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???

This morning I went to the beach.

IN SHORTS!

I was able to have a spontaneous paddle! Just walked right into the sea! I remember last year spending the day on the exact same beach in long jeans. And having to pull them up to my knees, all tight and uncomfortable to have a paddle and I felt quite self conscious. Everyone else was in shorts, it was roasting, and I felt ike I stuck out like a sore thumb.

I felt really good about that today. Such a small thing, so trivial really, but it felt so freeing.

Tan holding up well, I think I put some on yesterday morning. I'll probably put it on again tomorrow.

33% off right now ... www.isleofparadise.co.uk

OP you sound so lifted by this simple thing and I know just what you mean. I tanned yesterday after reading your thread. I do it fairly often but hadn't for a week or so. I felt so bronzed today, I wore a dress that is above the knee which for me is a rare occasion unless i'm in opaque tights. I donned some high wedges and felt fab and cool. DD15 said I looked good and that was enough for me. I bought another shorter dress with confidence. Thanks for sharing.

BTW the dreaded changing room lights weren't even so bad when tanned

How many drops do you add to a big blob of moisturiser? If you add to many do you go a bit orange?
I’ve been using an instant wash off tanner and it’s great, but obvs, washes off in the shower so I have to do it from scratch every day. These drops sound good....

I had a look at the product online and it says up to 12 drops. I'm going to get some and start with about 5. Better to start lower I reckon.

Heartily agree OP. I feel ten times better with a golden glow- like you I don’t need to be ‘brown’.
Pond’s cocoa butter gradual tanner is amazeballs if you want to try something else.

Palmer’s, sorry.

I use the Ponds one too its great.
I only tan bits on show too, I wear a lot of cropped trousers. I look ridiculous in the nude

I doubt you'll use 12.

Anyways, you tend to just use half a pipette or whatever. It's all very unscientific!

The tanned legs had an effect on DH tonight.....

@Benjispruce Jesus Christ does it work that fast? Im buying some tomorrow 👍

I discovered this about three years ago, and have never minded getting my legs out since. I use St Tropez water mousse, it's not coloured, but I prefer that as you can slap it on after a shower and wash your hands inbetween each section (e.g. legs/arms) and it doesn't stain. No need for a mitt/gloves. Makes me feel much more confident in summer, as otherwise I glow blue/white and feel larger (normally live in tight jeans). I only do the bits that show as well.

What body lotion are you using and how many of the tanning drops

Lol at tanned. Your legs look just er.. natural

@matahairyy helpful post, not. You don’t know the op’s skin tone before - she could be so fair that this colour is tanned for her.
Looking natural with a nice glow sounds good to me! Not everyone likes the mahogany look.

Do Clarins still do the drops? I used to use them back in the early 90's,they were amazing! I might get some some more.

I just bought some Isle of Paradise drops, nice one OP, and the posters who told us about the discount.

I bloody love fake tan. It makes you look so much better, especially in sleeveless stuff. I think it’s funny, how sneery people get. They are the same people who say, “why do you wear all that muck on your face?” like a 1920s Methodist grandfather. Or who say, “you’re very glamorous, aren’t you?” with a cat’s bum mouth (translation: you are a painted whore, not like clever, modest old me) if you wear, like, a nice dress or heels or something. Yay for fake tan!

I tried it, in light, last night. Did five drops per arm/leg, etc.

Only issue is it stained my fingers despite me washing my hands afterwards and there is a patch near my wrist that has been missed so I will need to go over it again.

Also, it does seem to smell a bit biscuit like - I used it with Vaseline Cocoa Moisturiser and there is definitely a smell remaining.

I assume on the patch on my wrist, I can just go over it again with less drops?

Are you scrubbing off the tan before reapplying or just going over it each time?

I complete agree OP, I look so much more alive with a light tan.

I use the Clarin's drops on my face every other night mixed in with my night cream. I use the 'body' one - it's the same ingredients but the 'body' drops come in a bigger bottle so I get more for my money!

On my body, I use Dove gradual tan body lotion for a light every day tan.

Thanks OP. I got some yday after seeing this thread. They've come today and I've put it on my legs mixed in with a number 7 body serum. I got the dark ones... so far my legs are a really natural looking golden colour, no orange colour at all (although I was expecting a darker tan). I did only use about 4 drops for each leg though. My hand definitely smells a bit of typical fake tan though but overall definitely a win from me thanks for the tip!

How do you all deal with ankles and knees?

I’ve had a similar experience with the St Tropez in shower stuff. I’m very pale and it’s incredibly subtle (I use the light). You wouldn’t even say I’ve got a tan, it’s just if I put a pair of shorts or a white dress on, it just looks a bit better than when I don’t have it on. Using 3 times a week in the shower, not a single streak, Completely foolproof, I’m a total convert after shunning fake tan for years. It’ll be far too light for a lot of people though. No sheet or clothes staining either.

No need to worry about ankles and knees either. I think if you put it on daily you’d get build up eventually but I haven’t had a problem.