To fake tan or not before sun holiday?

[Doximama2]

Booked a last minute sun holiday for Saturday and am white as a ghost post winter. Wondered if anyone fake tans before holiday and if so does it become streaky and messy from swimming and sun tan cream? I only use the garnier gradual tan lotion not a full on fake tan. Interested what people do, any advise welcome !!! 🙏

No, I like to let other people on the beach know I'm on holiday by dazzling them with my white bits. I'll save my money for a cocktail.

Some of us don’t have any melanin. Years ago I did a few weeks of sunbeds before a holiday and I was the exact same colour as when I started.

Then I went to Mexico and 3 weeks later I was the same colour.

Fake tan all the way for me!

I actually find the proper fake tan less faff, you get it done in one go and it’s easier to get proper coverage.

Avoid the clear ones at first because you can miss bits and try an express one. Leave it on for 2 hours then rinse off and you get a great light colour.

For those who use a spray tan or fake tan, do they go patchy if you are in the pool or sea a lot? I am incredibly pale and simply don't tan at all. My family all like pool/beach holidays and I don't mind them but feel very self conscious is swimwear as the palest person on earth. I've often been tempted to get a spray tan before I go. I don't mind if it fades but worry that the chlorine/sea might make it come off in patches. Does anyone have any advice?

(Before anyone says anything about sun safety I wear factor 50, always sit in the shade, cover up in the hottest part of the day and wear a big hat. I do like being on a warm beach and swimming in the sea/pool though)

A tan doesn’t instantly appear.

Im Scottish and so pale I need to warm up from blue to grey to white to a hint of colour and that can take about a week!

So yes I like to fake tan so I’ve got a bit of colour to start off. It doesn’t stop you getting a tan anyway.

Although now reading about skin cancer rates rising, I’d rather my tan came from a bottle than the sun anyway. Changed days from when I’d lie out for ages.

I dont tan at all. Actively avoid the sun due to rosacea which appeared in menopause.
I am pale and no fake tan works on me.

I am shocked beyond belief that some people still use sunbeds. One day they will be banned and future generations will think wtf.

OP enjoy your fake tan and have a fab holiday!

I did that once and came back paler than I went…

I am pale too and feel so much better with a tan. I'd probably get a spray tan if possible though, as I cannot seem to do my own back and I don't trust dh to do it properly either 😅

I always come back paler than I go, even if I apply more fake tan halfway through. But I’m very happy to be so as I’m positively phobic about the sun on my skin.

I always do. I love the gradual tanning lotion, I start using it as soon as it shirts weather. By June I don’t now what’s real tan and what’s fake.

I fake tan before and during sunny holidays, unfortunately despite best efforts I dont take a natural tan in the sun at all!

I know someone who had a fake tan before her holiday and she said she came home paler than she went.

I always fake tan before I go on holiday as I am so pale and pasty. I don’t really tan either so top up with Garnier gradual glow

Just a little bit on my legs a couple of days before we go. It gets me through until I get a bit of colour.

I like very pale looks. Bluish. Like elves.

Products with DHA at lower concentrations plus hydrating ingredients like glycerin or aloe tend to fade more evenly (just make sure your skin is well-moisturized before applying).

That would be me! I had one once..quite a light one...and it was quite funny to compare photos after a week

I fake tan all through the summer. You shouldn’t be sitting and sunbathing.

Gradual tan is still fake tan 😂
I always build up a bit of colour with fake tan before holiday. If you're not going to be in the water a lot then a spray tan is absolutely brilliant. I do find it goes patchy though if you're in and out of the pool all day. Ill use gradual tan as an after sun to build colour on holiday as well. Bondi Sands is the best. If you find that fake tans streak on you then Vita Liberata Body Blur is a brilliant body make up that washes off, obviously no good for pool days, but for evenings you have what looks like a week by the pool tan in 5 minutes.

I find the gradual tanning mousse a lot easier to apply than the garnier cream (seems to take ages to dry!) i used to use the st Tropez gradual mousse but it’s quite expensive - but just seen this is in the sale so might try it !

https://www.boots.com/dove-dermaspa-summer-revived-medium-to-dark-self-tan-mousse-150-ml-10278839?traffic=paid.shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19971248798&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwRHRtoGwyyg7oZGKAaJCmpeg&gclid=CjwKCAjwtcHPBhADEiwAWo3sJjAmNSJY7ekah7KJqI_zy-s9X2DDlsa1Gl8J7To9OW5U2Ob5lEbP6hoCSLUQAvD_BwE

My legs for some reason take ages to tan, I did try one of the tan exceleraters (you apply a few days before and during sun exposure and I think you can use with fake tan) and it did help with my legs tanning quicker ! I think it was called fox tan

What is ridiculous is that you dont realise 'proper tan' = skin damage. There are lots of reasons to fake tan. As you seem so confused here's a few for you

1. You look bronzed and glowing as soon as you arrive. Swimwear, shorts, dresses etc look more flattering straight away.
2. Sun exposure causes skin damage. You get the tan without your skin having long exposure to the sun
3. No uneven colour, sunburn or tan lines
4. Many people dont tan at all but like the look of a tan on holiday so fake tan is ideal.

I really protect myself from the sun now and look back in horror at the hours we spent when we were younger just baking in the sun. My dad was a sun worshipper and has had a few cancerous growths removed from his skin despite having dark skin that tanned easily. Its just not worth the risk when fake tan products are so good now.

I get a spray tan before a holiday, love how it looks. Exfoliate well first and use the barrier cream on heels and elbows.

I get a spray tan, I'm naturally quite pale and even with a natural tan I wouldn't be very dark so a spray tan helps me feel less self conscious when showing my pasty bits for the first few days. I find it wears off evenly and I bring some fake tan with me to top up my legs half way through as I never get a decent colour on them.

Because we don’t all have skin that tans easily!