How do I tan with extremely fair skin?

Question

I have very white skin and it is extremely hard for me to get color on my skin. I have tried tanning beds but my body breaks out in hives. any ideas how i can become tan since i have wierd pigment.

Answer 1

Try Natural Glow by Jergens. Its alot better than those spray on tans. PLUS you moisturize at the same time.

Answer 2

With fair skin, you have the biggest risk of extreme sun damage. That damage is doubled by using a tanning bed, which uses two kinds of UV rays. So you shouldn't ever try to tan from the sun, and you should never even think of using a tanning bed. Never.

However IF you are dead set on using the real sun, you would have to do it extremely slowly. You would have to wear SPF 15 sunblock and start by sunning yourself for one half hour ONLY (before 10am or after 2pm), then increasing that by 15-minute increments. It would take you at least a month to get tan this way. I'm basing this on the idea you're not in a tropical zone---if you live in a place like Florida or warmer, you'd have to be more careful, and start out with SPF 30. Actually, I don't know if it's possible for a fair person to tan that close to the equator. I've consistently gotten second-degree burns (the blistering kind of burn) whenever I exposed myself to tropical sun, sunscreen or not.

A much better route would be to use one of the many self-tanning products available. I have extremely fair skin (lighter than most makeup companies offer foundation shades for), and I've used Estée Lauder Go Bronze for a long time. But there are plenty of other options. Clarins is another popular department store choice, and Neutrogena, Jergens, and Bain de Soleil are all good drugstore choices. You can experiment to see which works best for you. It's good to use those after you've just showered and exfoliated, after you apply your regular body moisturizer.

You can also find a spray-tan service like Mystic Tan. If you went to a place with tanning beds, I'd guess you're comfortable with that type of service. In a spray-tan place, they apply the self-tanner for you in a misting booth. It can be expensive but is worth it to people who rely on the convenience.

No self-tanner provides the real, skin-damaging "base tan" that they mimic, though, so if you go in the sun after you self-tan, apply the same rules as above---15-30SPF, limited time, only before 10am or after 2pm.

Happy tanning!

Answer 3

I have extremely fair skin too, so maybe I can help you out.

For my sister's wedding last year, I got a spray tan. I was wary, since I've heard that some spray tans turn you orange, but this was fine. It looked natural except for a streak or two. Just warning you now...RUB IT IN AND WHIPE YOUR FEET REALLY WELL. Also, make sure it hits your back as well as the front of you.

If spray tans aren't for you, maybe just try some bronzer on your cheekbones. If your face looks like it has a nice, healthy glow, people won't pay as much attention to your pale legs.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I also have very fair skin that doesn't tan easily. I go to a spray-on tanning booth so I don't blind people. After I get the spray-on tan, I lay out on the beach to build my summer tan. This process works well for me. Just make sure you use sunscreen when you do lay out.

Answer 5

I embrace my paleness, but I did try spray tans once. It turned out pretty well, make sure you rub it in well after its sprayed on you. The color looked very natural, it only cost me about $25. I'd give that a try. Please don't try to tan naturally, you will pay for it later with wrinkles and skin cancer.

Answer 6

You don't . You will ruin your skin and look like a zombie when you get older. Try the chemical self tanners in the bottles. Ban de Soleil is a good one