Fake Tans...

I

icklemoley

Cathlete
Don't know if you've noticed but Cathe and the rest of the crew always look very tanned. I've no doubt its fake tan, but here's my question...which fake tan is best, and if any of you use any, please ... tips would be most welcome. Winter here in Britian and its dark and miserbale. Wanna be brown and tanned...
 
Do you have Mystic Tan? I haven't used it but I have a friend who swears by it. She has vitiligo (sp?) and gets big blotchy white spots from the sun. She has tried every otc product and none of them worked for her. But the Mystic Tan spray on stuff works wonders for her. You stand in a booth and it sprays the product on.

Colleen
 
You know I hate to be a total downer on the Mystic Tan thing, but I heard that the mist if you breath it in is very bad for your lunges. Have any of you heard that? Of course, from what I've seen it would be very easy to hold your breath while it gets sprayed on too. I have never done it, mainly it's too expensive, at least for me. I just choose to be white, very, very white. Maybe if I had a big event coming up, I might do it though.
 
No offense intended icklemoley, but TAN in Britain in December--HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I lived there for a few years, you would stand out like a sore thumb!
 
If I had one of those Mystic Tan things here, I think I'd definitely use it. I've heard great things about it. I'm Italian... with a naturally pale/greenish complexion... and acne scars and psoriasis. Not cute. And winters here in northern Nevada are exceptionaly gloomy and loooooooooonnnnnggg as well.

I would try it at least once and see how you like it :) Then tell me, so I can be jealous cause I can't do it, too.

Sara :)


http://www.picturetrail.com/rayiisara/sblordita
 
Can't tell ya, I just go for the real (back yard) tan. No tan lines and it's great to just let that sun's heat soak into the marrow (I save it up so it lasts through the winter!)

-Connie
 
I am a regular user of self-tanner, even in winter. I just use a lighter shade in winter. I have used many expensive ones, but the one I have stuck with that is more reasonable is by Neutrogena. Not sure if they sell that brand in your neck of the woods. It comes in both medium and dark, and lotion and foam versions, IMO the foam is easier to work with. Also it is tinted to help regulate application.

Just make sure you have exfoliated, and I usually apply regular lotion first for a smooth application. And remember to scrub your hands clean afterwards. Some folks use gloves but I find it the heat from your bare hands helps the application. Also make sure it is totally dry before putting your clothes on, and I would suggest avoiding white clothes after application.

Can you tell I have this down to a science? LOL!

Kim
 
Yes it even covers her vitiligo. It is the first time in her entire life she has ever been tan! She absolutely swears by Mystic Tan.

Colleen
 
There's a new kind of spray-on tan that has someone actually "spray--painting" you by hand. It would be similar to a mystic tan, but would definitely reduce the chance of inhaling the stuff.

I got a good fake tan one time from neutrogena brand. The "secret" was following lots of advice I got from this very site! Exfoliation, moisturizing, etc. I actually only did it once because I was too lazy to keep it up (and it's tough to get the middle back when you're doing it on your own!)
 
Connie, are you mad! Real tan...no, stop, don't hurt your skin. My boss got burnt this year in the sun (on his head), not really bad. Anyway, 6 months later it turned out he had skin cancer from it and they have taken about 9" of his upper head. Its so scary to think that that can happen from just sitting in the sun. He looks like a scary movie now, and its very sad. The still has marks coming up on his face which he needs to get checked out every month or so.

Deb, i know what you mean about England! lol
 
I've used Mystic Tan a few times and I have to admit its not so bad, just a wierd experience. I do hold my breath while they're spraying (one side, then turn to the other side). You need to be careful about making sure to wipe it off thoroughly when finished so there are no streaks (they can be "destreaked" w/alcohol and a cotton ball). Also, you need to be careful w/fingers and toes - there's a cream to put on that prevents the color from clinging to these spots, but the first time my hands and feet looked crazy.

I haven't used it since the summer when I had a little natural color but it worked pretty well and made my skin feel really soft. The other benefit - you go in the booth sans clothes so there are no tan lines. You need to be careful when getting dressed to make sure you don't get any excess on your clothes because it will stain.
I'd recommend it if you do what Kim says, too- exfoliate before and moisturize. Also, you can't go swimming in chlorine or the whole thing comes off.

That seems to be Mystic Tan 101 - I'm embarrassed that I know so much about it! Good luck if you try it...


:) Brenda
 
Be carefull on the real tan because I thought I would do that this last summer and well, I burnt and looked like an apple LOL and then to top that off I burnt that same area 4 times in one summer!! Took my daughter to her oncologist appointment and boy did I get a reaming from him!! he said " How dare you come to my office with skin like that, I am a cancer doctor and don't you know how bad that is?" LOL I never went back with a burn again LOL
 
Hi Wayne and Leslie,

Thanks for being concerned for my health! Actually staying tan all summer is safer than burning. I have not gotten a sunburn since I was about eight (but damage could have been done then). I start slowly in the spring- April- then work my way up to an hour on each side. The last day of it was Oct. 29.

The jury is still out on whether sunblocks cause more harm than good. And, I'm not sure how good those artificial tans are for the skin. I'm just a low-tech kind of person, so I'm taking my chances with the regular sunlight.

I think the sun can be good for us too. It prevents depression, and provides vitamin D! It is so nice to be able to be outside with - no clothsies on! (Of course, nobody's lookin'!

-Con.
 
Hi! I just wanted to jump in here. I am the same as Connie. I just love the sun. I make sure to protect myself with sunscreen and not overdo it. But I think a natural tan is beautiful and the sun does have some healthy advantages..
I love the beach and running in the summer.

Fair skinned people that burn tend to have a higher risk of cancer.

Connie- your skin color is absolutely gorgeous in your pictures..

Have a great day!!

Beverly
 
I put sunscreen on my face and hands since they're in the sun year-round. But I just let natural sun on my arms and legs in the summer for Vitamin D and I try to be outside for the natural light as much as possible too.

I am Cuban/Canary Islands genetically, so my skin is olive and doesn't need any color to look good. I just protect the parts that get overexposed and let the other parts do their thing.

Some parts never get any sun, but that's just as well for everyone concerned! Even in my backyard. Even squirrels and birds should be spared!
 
Just quoting my dermo here: "No tan is a safe tan."
I lived in California most of my life where there is a lot of pressure to be tan all year long. I now live in New York and am SO incredibly happy that a lot of people here choose to be white all year round! I love the first day in spring warm enough to wear shorts here! Everyone is butt white and the shorts look like they just came out of the winter trunk with no time to iron! It's really funny. And no one cares!

I spent a lot of time trying to be tan all year round. I now look at the wrinkles on my face and wonder how much younger I'd look if I hadn't done it. If I had it to do all over again, I would never have gone to the beach every weekend from April through October. I've recently had some moles removed that were "undergoing change." A little scary. Thank goodness for self tanners is all I have so say! And without a doubt, we look better with a little color. I'm just not willing to pay the melanoma price of that tan. Sorry for the soap box! :)
 
I gotta agree that a fake tan in England in winter might look out of sorts. Hell I think people who overdo that stuff where I live look ridiculous. Dark tans are actually out as far as so-called fashion goes anyway. Only if I was ghost-white, or competing would I even bother.
And since I spend so much time in the gym anyway, the time it would take to nurture a fake tan is better spent interacting with my kids....
Just my IMHO.
Trevor :)
 
I have used the self tanning foam from Neutrogena. The one that is a foam and has color so you can see where you put it. I exfoliate first and wear gloves when applying. Actually I have had my husband apply it for me. It works out well. I know people who have had the spray tans done and it really looks good.
Diane Sue
 
Poor Connie! All ya said was that you prefer real sunlight to chemical tans and you got bombarded. I agree with you Connie - everything in moderation. I have some pretty severe sundamage to my neck (the one place I never thought to put sunscreen) and I still love the sun. That doesn't mean I bask in the sun on a daily basis or even get mildly burned. The sun, in moderation, does good stuff for us. Amen, Cheryl
 
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