Fake tan - why?

[Bonsoir]

Skin looks so much better if you (a) exfoliate regularly (b) moisturise regularly (c) eat your 5 a day, which gives your skin a lovely yellow tone.

[DawnAS]

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but certainly in my case the veins on my legs and the blemishes resemble a bad roadmap and fake tan makes them less noticeable.

Also, during my PG I had a condition which effects the pigment in your skin and you develop brown patches. Unfortunately for me, they're on my face so my face always looks darker than my body.

Not so bad in the winter when I can wear polo necks etc to cover my body and neck, but in the summer, it would be nice for my face and body to blend slightly more in colour!

[Bonsoir]

Why don't you get your veins sorted?

[Bonsoir]

And your pigmentation, for that matter?

[DawnAS]

Because it costs thousands of £s, which not everyone has!

As it's cosmetic, it's not covered on the NHS.

[Bonsoir]

No it's not thousands of pounds! I've had lots of vein treatment and I'm sure it was much cheaper than my fake tan bill would be!

There are lots of good creams for pigmentation problems.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Bonsoir - I agree, totally loathe the stuff.

I remember the look of horror on the face of the hairdresser for my wedding when I told her I wouldn't be having a fake tan, she was genuinely shocked.

[DrSpechemin]

I use fake tan on my face as it never seems to catch the sun - probably as a result of using SPF/wearing sunglasses/hats.

My body, on the other hand, goes very brown at the mere hint of sunshine. If I don't use it I look just plain odd and mismatched.

[missismac]

Err, because the natural 'blue' look for those of us with the indigenous fair skin of the northern countries is rather unattractive with the bare legs that summer weather demands - even after regular exfoliation, moisturising and a vegetarian diet. Doh.

[Bonsoir]

LOL Alibaba, you mean you didn't indulge in the obligatory total-Barbie-wedding-makeover?

[Bonsoir]

I am very fair, verging on red hair... you don't have to have lily white skin if you eat enough fruit and veg!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I did not, I chose to look like myself!

[Bonsoir]

Well done!

[GetOrfMoiLand]

I also loathe fake tan.

I am paler than pale, with reddish hair, and never go brown (plus am also evangelical abotu slathering myself in suncream year round).

I used to use fake tan but it was such a faff, made such a mess and I looked, frankly, ludicrous, so I gave up on the whole sorry business and have never looked back.

I don't care how expensive the fake tan is, it always looks fake and tangeriney.

[ohemgee]

Better than lying on a sunbed though surely?

Or scrap the fruit and veg, yeuch, and just drink buckets of sunny d, didn't it turn a boy in the US orange a while back?

[ohemgee]

://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/578945.stm

Beg pardon, it was Wales.

[crumpette]

Eat carrots! Or drink carrot juice, you go super brown-orange if you have enough but don't overdose on vitamin A

[crumpette]

agree fake tan is not good, I just look like an oompa loompa on steroids even with the very expensive stuff- NEVER using it again!

[SambuccaKelly]

Fake tan does make limbs look better, no doubt about it. The Sally Hansen spray on stuff, mixed with a bit of body lotion, also makes pasty legs look miles better - good for weddings, parties etc. But only if applied properly - not orange and/or streaky.

I can only be arsed with it for special occasions, to be honest but when I do wear it, I feel better and I definitely do look better. Everyone says how well I look, and when I look back at pictures of myself, I always look healthy and glowing.

I disagree that it always looks tangeriney and fake. Many of my friends and colleague shave expressed surprise when I tell them my 'tan' is out of a bottle. Maybe because I don't go too heavy handed with the application.

I don't use expensive stuff, either - just Clinique (the light one).

[vintage]

i dont use it seen too many disasters from the back especially around the ankles yuk

[mangoandlime]

A tan makes everything appear slimmer, it's flattering and not all of us who apply it look like Jordan or Barbie, y'know. You wouldn't know if a person had a tan from the Maldives or a tube, the formulations are so good nowadays. If you don't like it, don't wear it. I wonder if any of you wear make up? Foundation, blusher etc, that's making the best of what you have just as having a self tan is.

Much healthier than frying in the sun too!

[GetOrfMoiLand]

Oh I cover myself in make up mango - spend a fortune on it and love it.

I just have the type of skin that doesn't got brown naturally anyway, and all fake tan makes me look like an unbecoming mug of yorkshire tea!

I don't think being tanned makes you look better though.

[wineismysaviour]

Fake Tan is a whole lot better than sunbeds/sunbathing, so why on earth not use it if you like a bit of colour?

[Ronaldinhio]

i have no idea
all around here are orange
having said that I was almost tempted by the st trop everyday in light this week but backed away fearful of looking ridiculous
i think that the thing that surprises me the most is that most people are unaware of how bad they look...a decent fake tan is a rare thing

[mangoandlime]

It makes me look better! Funny, I'd never tell anyone they HAD to wear self tan, or someone looks worse without a bit of colour, they can decide for themselves. I'm old enough at 37 to know what suits me, I also have a v honest dh and sister who would comment straight away if I looked dodgy, I take care of myself, I'm pretty understated and I know I have great taste, so if I fancy a bit of colour, and it makes me feel as well as look better, I'll dang well do it!

[mangoandlime]

You're wrong Ronaldinhio, the fake tans you've seen have been so good, you've thought they were real!