Not a pretty picture
 

How many of you have every used self-tanners? Even one person successful? Over the years I've tried just about everything made only to be an orange, streaky mess. Fast forward 5+ years. Heard about a new L'Oreal Bronzer that you can see the immediate tint so that you know where you're going and where you've been. Last night I showered, shaved and exfoliated. I used it on my arms and my legs. Smelled pretty good and looked even. I was pleased to finally have a little color on this lily white skin. Got up this a.m. and OMG!! It morphed into carrot orange and streaks all over. Plus, I smelled like a stinky dog.

Too hot to even think about trying to remove any of this during the day. Went downtown early p.m. for errands and had to wear a long sleeved shirt, jeans and socks.....it was only 90. Needed to conceal my creeping orange crude. So I'm on my way upstairs to try to soak, then see how much I can rub off.

Think I've finally learned my lesson. There is something in my body chemistry that turns all of these products into pumpkin orange. Faux tan faux pas for sure. Oh I'll have color tonight, bright red as I'll be missing the first layer of my skin. Supposed to go to a family thing by a lake on Sunday. I'm hoping I'm back to normal or it rains. Geeze......

Try spray tanning at a professional salon, perhaps that will give you a better look. Either that or do what I do and just remain white. My old legs look like birch trees stumps.


P.S. Please post a picture. I could use a good laugh.

LOL Sounds like something I would do. Haha, good luck!!!

Wow too funny. Never tried anything like that. I'm white as a ghost. I'll stay that way.. I burn really easy.

Not on your life......my luck somehow it would go viral! You'll just have to continue to use your own imagination. Loved your comment about birch tree stumps. ROFL

I've never tried a self-tanner. The American Indian in my blood blessed me with a great tan no sun needed. Good luck getting the tanner off, you might try vinegar? It's edible and cleans just about everything so you might try a bit on your leg or something to see if it works. Just an idea. Good luck :)

I recently saw an advertisement in a magazine (which I have now thrown out, sorry!) for a product which removes self tan. I hope you can find some.

I am at peace with being so white I am almost blue. On the rare occasions I need to be brown I spend on the spray booth things, which work really well.

Advertising is so hilarious! As I read this thread and looked at the top of the page where there is an ad for a sunless tanner. So ads do go on automatically, using words from what we post here! Wow! So sorry to read your story - hope it all works out for you. I've tried a few of these and didn't get very good results either, but not this bad.

Well, darn it! I didn't get an advertisement for sunless tanning. I still have that dumb Mayhem Guy...going to write that company!!

I don't sunless tan well either although I do tan in the sun. I've tried all the rub-ons, even the ones that go dark as you put it on...still get streaks. I think air brush tanning is the only way and then only if you get someone who knows what they are doing. I can't stand the smell of that stinky stuff!! LOL

I also have white birch legs! I absolutely do no tan even when I try and try. Finally gave up trying and just embrace my pale LOL! I do need long sleeves and mostly long pants in the summer though.

Pam

There is actually one product, Fake Bake, that really works and does not turn orange. It gives a beautiful light tan and if you want darker, just apply more every day until the color you want is achieved. Ask you hairdresser for it as it is a professional product.

A friend always turned orange too. She tried removing it with lemon juice and baking soda and had good results. I don't think she used them together, but would add baking soda to a bath, and she also used a wet cloth soaked in the lemon juice and buffed all over. Me, I have never tanned and would not use a self tanner because of seeing her orange one too many times. I do sit out for 15-20 min. in the sun when I can just to get vitamin D. Teased all my life for my pale skin, and am now at the age I don't really care anymore.

I have never seen any artificial tan that looks natural.

I am proud of my pasty white chicken legs, knobby knees and all!! well, it is easier that way anyway. I notice when I am in a swimming pool with light sides, my skin is the same color as the pool walls. I blend right in.

Who says that tan is the only "lovely" anyway? Lily white can look very nice as well-just take a look at Deborah Ann Woll.

I've come to the conclusion that "If God wanted me that color, he would have made me that color" So I don't even try. Never tried the tan in a bottle, and I burn quite easily in the sun.

I have had better luck using leg make up. Try Airbrush Legs by Sally Hansen. It does not give a tanned look, just makes your legs look better. Takes a while to apply and get it even. Stays on well all day and does not rub off easily. But does it leave a ring around the tub when you wash it off!

Yes, I'm just going to have to embrace my lily-white legs. Happy to report that I've managed to get the worst of the orange streaks off. Thank heavens I only put it on my legs and arms. Thought maybe the tan would camouflage the worse of the spider veins on my legs. I have to avoid the sun completely, hence no color on my legs in decades because I've had four skin cancers removed (three on my face, one on my shoulder). I've learned my lessons. Birch tree leg ladies unit!

I have Lupus and the sun is my enemy and I was thinking about trying one of the tanning products, but after all these remarks, I think I will just be white.

So sorry for laughing out loud for your delilma! You would think living in the SW I"d have a a great tan but dp not enough of the special stuff in my skin to tan. After having skin cancer on face, just gave up.

Have you looked, really looked at movie stars? They aren't tan UNLESS they are Native American or African American! So in my book, pale is good and healthier for me. Check out the red carpet...rarely is there a tan goddess! Just a diff slant on this.

I think I have legs that repell sunlight! Even when I was a lifeguard ... everything would tan .. but my legs... stayed white. I have concidered these self tanning products .. but after hearing your experience... I think I will just stay with the pastey look....

I was wondering who was on the other side of the shade tree.Growing up our front yard was Lake Erie and we were in the water all day my 4 brothers all tanned but not me -they always called me Lily White Walking Stick and I still don't tan and I don't mind being a LWWS

I've never tried any of it, used to tan out in the sun when I was younger, now I just don't care.

A friend of mine had that problem when we were in high school. It scared me away from ever trying. I'm sorry to hear they haven't weeded out those products that do that to some people. It's been a great many years since I was in high school, and you'd think they'd have gotten it right by now.

OMG!!! Im sorry, but I laughed my head off and then had to read this to my hubby. Sorry for your troubles, I hope it does come off, keep us posted.

My doctor recently relented and now allows me 20 minutes a day in the sun. That just about allows to and from the car and a little walking around. If I go for a walk, it's after the sun drops in the sky. My sister and I used to swim for hours--in shirts over our swimming suits. Once sunburned after 3pm--wasn't out until then. I will turn sort of tan--but still burn right on top of that. Some people just shouldn't go out in the sun. Besides, it gives you wrinkles.

I do tan a little bit - but never to the 'healthy glow' look

I can tell because when I get a haircut, I have a pale 1/2 inch line on my neck below the new hair line!
And my arms are darker than my skin that usually stays covered. They are wrinklier, too!

Ditto, Tartan! I have never been able to be out in the sun, but guess what? On Aug 1 I have to have a basal cell carcinoma removed from my face! I use sun screen, wear long-sleeved clothes and a straw hat when I garden, but I guess the damage was when I was younger (much younger) and had 3 bad sunburns many years apart.

I am certainly with you on that one...........very little sun exposure. Can anyone explain to me, even after avoiding the sun
my pale skin is covered with freckles? I have often said to myself, if only those blasted freckles would move closer to one another................I would have a tan. I know heredity

Love yourself whatever color you are. All colors are beautiful.

Why try to change yourself just to please someone else. Someone once told me I should tan and I told her I like being white. That ended those comments.

I don't even try to tan. My white skin is pretty. My MIL had the most beautiful white skin and complexion I have ever seen even at 80 plus years.

Tan Towels also do a pretty good job. Got mine on hsn.

thanks for the warning...............

I do use them. I just rub a little on my legs each morning so I don't have to wear hose. I just use the cheapy lotion too. I rub it in straight out of a shower while they are still a little wet. I can't say I use enough to get a "tan", but it helps add some color (grew up with the motto, "tan fat looks better than pale fat"). I'm also very freckled all over.
Fake Bake is good stuff, I'd forgotten about it.

I hate the smell of tanners, though. gag

OK, I'm confessing....I clicked on this one just dieing to see pics! I'm with you....I would need to save using them for fall when I can blend in with the pumpkins!

Here's a link for removing self-tanners, http://skin.knoji.com/how-to-remove-self-tanner/ If you google it, I'm sure you'll come up with something you can do at home.

Sorry, I don't self tan or real sun tan. Am also blessed with a bit of natural color. But, you did give me a little giggle. You painted quite a picture. (sorry)

Kudo's Seaside Gal, I wish I'd learned that before I EVER tanned. I shudder to think what I will look like at 80. I'm glad I gave up tanning before I ruined my skin by tanning too much. You on the other hand are going to have beautiful skin at 80. :thumbup:

Ok folks-- I have found a nice lotion that takes the edge off of being so "glow in the dark" white. I have not been brave enough for the fake sprays or anything. Anyways, this stuff works alright. I do just use it on my legs.
It is by malibu Tan. Called Hemp Golden Glow. Skin firming bronzing moisturizer. Has CoQ10. 18 oz. brown pump bottle.
Can buy it at Walmart or a drug store. Smells ok too. :)

I have had the same problem-- anything I use turns orange. Also part of the "Lily-Wite club" flaunt it -- and wear #30.