This summer I decided to be tan. Its changed my life.

[ElspethFlashman]

Well.... Not changed my life. But certainty changed my self image for the better.

It's true what they say - tanned fat is a lot nicer looking than pasty fat.

This summer I've been using tanning drops in my body lotion 3 or 4 times a week. My legs are a mass of spider veins, but the colour makes them less obvious and I've worn a denim skirt a lot this summer for the first time in years. Yesterday I bought denim shorts!!!

Ive started using it in my face moisturiser and whilst I still need something for the dark circles, I look a hell of a lot better without makeup.

My arms look lovely, all warm and sleek.

3 different people have asked me if I've lost weight. I haven't!

It's startling how different this summer has been just because of this one thing. I feel like one of those other women now. Those women you see wearing shorts and sleeveless tops who always looked so healthy. Maybe this was their secret all along and nobody told me???

I have fat / white / cellulite / thread vein legs and I may give this a go!
I don't wear short dresses because they are just so white (and ugly) I do think tan looks nicer! Gonna try it!

I use a gradual tanner in the summer and people often say to me how nice I look! Only light as well, medium is far too dark. I even look back at pictures of myself and think wow, I looked good then, what was I doing differently.... ah yes. Tan.

Have a weird mental image of your brown boobs on your white body now

Yeah it's white fish belly lol. And snow white jiggly arse. Thankfully DH is completely oblivious to these things. Or more likely just doesn't care how piebald you are if you're nekkid.

I have always had compliments on my natural tan with St Tropez in shower tan. I use medium. No streaking, beautuful natural colour. I apply it all over the body but even if you miss some (like your back) it's not noticeable at all. I also use it to even out tan lines.

I spend most of the sumemr at naturist camps so usually have a good tan but most of the others who have been doing it for years look like crocodile handbags.
i think fake tan is the way to go.

Thanks I've just ordered Medium from Boots,£13 instead of £19

I swear by Bondi Sands gradual tanner. I always get comments - and not in a 'Oh, she's been on the fake tan!' kind of way. I've recommended it to so many people. A little colour makes all the difference.

Legs look lovely OP, I’m scared of fake tans but I’m always hovering around them in boots. I’ve seen good things with the St Tropez purity tan too

Eslpeth I love the sound of your man, sounds like a keeper lol

I'm off to exfoliate and apply my tan

Can recommend St Moritz available in Wilko very cheaply-as good as St Tropez imo. Do get a cheap mit too.

Brilliant thread and very timely. I was heading away for the weekend but knew pale white skin was going to look awful. My DD aged 22 told me to fake it. I used Dove medium to Dark as it was all they had in Asda. She said it was a breeze. Because it was me I ended up being pretty streaky. Following an emergency call to DD I put more on and it went pretty well.

I had a fab time, wore vest tops, dresses etc and I felt great. I'm going to use it from now on. I feel like I've lost weight but I haven't lost an ounce.

I'm intrigued by the tanning drops. I am so thrilled that I can look so well. Thanks for posting

Sitting here like a bronzed goddess(in my mind) after 5 mins and a bottle of St Moritz. Gone for all over OP, what the hell it's only £3 a bottle! Will shower in the morning to reveal the developed colour and reapply in a couple of days.

I've had similar success this summer with St. Tropez instant tan. I just use it on my legs. I slap it on like moisturiser. Once it's dry it has good staying power.

Missing point - I was thinking how agile you might be putting your foot high up on the wallthen realised your foot might be on the floor💃🏻

So how do you avoid the streaks / hands / feet looking weird ?

I use a tanning mitt thing. Lots of moisturiser on dry areas, knees and ankles and sweep over these last. I also buff these areas with a towel. Then use the mitt to put a little on backs of hands. Basically lots of buffing and coloured mousse is the only way for me.

I agree with Delatron lots of moisturiser on knees, feet, elbows and hands. Let it sink in then apply tan with a mitt . The coloured mousse like St Moritz or Tropez means you avoid streaks because you can see the colour. I guess the drops are well mixed into the body lotion.

I feel like I've lost weight but I haven't lost an ounce

Yes! That's exactly how I feel! And people seem to think the same!

I don't do any mitt stuff. I think you do with regular tanner (and I couldn't ever be arsed) but you don't have to do anything with the drops except put on your lotion as you normally would. Just wash your hands afterwards or you'll have tanned palms!

I can't get on with fake tan.

It's never even no matter how carefully I apply it and it stains my towels and bedsheets.
I even had it done professionally once but still stains!
I don't know how people get on with the stuff.
Shame as I much prefer myself with a tan.
I'm so pale that in photographs I literally glow ethereal white!

Do you exfoliate in between applications please? And do you moisturise with only moisturiser in between applying your moisturiser with the drops?

Isle of Paradise is the only one I’ve found that doesn’t stain sheets. Or often I pop it on in the morning, wait 5 minutes then get dressed. No smell either.

I think you are supposed to exfoliate between applications but I’m a bit lapse with that.

Professional tans do stain sheets! That’s why I don’t bother with them. Plus the minute you get in the pool it fades so not worth it. I just take some with me on holiday and reapply .

WellTidy yeah I explained the exfoliation upthread.

Tbh if I'm not using the drops often I don't bother my arse lotioning at all. If I'm lotioning 3/4 times a week with the drops, I'm lotioned enough!

I'm not dry skinned enough to need lotion 7 days a week.

How do you exfoliate, with one of those rough looking gloves is it? I think i need to start exfoliating first!