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 don't think you really get ankle/knee problems with the Light type of tans.

But I have a sisal scrubby pad thing from Boots that I keep in the shower so in case of emergencies I can scrub the bejaysus out of the offending area.

Actually I just scrub the bejaysus out of myself in general as tan + exfoliated baby skin = sheeny legs.

Good thread Op and also nice legs

I hate orange tan but I’m going to try these drops now.

Cheers! That was actually part of the reason I decided to try it this year. The shape of my legs IS good - and I realised I was literally hiding them away for 20 years just because of their pallor and their veins. I got a few varicose veins plucked out a couple of years ago so it was only spider veins left (though there are masses on my calves).

The turning point was actually my Xmas party, where I had spent an hour Sally Hansening my legs and then put sheer tights over the top. I got loads of compliments from other women on my legs that night - loads! But the effort of all that camouflage wasn't sustainable.

And it planted a seed that maybe I was being an idiot, and that maybe they didn't need to be perfectly perfect, but just a bit more uniform in colour!

The thing about the smell that I have noticed is it if I do it(St Moritz or Dove daily) in the morning, dry and dress, I barely notice a smell as it can escape. If I do it before bed, any smell gets trapped so is stronger. Not used the drops though.
I exfoliated in the shower this morning and applied Dove to keep the colour up. My summer clothes just look better.

OP, I think I love you! I bought the medium tanning drops on monday after reading your post. I wanted fair, bit they were sold out. I have the best tan I've ever had and it's so easy! I can't stop admiring my arms 😁

I've just recommended it to someone on here looking for fake tan.

@escapade1234

"Have a tan.
Be tanned.

Not be tan."

You're wrong. Tan is a colour. You can be red. You can be green. You can be blue. You can be tan

I get what you are driving at as I think this is an Americanism but actually, she isn't wrong and if you are going to pull someone up on grammar you should also be shown when you're wrong.

OP I've bought IOP off your post in Medium. Not sure the colour is any different to what I achieve with my Garnier SummerBody which costs less but ill be happy if it fades more evenly and though its only one applicatipn, it hasnt clung to my elbow like tan usually does!!

Do you exfoliate between tanning?

I think the Light drops are back in stock as I had a quick look on the website 30 seconds ago (thanks to this thread!)

Yep I'm still loving the tan on my legs. It seems to have developed over a few days and is definitely darker than when I originally posted.. I like the colour a lot it's very natural, NOT orange. As it has deepened I have developed a patch where I must have applied more and it's darker. I do love it though it's a really nice tan. Very pleased

@MrsMidgeMaisel What do you use?

Well I'm a total sheep-just ordered

@parkagain I've got the Isle of Paradise drops in dark - used about 5 drops and I used a no.7 body serum for the moisturiser. I've applied whole body this morning using a different moisturiser as the serum is quite runny anyway and adding the drops made it more so. I'm loving the colour on my legs it's a great tan

I agree. I feel loads better when using IoP Tanning drops. I’m almost translucent but actually use the dark one. I think it’s to do with the undertones in my skin.

This has pushed me to get mine out of the bottom of the cupboard and use it, so thank you OP.

Could I just ask, what type of moisturiser is best to use with it? I currently have a soap & glory body butter but it's felt greasy & thick all day, and I actually feel like I have a lining of something under my jeans!

I’d use a lotion rather than body butter.

I am a life long fake tanner and had never heard of these!!! Buying now!!!

I bought these the other week in light. I just want to take the glare off the blue tinge on my legs rather than have a proper tan. I got round to trying them last night - used two drops in a squirt of body lotion big enough to cover a leg - looks natural and means I am happy not wearing tights to work - big 👍🏻 From me!

Me too OP, except it's James Read Body Foundation Wash Off Tan that's changed my life. I don't need to fake tan my legs anymore. Wouldn't have believed a wash off tan/body makeup thing could look so even and natural but it does, applied with a mitt. And it doesn't come off on clothes.

I should say, I am very pale.

No you don't want to use body butter. You want to use the thinnest slipperiest lotion you have. I find the drops make it a bit slower to dry in, so if it takes 30 secs to dry in without, it'll be 5 mins with. So I don't use anything too rich.

I agree, I have always been very pale (I mean almost see through pale!) but very thin - would wear skirts, shorts etc. In the last few years I have put on a lot of weight and stopped wearing anything that didn't fully cover my legs. Have put a bit of shower tanning stuff and felt souxh better and have stared wearing shorts again.

I must say, I'm particularly impressed with having a healthy colour to my face. I look kinda like I'm wearing some light makeup, even though I'm not!

Damn I love his Thread.. Ordered the Medium

The best tip I ever got re fake tan application is this:
If you do get a streak, or a ‘heavier’ line/mark, or too much product somewhere, then dab on some hair-removal cream (Veet, or Nair or some such) on the offending mark, wait a couple of mins then wipe off. The extra tan build up wipes away. If it’s still there dab on the Veet again, wait another couple of mins then wipe off. It’s a bit trial and error time wise but it’s like a magic eraser with no scrubbing!

Snooks1971

brilliant tip