Holiday, self tan and mosquitoes...

[Justkoko]

I don't tan, and prefer shade anyway so when I go on holiday I will want to take a self tanning product and use it daily/as needed. My usual choice is Bondi Sands gradual/foam but the gradual lotion is quite strong smelling imo. 1. Is there a less scented tanner I can use as I don't feel great with the smell of it on me every evening and 2. Will it attract mozzies? Maybe the foam just once every couple of days would be better than daily gradual, though I'd be nervous of it being very dark on me, I just want a light colour that takes out the blue!

I get eaten alive and end up with huge welts that can take months to disappear. I really need to find a good repellant but hopefully one which doesn't interfere with the tanner. I've had the deet sprays before but wow, the chemicals smell brutal. Would a lotion work? Are any of the gadgets/bracelets actually any use against mosquitoes?

Am I destined to spend my few days of relaxation as a chemical hazard or is there a solution?

Maybe the Garnier bodylotion? I use that on holiday. It smells nice and you get a good colour.

Supposedly Avon skin so soft repels bugs and they do a version that is also a self tanner- but I do not know how proven it is. It is not marketed as a bug spray.

www.superdrug.com/skin/body-care/body-oils/avon-skin-so-soft-enhance-glow-airbrush-spray-150ml/p/835856?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18152693967&gclid=CjwKCAjwqKzEBhANEiwAeQaPVWMPWBy0jIgvDwUwvrEfJpONhM3GfX2cDosHCNfU6awii1Av8AGCdhoC85UQAvD_BwE
Any bug spray containing DEET will take off spray tan
Boots do some after sun lotion with insect repellent.
Do not forget to take some antihistamine tablets and cream to make the bites go down

Just reading up and it seems like oil can break down self tan, I think deet may be oily? And you should use oil free sun lotion, which is fine, I just can't work out which ones are oil free!
Good point about antihistamines, I prob just need to take them daily.

I hope producers of self tan are reading this thread op because I have the same issue and there is definitely space for a new dual purpose product in the market!

Spray the deet based repellent on your clothes instead of your skin and where possible cover up a bit at night so there’s less exposed flesh for the buggers to nibble.

Will the deet not damage clothes? It's such powerful stuff, last time I used it I couldn't believe how strong it smelled, yet I got bitten badly anyway!
I know there's always been talk about avon skin so soft though it's not proven. I also wonder if careful choice of perfume might help, like lavender or something.
Supposed to be glamming it by the sea, but it's like the only way to avoid bites is head to toe jungle survival wear! (Which I suppose would negate the bother with any fake tan as I can't have any skin on show 😆)

Can you not book a spray tan appointment ( I use the booths and they are fab) the day before your holiday? They work really well, although your sheets will resemble the Shroud of Turin afterwards.
then just use a mozzie repellent when away

I got worried about deet years ago in Africa and like an insect repellant-making genius, I invented my own made out of a johnsons baby oil spray with loads of drops of different essential oils that I happened to have including citronella, lavender, rosemary, ylang etc. Anyway it worked like a bloody charm! Not a single bite and usually they love me and they bit my husband instead. No idea which essential oil did the job in scaring off the mozzies but something in it did.

Maybe I’ve missed the point here but I don’t find fake tan smells once you’ve showered it off. I’m on holiday at the moment and have brought my fake tan with me. I applied it last night before bed and showered it off this morning before breakfast and I can’t smell anything.

Is op being bitten in the night maybe?

I don't think I'm bitten in the night, I get obsessive about keeping doors closed to keep them out. I think it's possibly in the evening? Not sure.

The gradual bondi sands is good but I can definitely smell it. It's not a wash off. The foam one is though, though then I'd be ruining hotel sheets. I know it washes out but I'd still feel bad.

Anyone used incognito shower gel/soap? Could I combine this with my gradual tan/sunlotion and some of the insect repellent?

Still debating whether to take gradual daily tan lotion or just get some of the 1 hr express stuff and use it every other day.

Pestects are good - I wear one on my wrist and one on the opposite ankle. They don’t seem to mark the gradual tan I use.

Is that the bracelets? I've heard really mixed things, I'm just so prone to it I'm not sure it'd work for me.

I think most self tans have a smell but only when the guide colour is developing. One I use that didn’t smell barely at all was the isle of paradise water, there’s no guide colour so you can’t actually see where you’re applying it, just have to rely on your skills 😆also could the the kids mosquito bangles be doing they’d work Id they love you that much.
Strangely my sister gets eaten alive in Egypt, never seen anything like it, but doesn’t elsewhere 🤷‍♀️

You can buy sheet protectors for the night you fake tan, from Bondi Sands and Next apparently.
I got mine in Primark a couple of years ago. It’s like a single sheet sleeping bag, it has no zip and is a little awkward to get in and out of. Apparently the Bondi Sands and Next ones have poppers.

OP i get really badly bitten by mosquitoes & i react v badly to the bites..

I wouldn't take chances with bracelets / Avon etc as ive been hospitalised before with cellulitis from bites

I use jungle formula strength 5 deet. Its horrific stuff but it works to keep them away pretty well.

Don't spray it on your clothes it will seriously damage them! I had a beautiful expensive pair of silver leather flat shoes & accidentally got deet on the side & it melted the silver off.

It melts nail Polish etc

I spray it onto a wad of kitchen roll or toilet paper & dab it on exposed areas like wrists, ankles, and v lightly over my face

I also have a small version that's a rollerball like a deodorant & i bring that out with me so I can top up as dusk falls.

Keeping windows closed in the bedroom is KEY for me as I get eaten alive at night while I sleep if they're in the room

I use gradual fake tan & just top up as required

I adore travelling & being in new beautiful places but I detest all the prep it takes for me as a pale red head whose body is like an all you can eat buffet for bugs

Yes, I'm strict about windows being closed! If we're out on the balcony the door is closed!
I've read that deet literally melts plastic so would want to avoid getting it on anything. The kitchen roll idea is good. It seems like deet is the best option. Maybe a roll on for top ups too. I'd heard it'll take off the tan too so I'm thinking either my gradual bondi sands to use daily or maybe the foam. I always say bondi sands because it's always been a good colour for me. I'm pale, but possibly want slightly deeper than the gentle glow the gradual gives. But not very deep or obvious. I've used the light foam before but considering the dark foam. I'm not sure just how much darker it will be, my legs always seem to look white though. If you put gradual on every day, would it deepen more and more or start looking fake? I never keep up momentum which is why foam every few days might work better.

ime dark isn’t that dark once you’ve washed it off !

I find that the gradual tan comes off easily on holiday, particularly if you will be in pool (or sweaty). I just took that during my last holiday and never felt brown at all and really regretted not taking one I could wash off.

Thank you, maybe I'll be bold and just try it while I'm away, then back to the lighter stuff when I get home...

Big fan of incognito - this year used the shower gel, aftersun (which I really rate) and the room diffusers. I wore a bracelet thing all holiday but not convinced they work but wore one anyway. Take a daily antihistamine a week or so before I go away and whilst away and take a piriton at night if I get bitten. Closed doors etc to keep the pesky buggers away.

I rarely bother with perfume when away now - other than ‘eau de incognito’ 😁🥴

Hydrocortisone cream as soon as I get bitten.

Can you wear your repellant stuff for the evening then shower and apply your tanning stuff at night?

Good luck with the tan and the mozzies.

I’m away now and just use the garner foam at night. I do a quick, very light foam followed by a big moisturiser each night (and I smell of the moisturiser to be honest). Then wash it off in the morning, lots of exfoliating in the shower and then a quick once over with the electric razor and moisturiser again. Takes me 5 mins at night, 15 in the morning. My skin is super pale and it’s a lovely very light tan colour, soft and smells gorgeous honestly. I use factor 50 all day, not sure if it’s oil based not checked, probably is. No issues with mosquitoes.

St Tropez express tan is my new go to!

You can shower after an hour or 2 and still go a lovely colour. I’m super pale and find it works really well on my skin. Shows a lovely light tan, no orange or streaks.

mosquitos I don’t have any advice on how to not get bitten. I usually get targeted. I’ve used bands and also spray and still got bitten

I spray tan before I go (sienna x) top up with the sienna x spray, which is for your face but I use it everywhere. Jungle spray over it is fine.