Talk to me about fake tan ... please!

[Farcry66]

I've just been invited to probably the poshest wedding I'll ever go to. It will be fairly small, about 50 people (covid regulations allowing although not until August). The other 49 people are those of the beautiful kind! I am not!

I've bought some kitten heel sandles to practice walking in them. Have decided to go bare legged, tea length dress - have several possibilities but will get it much nearer the time because I'm losing weight and toning up.

I ran reasonably well but am fairly high risk for skin cancer so don't want to use a tanning bed.

I spend a lot of time with teenagers and some of them are very orange - not a look I want to emulate. Am thinking about getting a spray tan for it.

What do I need to know? I want a very natural but even sun kissed look.

*tan (I didn't run anywhere!) I don't run!

Try Superdrug’s 10 minute tan. You wash in the morning, leave body lotion off, then at night apply and leave it on for 10 minutes. Then rinse off in plain water and pat dry.

Or get a spray tan and tell them you want a light tan because they come in different strengths.

I know you said about getting a spray tan (I've never had one so can't comment and I'm sure someone will pop along soon with advice on this) but I just wanted to give a recommendation for a home self tan.

I originally bought this one in tk maxx a few years ago and it's the only one I've ever liked. Gives a lovely natural bronze look, no hint of orange in the slightest. Easy to go on as it's a mousse and best of all there is no horrible fake tan biscuity smell, which I can't stand. Just an idea because it's a decent price on Amazon atm and you have plenty of time to practice ahead of the wedding!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-My-Eternity-Tanning-Mousse/dp/B003CSH5QY/ref=mpssa111_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=for+all+my+eternity+tan+mousse&qid=1615142661&sprefix=for+all+my+&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyUlBNQ0g1RkdJMjRVJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzcxMTI5MlVSTkw1UTZTV0EyMiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODQzNTY5M01RWjBGWDY3QlFSSiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Honestly I'd just go and get the spray tan. Book one well in advance as a trial run and then book the wedding one for a couple of days before the wedding. I use home fake tan sometimes (for a glow rather than full on tanned-look) but I just think a proper spray tan is your best bet - especially if you're not used to applying it yourself at home. They can keep it light if you tell them that's what you want. I've never looked orange after getting a spray tan. Definitely worth it for a special occasion.

Boots n.17 the lighter version is great. Buy some and try it, not orange and doesn't streak

If you’re not used to using fake tan then perhaps a spray tan would be a better option. Alternatively, you could start practising with fake tan now and by August you may be comfortable with applying it. Tan Luxe is great, you just add a few drops into your regular moisturiser and that’s it. I find it looks very natural and it’s a doddle to apply

As long as you keep to a good exfoliation/moisturiser routine, spray tans are quick and easy. Plus you won't have to worry about that impossible to reach spot on your back.

You could try a gradual tanning moisturiser, Bondi Sands do a nice one

Go get a proper spray tan with all of the exfoliating treatments before. Go have trials too. Some people are better at applying it than others and you want to be 100% happy with the results. (That said, I’ve never been unhappy with the results of a spray tan. Even the worst one - which was great - looks better than my purple-white skin!)
Fake Bake spray tans suit me which I splurge on for special occasions.
Skinny Tan has a nice daily moisturiser which gives me a nice glow for less special occasions.
Sally Hansen’s airbrush legs for when I’ve forgotten to plan and need an instant solution (spray, then rub in quickly to even it out. Don’t wear white/pale as it can rub off, but mostly it’s fine)

What do I need to do to prepare my skin for a spray tan for the best affect?

The wedding isn't until August, plenty of time to try things out, see what works for you and what doesn't. I would probably fall into the camp of paying a professional as my attention span is 0, but I would have a trial the month before to test it out.

@Farcry66 exfoliate a lot to remove all the dead skin cells. But the timing is everything. You can’t do it immediately before applying the tan.
I had a very good beautician who suggested waxing prior to fake tan and that worked very well too. There was an art to the timing of the treatments though and I can’t exactly remember what is was. Either the day before, or a couple of days before...

You'll need to prep your skin with any kind of fake tan though so that doesn't just apply to a spray one. If you try to put fake tan onto skin that has dry patches or that you haven't moisturised/exfoliated, you're more likely to end up with patches or streaks. I'd shave, exfoliate and moisturise the day before the tan, then moisturise again in the morning on tan day (its been a while but I think they give you moisturiser for your elbows and knees when you get there?) - and I'd do that whether I was getting the tan at home or a salon.

I'd go with the spray tan. I've had them done by a woman with a sprayer and in an automatic booth in a sunbed shop and both came out great. I'm too scared to try self tan myself because I know I'd do something wrong. I wish I'd tried to teach myself in the last 12 months to be honest.

I suspect you will need to experiment (you have time).

I use st tropez daily lotion every few days and it results in a lovely light and natural looking colour.

However my daughters friend also uses same brand and looks really quite orange. So I suspect the result you get will depend on your starting point and the only way to know what will work best is by trying.