Tanning...

[Girasole]

Sophie...my dermatologist recommended skinceuticals self tanner & she recommends after letting it dry for 15 min putting on moisturizer and letting that dry before putting light cloths on. Avoid too much on hand, elbows & knees and use gloves to apply it or wash your hands really good after application. I love tanning beds but after a recent scare with skin cancer I have decided to avoid them.

[echo2_62]

We've been tanning lately too and people think I've already been to Mexico and back - I love it! LOL! But yes a definite caution to those with fair skin to start off with way lower minutes - like the 3-4 that was suggested above. My sister typically has fair skin (before she spends summer outside with her kids!) and she gets excited getting up to 7 minutes without burning in the tanning bed.

Me on the other hand - I'm at about 18 minutes now and will prob. go to 20 minutes this last week or so before I head down to Mexico. My skin just soaks up the sun so I'm pretty lucky - I've got the skin that makes most fair people hate me

 

Haha and last time i was in Mexico, I actually stopped wearing my sunblock because after three days being there and wearing flip flops everywhere, I didn't even have the slightest tan line - or tan! Not the smartest thing I'm sure but I can't stand being there and not getting any colour at all.

 

Someone had asked if you're supposed to wear sunblock on your face in the tanning booth, or some other type of self-tanner or anything and the answer is NO! You can buy tanning lotion that is made for the beds that still has an SPF count in it but just about every place I've been to has specifically said no self tanners. Any decent tanning place should ask about your skin type before you start tanning and be able to recommend a lotion for you as well as how many minutes to go in for.

[sungoddess_08]

Just some inside info -- I worked at a tanning salon. We had a girl who worked there who would not tell people how long they should actually go for when they started - she would let the people decide! (not cool as they were really burnt). It depends on your skin type, and as mentioned before you should start anywhere between 4-7 minutes for your first time. It also depends on the strengh of the bed - ones where the max is 20 minutes, people who are fair should start at 4 or 5 minutes. Ones with a max of 10 minutes should start at 3 minutes. It's better to leave the first time and not see a big difference, than get burnt and have to wait to go again.

 

also - regarding tanning lotions they are not needed. They can enhance if they have bronzer, but a lot of people don't understand what that means and when they see bronzer they lather it on EVERY time....then come out orange! haha...All your skin needs is moisture before you go in, so any type of lotion will work. Also - a lot of the tanning lotions they sell at salons are for immediate appearance, so it's actually more like those fake tanners that turn people orange than helping your skin.

 

As long as you put a light moisturizer on your skin before going in, you'll get just as good of a tan!

[midnight24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sungoddess_08 Just some inside info -- I worked at a tanning salon. We had a girl who worked there who would not tell people how long they should actually go for when they started - she would let the people decide! (not cool as they were really burnt). It depends on your skin type, and as mentioned before you should start anywhere between 4-7 minutes for your first time. It also depends on the strengh of the bed - ones where the max is 20 minutes, people who are fair should start at 4 or 5 minutes. Ones with a max of 10 minutes should start at 3 minutes. It's better to leave the first time and not see a big difference, than get burnt and have to wait to go again. also - regarding tanning lotions they are not needed. They can enhance if they have bronzer, but a lot of people don't understand what that means and when they see bronzer they lather it on EVERY time....then come out orange! haha...All your skin needs is moisture before you go in, so any type of lotion will work. Also - a lot of the tanning lotions they sell at salons are for immediate appearance, so it's actually more like those fake tanners that turn people orange than helping your skin. As long as you put a light moisturizer on your skin before going in, you'll get just as good of a tan!

oh good tips...thanks for sharing.

i'm going to start my tanning this week...only 2 wks before our trip. i'm planning on going 5-6x. it's been about 6yrs since i've used a tanning bed. i'm pretty fair skin and not one to lay out in the sun...but i really don't want 'tan lines' with my wedding dress.

[KittenHeart]

Sungoddess, great tips! Thank you! I've been going about 2 times a week and use the fancy lotion, now I won't even bother with buying it and just my regular stuff at home

[sungoddess_08]

Glad I could help! I definately bought it before and when I found out during training that it's not needed I became a bad employee and told everyone not to buy it! hahah...

 

But yeah, you just need to be careful when you go, too much is bad for you (as you all know), but I will need to go before June too some time,

[MrsC-to-Be]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamsgrrl I can't get a tan for the life of me. I've tried tanning naturally (I look like a lobster), and tanning beds (I was ichy and didn't notice a huge difference). So I think I'm going to do the spray tan thing.... my FI thinks I'll end up orange, so I'm going to experiment way in advance.

I think I may try spray tan as well....I burn in 2 seconds so I give up on tanning!

[purpleshells]

I started tanning last week...gotta say Ive been 4 x NO difference in my skin..besides freckles in my face........I got very light skin normally tan A LITTLE in summer..... wanted some sort of color before the wedding....whatever it may be..freckles or color.lol....but i gotta say im hoping for color....

[Holly22]

I hear you on the freckles. I'm covered. My face looks darker because I have so many. When you get a bit closer you can tell my face is just covered in them. So are my arms and shoulders.

[jennypenny23]

great tips on here... loved reading every post!

A LOT of myths have been busted on here for me...

 

Is it true that "some lotions actually damage the salon beds"...?

Theres posters of this everywhere @ my salon..... but is it because they don't want me to purchase my lotion for much cheaper (i.e. banana boat bottle @ walmart $12) ??

 

Does anyone know if there is any merit at all to this claim Or is it just another cash grab