickly it does transfer more easily. 20 minutes or so after I had applied it I had to use the rest room and when I pulled down my shorts I got it all over them! Yey. Also the lotion version isn't as water resistant. One day when I was wearing it I had been sitting on a sheet on the lawn with my son. The lawn was a tad bit damp that afternoon and so the sheet I was on got damp. When I stood up I had noticed that the sheet had an orange imprint of my legs! Wow embarrassing! Also in the spots is was wet it had come off leaving my legs looking blotchy. I didn't have the bottle with my so I had to just roll with it and hope no one would notice. That definitely disappointed me. Even with that happening what was left on my legs did last for quite a while. I just wouldn't recommend wearing this one anywhere that its a possibility your legs may get wet.
With all that said though it too has its own advantages. Firstly is I feel its a better value. It's around the same price as the spray version (possibly a dollar cheaper) but I feel a bottle will last a hell of a lot longer. With two uses I barely made a dent. Also I like the fact that its easier and more convenient to apply. No crazy setup needed.
So all in all I really do like both of these products. They both perform pretty much the same way and give off the same results. They both last long and make your legs look virtually flawless. Personally I like the spray version just a tad but better. I feel it soaks in better, doesn't transfer as much and I am a sucka for shimmer but they both have their advantages and disadvantages either way I'd recommend you try one.....like today!
Some quick bullets....
Spray can Version Pros.....
• Has shimmer (a pro in my opinion)
• Dries quickly
• Blends well
• Covers well
• Doesn't transfer much
• Good water resistance
• Lasts all day....and then some
Cons.....
• only get a small number of usage out of each can
• Pricey
• more messy, less convenient
• hence more time consuming
Lotion Version Pros
• covers well
• Blends well
• Lasts long
• Easy application
• Better value because you get more applications
• a little bit goes a long way
Cons.....
• doesn't dry as quickly
• Transfers more
• Not as water resistant
• doesn't contain shimmer legs look more matte instead of glowy
Here are some before and after shots of my legs
Lucky for you all, I have been apparently scratching the shit out of my legs while I sleep so you can really see how this stuff works! The bruises though, are from my son jumping on my lap!
After I'm all set up I will spray a little area and then rub it in with my hands. It blends really nicely and dries pretty quickly. It has a sort of strange smell but it doesn't stick around too long after its applied. My one complaint is that I wish they'd make the sprayer have a finer mist more like an airbrush. It tends to spray unevenly a bit and that's why I feel the need to rub it in. It's pretty buildable too. The can version has a fine shimmer in it that's mostly noticeable outdoors if your looking closely. It give the legs a nice healthy glow but doesn't make them look too sparkly or anything. After I feel I've covered all areas and it looks even I usually give it time to dry while I do my hair and makeup and then get dressed. If you get dressed too soon it will transfer on to your clothing and its not the type of thing that will come off easily with a damp cloth. Once it does dry however, it really doesn't transfer. Mostly the sparkles do and a small amount of the color so just be careful not to let any parts of the outside of your garment to hit it. Easy enough right? It's water resistant for the most part too. I've used it on some hot days and it stayed on nicely. I also went in the pool with it on once and the next day when I showered there was still a decent amount coming off and I didn't notice any weird splotches where it was missing. I was pretty impressed. This stuff does not come off easily either. I have slept with sweatpants and you'd think the friction would wear it away but it doesn't. You'll forget its there until you hop in the shower and shave your legs and see orange foam running off and you'll think there's something wrong with your water. Even after that you'll still have a little scrubbing to do to get it off. As far as coverage goes it depends on how much you use and what exactly your covering. It will make bruises and scratches much less noticeable but not completely gone. It will even out any discoloration though. As far as varicose veins go since I really don't have a lot I've noticed it will really cover small ones.
The only complaints I really have about the spray version is that its pretty pricey, running anywhere from $11-$14 and you will only get 3 or so uses out of it. For that amount of money I'd like to get a few more uses out of each can. Either way Sally Hansen does put out coupons for it so keep an eye out and try to buy it then.
Now for the Lotion...
I believe the lotion version is fairly new. It wasn't easy to find. My local Walmart didn't carry it and neither did my Bed Bath and Beyond. I ended up buying it at Ulta and I saw it in Target. So like I said I got the medium version first and it was much too dark and orange for me. I suppose if my legs were more tan it would have been better but I haven't done too much tanning this summer so I exchanged it for the Light version. Anyway applying the lotion is much easier and convenient. I didn't have to go outside or set up a drop cloth so that was nice. I still used a lotion before hand even though it is a lotion itself. As with the spray though I found it spread out and blended well. Coverage wise I feel like the lotion is a bit heavier and a little amount goes a long way. It was harder in a way because the spray gets those hard to reach places better. The lotion version also doesn't dry nearly as fast so you have more time to work with it and really blend it in. It is buildable though too.
The one thing that upset me was that it this version doesn't have any shimmer in it! I personally like the shimmer. It's not the end of the world though you can always add your own powder pigments. I also feel like since this one doesn't dry as quickly it does transfer more easily. 20 minutes or so after I had applied it I had to use the rest room and when I pulled down my shorts I got it all over them! Yey. Also the lotion version isn't as water resistant. One day when I was wearing it I had been sitting on a sheet on the lawn with my son. The lawn was a tad bit damp that afternoon and so the sheet I was on got damp. When I stood up I had noticed that the sheet had an orange imprint of my legs! Wow embarrassing! Also in the spots is was wet it had come off leaving my legs looking blotchy. I didn't have the bottle with my so I had to just roll with it and hope no one would notice. That definitely disappointed me. Even with that happening what was left on my legs did last for quite a while. I just wouldn't recommend wearing this one anywhere that its a possibility your legs may get wet.
With all that said though it too has its own advantages. Firstly is I feel its a better value. It's around the same price as the spray version (possibly a dollar cheaper) but I feel a bottle will last a hell of a lot longer. With two uses I barely made a dent. Also I like the fact that its easier and more convenient to apply. No crazy setup needed.
So all in all I really do like both of these products. They both perform pretty much the same way and give off the same results. They both last long and make your legs look virtually flawless. Personally I like the spray version just a tad but better. I feel it soaks in better, doesn't transfer as much and I am a sucka for shimmer but they both have their advantages and disadvantages either way I'd recommend you try one.....like today!
Some quick bullets....
Spray can Version Pros.....
• Has shimmer (a pro in my opinion)
• Dries quickly
• Blends well
• Covers well
• Doesn't transfer much
• Good water resistance
• Lasts all day....and then some
Cons.....
• only get a small number of usage out of each can
• Pricey
• more messy, less convenient
• hence more time consuming
Lotion Version Pros
• covers well
• Blends well
• Lasts long
• Easy application
• Better value because you get more applications
• a little bit goes a long way
Cons.....
• doesn't dry as quickly
• Transfers more
• Not as water resistant
• doesn't contain shimmer legs look more matte instead of glowy
Here are some before and after shots of my legs
Lucky for you all, I have been apparently scratching the shit out of my legs while I sleep so you can really see how this stuff works! The bruises though, are from my son jumping on my lap!
A few quick updates....
I have some other blog posts in the works right now. I have tons of products I've purchased and are ready for review.
One being the Olay Advanced Cleaning system (I think that's the name) it's the brush that's a ripoff of the Clairasonic brush.
Also I got a post in the works about time saving products for moms on the go! Keeps your bananas peeled!
Have a fanfriggentastic day!
So...I barely discovered this product last year. I'm African-American and find it very hard to find a pigmented, all over body makeup, that i can wear, in my skin tone. I used the spray, and instantly fell in love. Only after getting about 1 summers worth of use from the spray, I planned on picking up another can. But, then I discovered there's a lotion version. (Hence the research regarding which product is best/better.) I read your blog, and your review helped me so much and was spot on. I initially used the spray, and everything you said was true to form. (From the very fine, pretty shimmer, messy application that gets EVERYWHERE no matter how accurately you spray, the amount that's in the bottle, slight waterproof capability, etc.) I wanted to see if the lotion was any better, and after reading your accurate description, I'm going to pick up the lotion in addition to the spray. I really like and use the spray for coverage when I'm in a bathing suit at the pool, or when I'm in and around water. I'll use the lotion when I'm not around water in order to get more usage/ wears. Again, your blog was EXTREMELY helpful, and truly accurate. Hope this comment gets to you, because I wanted to say: "THANK YOU for the easy, direct and wonderful product review. CoMiche:)
ReplyDeleteUse a tanning mitt ($5-10, sold everywhere) to apply the spray version. I spray it onto the mitt and rub it onto my skin. You end up using less product so it dries faster too, and no mess! You don't even need to wash your hands afterwards! Hope this helps.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf you're only getting 3 uses out of a whole can I'm pretty sure your applying it wrong. If you follow the directions on the can and spray it into your hand and then rub it on your legs like you would foundation, you get WAY more out of the can. And the spray doesn't get all over everything. I use 3 quick sprays into my hand for my lower leg, and 3 for my upper leg, and I'm good. Sometimes if I want a little more coverage I will do a second application. But even with double applications I'm getting way more usage out of the can than what you suggested. I have used one can every day for a week now and have barely made a dent in it.
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