Self-tanning help please? Never used one before...

nealallen

If your skin is as pale as you say it is, stay away for self tanning products for now. You could end up looking strange and going a wrong colour


I have to agree. Start of with using Johnsons n Johnsons. They do one for the body and another for the face. They are both moisturizers and gently tan the skin.If afterwards you want to look darker then try the spray, it's a lot less messy.

Justie

yes use a product for fair skin - I'd suggest you start with just your legs to begin with so you can see how easily it goes on (or doesn't) and whether you like the colour. Doing a full body isn't easy. first exfoliate using a gentle scrub paying particular attention to knees, ankles etc then use a light moisturiser on any dry areas and on knees ankles and the top of the feet (especially the toes). Apply self tan to the calves and thighs and only use what's left on your hands for sweeping over the knees and ankles and top of the feet or dilute it with moisturiser (or just use the build up ones that are part self tan part moisturiser). Make sure that you've covered every bit of skin but don't worry too much if there's more product on some bits than others (although this can vary from brand to brand). If in doubt buff gently with a dry flannel but you will end up taking some of the tan off this way so you can do as much damage as good. Now wash your hands with exfoliator! I'd always do fake tan when you're not going anywhere as even though the tans don't smell too bad in themselves as your skin oxidises (gets brown) it can smell like burnt biscuits (it varies from person to person) and can be quite offputting.

If you find you like the colour on your legs and got a good coverage then repeat elsewhere always paying attention to joints when exfoliating and making sure that any dry patches are well moisturised.

It's generally easier to use one of the sunkissed moisturisers especially if you're pale skinned as you're less likely to make mistakes and can build it up gradually - but a good fake tan looks good and should be subtle and natural looking - you just don't see many of them around as people tend to over tan and do the orange thing.

jaymee

Justie wrote: »

It's generally easier to use one of the sunkissed moisturisers especially if you're pale skinned as you're less likely to make mistakes and can build it up gradually - but a good fake tan looks good and should be subtle and natural looking - you just don't see many of them around as people tend to over tan and do the orange thing.

Thanks for the detailed explanation! Is there a particular product you would recommend Justie? At the moment I am thinking of going for Boot's No7 Quick Dry Tinted Lotion.

What does "sunkissed" mean anyway?

melancholly

i have pretty pale skin too, and last year ventured into the realm of of self tanning! the tanning lotion was a bit of a nightmare and quite smelly and even trying really hard i got streaks. but the slow tanning moisturisers were actually really good! i think i got the nivea ones (purely because it was BOGOF but i did like them a lot!) and i just put it on once a day. there is a still a tanning smell with them, so i prefer to do it at night and then shower the smell away in the morning before work! they also have a separate one for your face.

i didn't use it enough to look really tanned, but i just looked 'healthy'! i guess i look anaemic a lot of the time because i am that pale, and to people who knew me, there was a noticeable difference!

i guess sunkissed means 'looks like you spent the day in the sun and got some natural colour', or something like that anyway!

jaymee

It's good to be hearing from those who have pretty pale skin like I do. My skin is sooo white as if I am dead :rotfl: . I need their experience so that I know what to expect and what to be warned about.

I never saw any self-suntan by Nivea at Boots or Superdrug. Wonder if they have stopped making them? Thanks for explaining the term "sunkissed".

I am still anxious as to how to do the hands though - I mean if you do the back of your hands, won't it look weird having it darker than your palm? Do I do the sides of my fingers?

Guess I am asking tons of questions so that I can get it as right as possible in my first attempt.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I'm fairly pale and have tried a few different self-tanning products in the past. Don't get the towels they are rubbish. I've tried a few different creams and lotions but found I just got into a complete mess with them. The so-called tan looked horrible and just yuk! I prefer to use a spray if I'm going to self-tan.

I love the Sally Hansen range.

I would also recommend the Johnson's holiday skin body lotion for normal to fair skin. Also it's BOGOF in Alliance/Boots pharmacy atm

jaymee

Thanks RazorBladeKisses! Oh, what to choose? I am wrestling between Boot's No7 Quick Dry Tinted lotion and now Johnson's as both have been recommended by a few. I'll eventually make a decision today.

If you use the spray, how do you avoid the nails when doing hands?

racer256

HiI have pale skin and when we went to Tenerife I burnt which then went brown. I have been using body lotions with self tan but make sure you wash your hands afterwards or you'll get orange hands! It is good to build it up start using it twice a day until you are happy with the colour then use it once a day to maintain it. Good Luck x

stacey21_2

I don't think anyone has mentioned this tip that I use all the time, buy St Tropez fake tan and mix it with some moisturiser. This way you can lighten the colour as much as you want but still get a bit of colour. I have tried those 'gradual' tanning ones but they are completely rubbish on me, they do not contain enough DHA (I think thats the chemical) to tan the skin and stay tanned.. plus most are untinted so you cant see where you are putting it! A small bottle of St Tropez is about £17 but if you are mixing it with your moisturiser it will last ages!

quietheart

I'm really pale, a friend recommend the l'oreal sunshimmer gel last year and it sounds ridiculous but it's changed my life! i can wear skirts and dresses without people pointing at my sowhitetheylookgrey limbs. It doesn't smell horrific like the others, the colour is natural and it's easy to apply. I tried the johnsons one and i looked jaundiced afterwards so do be careful. i tend to use it at night an hour or more before bed. then if there's any heavy handed areas i use a bodybuff sponge.
you won't be pale and interesting for long!