Does everyone except me use fake tan?

[Hope2025IsASunnyOne]

I was watching MAFSA and I noticed that the women looked normal colour (Jamie actually commented on being too pale) and the next night, at the dinner, they all had fake tans. They all looked really great, glowing and healthy.

I’ve also heard those around me at work and other places saying they get a spray tan, or use fake tan.

I’ve never ever done this, mainly because I just assumed I’d look like an orange. Also I don’t have a lot of time to stand around and let it do its work.

That said, I look loads better with a tan and I don’t want to sit in the sun.

So, enlighten me on fake tanning please. Tell me how easy it is, what you use, and how long it takes and lasts.

Loads of brilliant recommendations on here!

Can someone please tell me how they apply fake tan / gradual tan to their back?

I use Dove gradual tan on my legs and arms. Ideally I’d put it all over but don’t know how best to reach all the bits of my back. This is fine most of the time, but looks ridiculous if I’m on holiday / in swimwear!

No, I don't. I'm quite happy with the natural colour of my (fair) skin. I don't think people 'look better with a tan'.

I use the garnier gradual tan. It applies like moisturiser and builds up (although I find once a week is enough) it’s amazing stuff, no funny smell and doesn’t make you orange!

I lived in Aus for a few years 12 years ago. Everyone I knew used fake tan, regardless of age. The tanned look is almost expected and I was constantly told to get one.

But as a very pale redhead it looks incredibly strange. I did it once and never again.

After leaving Aus I've lived in various other countries around the world and I would say 10 years ago most people (who weren't naturally tanned) used fake tan.

Nowadays it seems much less common actually, which is kind of lovely. I like seeing everyone's natural skin tone. Variety amongst humans is beautiful.

I have no problem with people using it, but I think it's important for young girls to see that not everyone does and it is okay to be pale.

I laughed when Jamie said ‘I’m too pale to go out’ because I’ve said it more than once 😂

I fake tan once a week. Either at home (St Tropez express bronzing mousse which develops in one hour for light to 3 hours for dark) or a salon spray tan (usually Sienna X or St Tropez). I’m a red head naturally so no chance of tanning without extreme sun damage (and did all of that in the 80’s and 90’s when I was young and silly…sunbeds, factor 8 max). These products develop according to how much melanin you have in your skin so you won’t end up looking like Bubbles Devere.. You need to exfoliate well in advance, moisturise thoroughly for days leading up to application and make sure you have no deodorant or products on your skin before application (or you might turn green). You’ll need disposable gloves (if you are doing at home) to wear under a velvet application mitt and non scented moisturiser to use to blend in ‘grab’ points like backs of heels, feet, wrists, around the hairline etc. start by applying the moisturiser to your feet, hands, knees and elbows before applying the tanning product. Make sure you either have a long handled roller to do your back or have someone who can do it for you. Start from the feet and work up. After you’ve applied everywhere blend in the wrists, hairline with a little moisturiser using a tanning brush (skinny tan does a good one). I usually tan before bed so I don’t need to worry about colour transfer to clothes and it washes out of bedsheets without too much fuss. All fake tans that are any good have a smell but it usually fades after washing off.

Good luck if you decide to take the plunge!

That sounds like an amazing and beautiful combination!

I use a gradual tan as I look (and feel) better with a bit of colour. I used to use a fake tan but find using a gradual is so much less hassle.

I have light olive skin, and my natural hair colour is dark brown, so I can look a bit washed out in the winter.

I use Isle of Paradise drops, maybe once a week, just two drops of the lightest strength, before going to bed. It just gives me a nice glow in the morning.
It replaces face makeup for me. I don't put anything on my face, no foundation, no bronzer, no concealer.

I use tanologist fake tan, wash on wash off stuff if going out…just to do my legs. Apply with their tanning brush and it’s so easy to put on. No streaks and not orange.

have just bought some of their gradual tanner so will see how that works.

I have a mobile spray tan lady come to my house twice a month (£35 each time) and it lasts well over a week and makes me feel so much better about my overall look. I also don’t feel I need to wear makeup once I’ve had one.

I’m a redhead with corned beef x blue skin, not your beautiful pre-raphelite type. I’ve had spray tans in the past, very light ones and it’s looked good. But I can’t be bothered with the faff.

haven’t used anything I. The last couple of years as live in north west, the stunners have been crap and my legs haven’t been out. But maybe if there’s a bit of Sun this year I’ll buy a bottle of dove gradual tanner.

but the very tanned big eyebrow look proudly orange hue is still popular round these parts.

Is this the orange bottle? I bought as someone said it doesn't small like biscuits but I feel it does. Really annoying. I am using it for a particular occasion just to give me a bit of a confidence boost and smelling liked a baked item isn't the vibe 😆

I used it a lot pre children but I am seriously pale. People tell me I look ill often. I’m a big fan of St Tropez or just having someone spray me. I never felt particularly skilled with it but a tan makes me look so much better!

MAFSA = Married at first sight Australia

I'm another one who is paler than pale, I got the skin from my Irish and Scottish ancestors but the red hair went to my cousins.

I like that I look a bit different.

And in Bali I got an extra long massage because of my 'beautiful white skin'.

not paranoid about skin cancer though? interesting

No. I like my (very fair) natural colour.

I use it in summer. Dove gradual tan is my go to which I mix in with my normal moisturiser to give a really natural glow. I’ve also used Coco & Eve mousse in medium which is lovely and doesn’t have that awful smell.

The trick is to exfoliate well, moisturise elbows, hands, knees and feet beforehand and apply minimal product with a little buffing brush on these areas. Then lightly go over elbows, knuckles and in between fingers (these tend to be my driest areas) with a baby wipe. It always looks seamless with no patches or streaks.

I don’t bother in winter and embrace my Celtic complexion.

No never. I've no particular desire to look unnaturally brown, I'm happy looking like someone who is protecting their skin from sun damage.
A gentle glow would probably look OK, but I think peoples perception of not too dark gets massively skewed when it is on themselves what they think is just a bit tan is veering towards a deep dark brown orange. I also think it looks a bit weird being so perfectly even (when it's not streaky) natural tan isn't like that.

I was hoping the obsession with tanning would fuck off with the skinny jeans and plucked eyebrows tbh. I'm slowly becoming fashionable for the first time in my life 🤣🤣

Hmm, I’m spring cleaning at the moment and I have found Clarins face and body tanning drops, and a bottle of Dove self tan from last year but never used.

I’ll give the Dove a go, then the Clarins. I have used tanning drops on my face in the past and it meant I didn’t need makeup.

I don't, I tan easily so once summer comes after a few days being out and about in the sun I go a nice colour which lasts til about October, I don't feel the need to be tanned in winter.

I only ever use the gradual tan stuff on my legs in the summer, mainly coz my legs are quite veiny/blotchy and it evens out my skin tone abit.
CBA trying to fake tan the rest of me though. Sounds like too much faff.

Check the expiry dates and don’t use of they’ve been open for more than 6 months.… you don’t want to turn green (I say this as someone whose DD often sends me desperate pleas from her friends as to what to do when they’ve done exactly that)

I love the St Moritz one from Tesco - I’ve tried them all, expensive to cheap, and this is my fave. However, I do think they do look odd on people who are VERY fair. When I use it it’s literally the same colour I go when I tan naturally - i tan easily on my arms and back but my legs take longer so I use this to ‘match’ and it works perfectly. I think the ‘orange’ look perhaps comes from people with mega pale skin - perhaps it doesn’t take so well. It’s so quick and easy to use and I feel 1000 times better with it on. I love it.

I got a Bondi Sands back applicator thingy in B&M! It unfolds into a stick with a spongy bit, very good idea.

I'm happy for all the proud Celtic ethereal types, I am one myself, but I look fuck all like Nicole Kidman and more like Nicola Sturgeon so yes, I do love a tan. I'll take all the help I can get.

Fake tan is a smelly faff and I don’t think it looks natural ever plus it goes orange as it fades