To consider sunbeds in the months leading up to my wedding?

[SpiderStardust]

I'm severely anaemic and with it, am very pale and shitty looking. My mum likes to call it "tired looking".

I've used self tan lotion in the past with various results but I'm getting married in May - just 4 months away and straight afterwards we're going on holiday and then a month later, another week away in the UK. I always look shit on photos, like the old victorian women that were always puffy and pale.

AIBU to consider sunbedding it from now until May? give me a bit of colour and with it, a bit of self confidence?

Anyone else use them for special occasions??

[BarbaraofSeville]

if you are naturally pale, you probably won't look significantly different anyway, especially in the photos. Definitely not worth the risk using sunbeds.

A relative of mine died in her late 30s of melanoma that was almost certainly caused by heavy use of sunbeds 15-20 years earlier, leaving young DCs without a mother.

Either use fake tan, make up, or talk to your photographer - can they do anything with lighting and filters to make you look less tired and pale in the photos?

[SandrasAnnoyingFriend]

I did a few sunbeds before my wedding 6 years ago - maybe 5 sessions. I did look healthier, not tanned but 'well'.
Unfortunately I developed melasma a while afterwards, resulting in brown patches across my forehead and moustache area. I don't KNOW that the two things are related, but it seems likely. Fortunately mine has almost faded away now that I use factor 50 religiously, but it was such a confidence killer.

Don't risk it.

[GraysAnalogy]

It's up to you, but given how much it increases the chance of skin cancer I would say YABU

[sleepwhenidie]

Not worth the risk. Experiment with some different fake tans over the next couple of months and find one you like, I have tried loads and Vita Liberata mousse is just amazing - try the light shade in the normal mousse and if you like that you could invest in the Phenomenal version which claims to last 2-3 weeks. The best thing about it, either one fades very evenly, provided you expfoliated before applying you won't get any horrible yellow/orange lingering patches which I've had with other brands. Smell isn't strong, guide colour isn't so obvious you can't go out after application and it sinks in fast and dries quickly (use plastic gloves and a sponge mitt to apply for this reason).

[ButtfaceMiscreant]

I am super pale with red hair - I figured if DH didn't like me that colour he wouldn't be marrying me, so refused to consider trying to get tanned before my wedding (I have never been any colour other than snowman white or lobster red; I wasn't going to experiment on my wedding day!)

If you want to be tanned for your wedding, I would say try a spray tan now, to gauge the colour you will go and how long it will last, and ditch the idea of sunbeds.

[whois]

I would go a couple of times to look like 'me who was on holiday 2 months ago' rather than 'me after winter'.

[notquitehuman]

If you're going to use sunbeds then make sure you really commit to the Madge look.

Seriously though, I'm rather pale and wouldn't use a sunbed. Too risky. I find the moisturisers with gradual tanners are best for a natural glow. Or treat yourself to an expensive, subtle spray tan in the days before the wedding.

You never know... With climate change and everything we might all be lying in the sun by May.

[ChatShitGetBanged]

no no please don't do it

if you are naturally pale then you will prob just burn on one anyway and get very little colour

and quite apart from the skin cancer risk I would stay the hell away from them because of the way they age your skin

[squoosh]

Sunbed tans never look like real tans, they have a kind of apricot tone to them. And fake tan doesn't photograph very well, it always looks more orange than in person.

Nothing wrong with pale!

[FlatOnTheHill]

Im really pale and understand. I would have a subtle spray tan if i were you.
Sun beds are a no no. So dangerous

[Fluffycloudland77]

I had a fake bake spray tan before my wedding and looked brown on the day.

[Faye12345]

I used them to take the edge of the whiteness and dont regret it!

[TheSecondViola]

Good idea. As long as you want skin cancer as an anniversary gift in a few years.
Sunbeds should be banned, ridiculous things.

[HPsauciness]

I used a very light fake tan for my wedding, just to take the glare off the white arms and give a very subtle glow. I loved the photos and was very happy. No deep TOWIE effect needed if you pick the right one and experiment beforehand.

[Helloitsme90]

I had a trial run spray tan before my wedding to get a feel of colour and longevity. Loved it. I use sun beds probably around once every 6-8 weeks when I'm not pregnant (so around 8 times a year) I know the risks and i prefer spray tans. But don't see the harm in using sun beds once in a while (my OWN opinion) before I get slammed. Go for it OP if you feel comfortable too

[MsMims]

YABU. Not worth the skin cancer risk.

So many non-harmful ways to get a tan now, there's really no excuse for using sunbeds unless you're a complete idiot. You've got plenty of time to experiment with gradual tanners and spray tans before May.

[RudeElf]

My friend has to go every six months to see if she needs any more of her skin cut off. She is in agony after it happens. Its awful seeing her like that. Please dont use sunbeds.

I am very pale with dark hair. I dont tan, i burn, peel and go back to blue. When i went abroad i used St Moritz mousse tan in dark (£2.99!) and i swear in the photos it looks like a real tan. Everyone commented on how well i took the sun i agree many fake tans can be orange and awful but i am so impressed with the St Moritz i dont even try any others now.

[Scuttlebutter]

I'm naturally very pale with blue eyes and dark hair. I've used a lovely Clarins product called Golden Glow which you mix with your moisturiser. You control how often you apply it and how much, and I usually add just a couple of drops twice a week and it's enough to give a beautifully subtle healthy look to my skin without looking fake in any way. Clarins also do very nice self tan body lotions etc for legs. As others have said, spray tans these days are also very much more subtle and I've seen some gorgeous results on women with similar colouring to my own. Please don't use a sunbed - I wish they could be banned.

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

I used Skin So Soft Glow to even out the scars and stop bystander nausea before going to the Med last year. DW reckoned I looked pretty good for a fat pallid ginger.

[unimaginativename13]

You would be surprised at how different your skin looks next to white or ivory I had to lay off the sun beds before my wedding

[ManneryTowers]

Don't use sunbeds. No matter the 'they're totally safe' propaganda, they aren't. People die from using them, they make your skin age more quickly and a tan is just evidence of skin damage.

That said, I do like the look of a light tan. I'd recommend a professional Sienna X spray tan done two days before your wedding day. Have as late an appointment in the evening as you can, then don't wash it off until the next morning. You then have one day to let it settle and it will be perfect for your wedding day.

I also recommend St Tropez in shower tanning lotion in between spray tans. It is so simple to use. I am one of the world's most impatient people and I just slap it on, rinse it off and after a couple of uses have a very natural tan.

I am the colour of chilly milk normally but this does warm me up to human.

[ChatShitGetBanged]

a good fake tan is the boots soltan airbrush spray

its usualy on offer, its foolproof gives a light even tan that doesn't go patchy

[nextusername]

No, don't use a sunbed.

There's nothing wrong with pale and interesting, but if you prefer a tan then fake is the way to go. Or a tinted moisturiser.

[specialsubject]

the oompa-loompa look (and fake tan often looks like that) is liable to scare your groom - check out the wedding regrets thread for people who say how daft they looked.

sunbeds are stupid for all the reasons above.

he's marrying you for YOU. Brides slapped up, hair piled high and painted orange always look awful. He's going to see you asleep, awake, vomiting, possibly even giving birth. And you are worrying about the fake tan coming off during the holiday?

you also need a hard look at your self esteem -'I am shitty looking' is really not good. Also tell your mum to stop insulting you.