Please help - novice fake tanner, what do I need to do?!

[ShulasCreamCardiganCollection]

I am in need of some advice please from you wise lot.

After having my ‘size’ commented on by a ‘tells it like it is’ friend of my mothers, I’m now all set to go to a NY party with my parents and their mates (my parents are ill, this is possibly a last hurrah, and I will run any gauntlet to enjoy precious time with them). I have lost a stone but my arms are still a bit wobbly and I think a bit of self tan will help to disguise a few sins! But I have never used any tanning products.

Could some kind soul please advise what is a good / fail safe home method? I’m very pale (highly visible veins, yummy!) and have the classic farmer’s tan of slightly tanned forearms and stark white uppers. So would I need to vary applications to even myself out? Or would standard coverage achieve that? And do tanning products leave stains? If so, how long before you’re safe to roll around on someone else’s sheets?!!

I so appreciate any help! ❤️

Gradual tan might be a better idea.... basically body lotion with fake tan added. Dove is my favourite. Lightly exfoliate in the shower beforehand. Apply using a tanning mitt. Do legs first then work up. Ask someone to do your back or I sometimes pour the lotion on my back and use a towel on my back using both hands...hard to explain, hope you get the idea. Once you're all done, remove the fake tan mitt and apply a small amount to the outside of your hands.

Let it dry so it's dry to the touch then put on a loose robe that you don't care if it gets a bit stained. Wait for it to develop.... overnight or do in morning and don't shower until the evening.

Wear long sleeves or do some arm-toning exercises
Some of the self-tanning lotions are pretty much instant, but you need to leave them on for a few hours at least.

I would start with clean skin, not straight from the shower, having exfoliated, and having moisturised knees, elbows and ankles.
Apply an even layer of tanning lotion to where you want to be tanned. Let it dry and get dressed.

See what it looks like after a few hours.

It wears off after a few days. I find that swimming removes it.

Repeat after it's worn off and you'll soon get the hang of it.

Alternatively get a salon spray tan a few days before NYE. Not on NYE itself.

X-posted. Yes to the gradual tanner. Use Dove

Great tips! Thank you both! Dove bought and courage mustered!

You are welcome. If you want to tone your arms do 9
Dumbbell Overhead Triceps Extension
12 Best Triceps Exercises That Will Seriously Work the Back of Your Arms | SELF

If you need handweights, two identical full water bottles might do for starters.

thank you for the toning tips. I rock climb and do weights at the gym. I can actually do full sets of unassisted pull ups (even before I lost the stone!) but somehow never have toned looking arms. They are just flaccid, white and corned beef looking! And while I planned to find a nice outfit with sleeves to hide them, the outfit that fitted best was a jump suit (unexpected due to size of arse!) which of course is sleeveless. Hence hoping that a bit of tan will generally improve things! So thank you, I will try the tips!

Wow! I'm impressed. The triceps don't get toned much from normal activity, so you probably have toned strong biceps. The triceps exercises are hard when you start, but you see results quickly.

They were ecru not cream.

Yes, I like the look of the exercises in that set, thanks for sharing!
🥰ha! Agree! But she called them cream when she asked Alistair to find one for her!