Devoted Creations Special Reserve Tanning Lotion or Devoted Creations Forever Black 50XXX?

I have started up my indoor tanning salon sessions again, and whenever I head back to the tanning bed for dark tan results, I usually end up debating on which tanning lotion to purchase.

Devoted Creations Special Reserve was a favorite of mine a year ago, and when returning to the salon I noted that this lotion was still a customer favorite and I was simply going to buy it again, but Forever Black 50XXX also sat next to my last summers favorite, and the price was nearly the same. The inner debate for me was which one would I buy?

Special Reserve delivers scrumptious sun kissed results the very first time using it. It is not an illusion, your tan will literally darken even after you leave the salon so long as you do not rinse it off too quickly.

Then we have Forever Black 50XXX which was brand new to me.

I decided to go ahead and buy the sample packets for both of the lotions just to see which one provided me with the darkest tan. Whichever sample packet worked the best would be the winner, and I would splurge and buy the full sized bottle.

Special Reserve did not change a bit, I applied it right before my first 10 minute tanning bed session, and immediately could see that I looked tan and I had not even stepped into the tan bed yet. I knew once I did my session and got out that the color would likely be intensified, which in fact it was.
Special Reserve for me was a complete win again!

The formula has not been tampered with and it delivers a fantastic fast deep bronze tan, without looking orange or fake. The scent is semi fruity with a cocoa undertone to it, which smells nice for a indoor tanning lotion.

Up next was Forever Black 50XXX.

The lotion on this one is a tad bit more runny than the thicker texture of Special Reserve, and it absorbs into skin without leaving it looking bronzed any.

I could only hope the color would deepen up when I used it in the tanning bed.

No such luck though for me. Forever Black 50XXX felt like a gimmick because it did nothing to intensify my color. The scent was nicer than Special Reserve, but the results were not even there.
I used Forever Black 50XXX twice, back to back for 2 days and my tan actually looked like it was lightening. Basically that told me this lotion did squat.

Overall:
 
Devoted Creations will forever be my go to tanning lotion brand, but when it comes to which lotion is the best, hands down Special Reserve wins by a landslide.