OT Yay or Nay -- Sunless or Self Tanners - YouLookFab Forum

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OT Yay or Nay -- Sunless or Self Tanners

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I have slathered myself with self-tanners for 4 summers now. I would use it starting April-May, completing my "tanning" cycle in October. Twice I have developed hives, each time needing medical attention due to facial swelling. Once I had to go to the ER! It could be something else, but I worry the DHA in self-tanners may be a problem when used daily.

I'm thinking of either using it less this year, or not at all (my boyfriend thinks it's time for me to embrace my true skin color).

Will you be using self-tanners this summer? To the southern hemisphere girls, did you use it this summer?

General

29 replies

Latest reply was from Marley

Louise

Veteran

I just stay pale all year round. I've finally managed to find a facial sunscreen that's not too greasy and some SPF body lotion and I'll be slathering them on daily x

Irene

Veteran

I'm white as in snow-white and never ever have used self-tanners. And I live in Spain, so people are normally tanned, I am the exception. White and pastels don't look that great on me, but I can deal with that. Getting orange skin due to a self-tan cream would be much worse!

HeleenH

Veteran

Your boyfriend is right! Especially since you had scary skin conditions. Your skin colour is beautiful the way it is.

chouette22

Veteran

I have never used a self-tanner and don't consider EVER using one. To me, that is too much chemistry on the skin.

Saretta

(website)

I may be going against the tide here...but I do use self-tanners on my legs only from about now till June. I just don't like my chalk white legs sticking out from under skirts! But I have never had any reaction to the lotion. If I were you I'd try to go without and see what happens.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I've been tempted but have never used self tanners and probably won't.

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I'm pale as pale can be, and proud! I don't use self tan. If my pale legs get me down, I might use some Sally Hansen leg make up in the lightest shade, but otherwise, I am the colour God made me!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I do use a Neutrogena self tanning lotion sometimes in the summer, mostly on my legs. It's pretty subtle, but just to give my paleness a bit of color since my arms get darker than my legs. But I've never had any kind of reaction from it -- that would make me stop too!

Anonymous

Like Saretta, I use a self tanning cream on my legs at the beginning of the season. It never looks orangy. But if it caused any reaction or discomfort, I'd stop immediately. I know more people who have reactions to sun blocks and can't wear products that contain them.

Mellllls

Veteran

i've never used it but i have a darker skin tone. if you have such adverse skin reactions you should stop using it! there is nothing wrong with being light skinned!

Di

(website)

Veteran

I'm pretty darn pasty, but as long as I'm well-moisturized, I think it looks OK. I've only used the gradual self-tanners, and of those, the one from MaryKay is by far my favorite. But honestly, I just don't care enough to do it regularly. As long as I'm smooth and soft, I'm all set.

Oh-- you know what? For occasional use, you might try the Sally Hansen spray-on airbrush legs. It's kinda shimmery, so better in the evening, I think. http://www.sallyhansen.com/pro.....brush-legs

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Can you try one of the powder or spray ones like sally hansen makes? Maybe the ones that don't actually change the color of your skin would not cause a reaction for you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nay and what Heleen said!

MsMary

Veteran

I use it but I'd stop on a dime if it bothered my skin!!

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I don't not embrace my natural skin color, but I do dislike how transparent it is. My veins (primarily in my legs) and the long lasting scars (I have tiny cat scratches or even acne scars that last for years and years) aren't my favorite, so I spray tan every two weeks. It actually feels good too, and leaves my skin very soft and smooth.
I dont' want to be super dark, though, so I try to spread it out.
Sunless tanners would work everywhere but my face as most are too greasy, even the facial specific ones.
I hope you can find peace with whichever decision you make. You are lovely!

SW Ann

Veteran

I am quite pale, like Angie, and I embrace it. I'm not thrilled with the translucence of the skin on my legs, so I tried a self tanner with awful results a few years ago. I gave up and have come to just "be". God made me like this so it's good enough for me!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have the Jergens gradual tan lotion and use it sporadically on my upper legs. Since I run, I always seem to have half a tan where my shorts end, so I try and even things out with the lotion on my upper thighs. I do use sunscreen but if you head outdoors for an hour or two every other day you will eventually get color no matter. Now that I can't run but am swimming, maybe things will 'even out' all on their own. I haven't used the cream but maybe 4 times so far this calendar year. I never put any color on my face - quite the opposite. I'm trying to bleach out sun spots with prescription creams!

Scarlet

Veteran

Personally I am nay, even though if anyone needs a tan it is me. If I have a special occasion I use some leg make-up to give me a little glow and cover up blemishes a little.

Lori

Veteran

I use sunless tanner on my legs only from about April - October as well. I like wearing my dresses/skirts in the Spring/Summer with bare legs, and I have several spider veins across different parts of my legs and having them slightly tan helps to make me less self-conscious about them.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm also a nay, my skin in early spring is in the whiter shade of blue spectrum but providing I'm exfoliated and moisturised I'm happy to go au natural. Fake tan also requires commitment in terms of time and money which I'm not prepared to spend. Fake tan or not you will look fab.

Inge

(website)

I voted nay for me personally, because I just don't like the smell of self-tanners and I'm not very good at applying them, plus I hate that you need to keep doing it all Summer if you want to keep your tan. So now I just embrace my very pale and less than flawless legs;-)

rae

(website)

Veteran

Like Sarah, I don't have issues with my skin color, but with scars and veins. I am lucky to tan naturally in even the tiniest bit of sun, so I don't have to use tanners... but if you tan for similar reasons and would feel less confident about your legs untanned, I'm betting that there is a sensitive skin version out there somewhere. It seems common now.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

I use Jergen's Natural Glow in "fair", mainly on my legs and have found the color to be quite natural and subtle. I can't seem to get any color on my lower legs. I'm not a tanner; I mostly embrace my light coloring but the day-glo quality of my legs come spring can be quite blinding. I use oodles of sun screen on my upper body though. As I kid I HATED sun screen and like Thimbelina in another thread I may've hit my exposure quotient. Also I don't want my body art ruined by the sun so I'm quite careful about it.

ETA - if I had a reaction to the lotion, I'd probably skip it. Lush has a liquid body bronzer and moisturizer called Charlotte Island. My mother uses it and quite likes it. It smells nice too.

Diana

Veteran

Nay. Not for me, and not for you. If you are getting hives, I would definitely never touch the stuff again. The reaction will likely get worse the more you use the product.

I don't really need self tanner, as my (Asian) skin tans very easily (like, just from walking around outside with sunscreen on) and hardly ever burns. Even if I were pale, though, I would not use self tanner just because my skin is really sensitive and I don't like to put chemicals on it that don't have to be there. I really do not need to develop any more skin allergies! (Currently, I am allergic to sarcosinates (an ingredient in many body washes and shaving creams), alpha hydroxy acid, certain chemical sunscreens, and goodness knows what else.)

Aida

Veteran

I've super pale skin that pretty much refuses to tan, and like Sarah it's VERY transparent. I tried a sunless tanner last summer for legs only, which I wore a couple times that was decent (this one here) and will probably use again this summer maybe once every week or two since we don't really get much sun. However, if I had ANY skin reaction I would discontinue use, and I will still be using sunblock religiously as I always do.

taylor

Veteran

Sounds like your body is sending you a message!!
I like the sun in small bits and I can tan a little on my own. I will you a sunless tanner on my legs this time of year ...just until they tan up a bit...but only if they are totally exposed in a skirt or dress. I wouldn't use one everyday.

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I use self tanner on occasion (i'm pretty lazy with that kind of stuff) but really only because i've found one that gives me a real looking tan and isn't orange-y at all. It's from Bath & Body Works. I used to be tanorexic so i try to find a happy medium since i also don't want to age faster than neccessary.

But if it's giving you any kind of allergic reaction you should really stop all use.

carrie

(website)

I've had melanoma so I go sunless. I do a few mystic tans before our yearly trip to bermuda, but other than that I'm a fair Irish lass.

Marley

Veteran

I use Jergens Natural Glow moisturizer on my arms and legs - year round. Where I live, our arms and legs are exposed year round and I really feel like I look better with just a little bit of color. The Jergens is very mild - not really a self-tanner - and not orangey at all. If I had any reaction to self-tanners, I would NOT use them though!