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

burnham1

I alway find the mousse ones easier to put on...i am a pale redhead...all freckles.....and i use PizBuin light coloured mousse all the time....it looks really natural....and at the moment TJ Hughes have the old packaging ones for £3 instead of £12 in Boots....

I would reccommend using one of the sponge mitts to apply it...i always do....Boots Soltan do one and i think they might be on some sort of offer now...but Marks and Spencers do one as well and i got one yesterday and the are half price ...£1.50....when i have done the rest of me, i take the mitt off and holding the back of it use whats left to do the backs of my hands and over my fingers....

Good luck and if your not sure try it on the tops of your legs first.....last place most people see of my body..!!!!!!

quietheart

where are TJ Hughes?

WeirdoMagnet

I've got pale skin too! I've tried the 'holiday skin' type moisurisers, but I'm so pale (and freckly) I'd have to do them everyday, and IME I still have to sit round after I've applied them, so for me, I'd rather do a proper fake tan every other day or so. I guess all that is personal preference and down to how organised you are (I'm not!).

Like someone else said, you need to prepare! I exfoliate well, then moisturise then apply the fake tan (using disposable gloves). That way you shouldn't get streaks. Remember to put extra moisturiser on your knees, dry skin on heels and toes, and elbows, as they will go darker if you don't. You can also use a bit of cotton wool to wipe it off once applied, then blend in again with your fingers. I also scrub my nails after application as (for me) it's inevitable that I end up with it on my hands and up my arms even though I've got gloves on.

I usually do my legs and my face/chest (my arms are brown enough, and I don't bare the rest in public!). I start with my lower legs, then do my thighs. If you do it the other way round, (ie thighs then calves) you end up with (tan) stripes down your tummy from where you bend your legs to do your calves :rotfl: (well, maybe that's just me)!!!

I also think about how hairy my legs are - don't forget that if you wax you'll take (most of) the tan off, so do it before you tan.

I've fake tanned on and off for a while now, and have tried lots of different types, but for me L'Oreal Sublime Bronze (I think it's on offer at Boots at the mo) works a treat, and I have today just tried a 'moisturising tan' - L'Oreal NutriSummer, and I'll let you know how that goes.

My nan used to say "You have to suffer to be beautiful" - now I know what she meant!!!

Good luck,

Georgie

WeirdoMagnet

rovers wrote: »

where are TJ Hughes?

Here's the store finder. They stock some good bargains and some rubbish - you have to have the patience to sort through it all, but the toiletries are normally at the entrance.

burnham1

I know what you mean about "tummy stripes"...couldnt work out what it was the first time it happened .....!!!!!!!

Also if you shave your legs dont do it the same day as you fake tan....the tan will settle where the hair folicles have been shaved and you will end up with very small dark dots all over....

WeirdoMagnet

burnham1 wrote: »

Also if you shave your legs dont do it the same day as you fake tan....the tan will settle where the hair folicles have been shaved and you will end up with very small dark dots all over....

I get the dots anyway, even if I haven't just shaved. My OH wonders its whether its because the pores are open when I've just had a hot shower. Next time I do it I'm going to experiment and shower off my legs with cold water and see if that makes a difference.

jaxxy00

Ive been thinking and i reckon you should just get a couple and try them, then if no good please dont be put off but try some more. As suggested, try on the top of your legs to start with to see the effect and colour.

The reason i say try some is because reading on through the further messages in here makes me realise that it must be not just a personal preference to brands and type (lotion/gel etc) but also unique in the way your body responds to the self tan. An example is my daughter hadnt used self tan before but for her prom wanted a bit of colour so beforehand we trialed with different makes i had. I used my No7, St Tropez and Tesco's Finest. The No7 and St Tropex went on ok as they are coloured but the Tesco's as it was just a creamy colour and i was very wary of using it.

Well, the best one for her was Tesco's finest (only brought as it was supposed to be about £6 and was reduced to £1.50 so thought i would give it a try. It gave her a very nice natural looking tan colour, better than the others. SO thats why i say that it is personal and down to the way your skin reacts.

LouLou

I'm a fellow milkbottle and I'd agree with what has been said about mousse self tanners, they're really easy to apply without streakiness.

I reapply, exfoliate and moisturise like a maniac, like I should, but still after a week or so it starts to flake off and I look like I have some scary skin disease. How anyone can fake tan for months on end is beyond me, my skin "sheds" it after a while.

I feel wonderful all brown, being able to bare my legs, just wish I could do it for longer without the scary patchy skin!

I've always fancied trying an "airbrush" tanner, has anyone an opinion of those?

jaymee

You have all be very helpful! :T Now the next thing I am wondering which ones last the longest before needing to re-apply? It would be a hassle to have to apply it everyday. Every 2 days is a little better but every 5 days or more would be great.

pnq06

jaymee wrote: »

You have all be very helpful! :T Now the next thing I am wondering which ones last the longest before needing to re-apply? It would be a hassle to have to apply it everyday. Every 2 days is a little better but every 5 days or more would be great.

In my opinion I think St Tropez is the best for lasting longest (and I have used them all :rolleyes: ) but it does work out expensive so I use a cheap tan mixed with moisturiser (or johnsons holiday skin) every other day or so. Otherwise I find that avon pump tan gives a great effect and if it starts fading a quick exfoliation in the shower takes it all off and you can re-apply- it lasts ages too