[Kitty]

I admit it....I used to spend way too much time in the sun when I was younger. Even up to 2001 I'd spend two weeks every July in Daytona Beach, FL. Beach sun is brutal.

Once I stopped going to FL and having any time to actually get a tan the natural way I started going to a tanning salon (at the encouragement of a friend). I got hooked. I'd start tanning in March and have a really nice glow before June. I never overdid it....I'm fair skinned anyway so what's "dark" for me probably isn't for someone who tans easily.

I haven't tanned in probably four years now. I can't take the heat of the bed. Plus, my skins been through enough. And it's expensive. And zaps my energy.

But, I feel like I'm the only pale person walking around in the summer time. It really shouldn't bother me too much at this point because I don't work anymore and don't go much of anywhere anymore, either. My philosophy.....if you don't like it don't look.

I've tried the self tanners but they don't always go on evenly and sometimes look orange.

What does everyone else do? I must be getting old (I'm 48!) because I honestly don't care anymore.

[Curious]

Have you tried any of the new gradual ones? Jergens has one. Not orangey at all. It changes your color very gradual, so you don't get that streaky look. Lil'Monkey has used the Loreal one for faces. She liked it..wouldn't share.

I have melasma on my face, so I avoid the sun like the plague. I use an 85 block every single day. But I use the Jergens on my body, legs and arms.

I am olive complected..not dark olive..light. lol. But you can see from my profile pics and other pics I've posted...my face..nope..no tan. I don't want wrinkles from the sun either.

[SandyC]

I used to do the tanning beds but decided one, I don't have the time, two, it's too expensive, and three, I want to avoid skin cancer.

Now I just don't care. I just think I was reincarnated from the victorian days when having milky white skin was in! Haha!

[DM]

Hey Kell! I agree w/Yappy; the Jergens' is inexpensive, doesn't seemt to streak and goes on evenly. I used to have a pool and worshiped the sun, but no more, plus I can't take the heat! I totally wither in the sun now.

And, your'e not old~~~ 48??? You're just a baby. *grin*

[Thumper2]

I can't believe when I was a teenager I used to lay on a tar roof, slathered in baby oil and iodine. Now I just get a little at a time. I have an olive complexion and I tan easily.

[Koala77]

I used to be kitty, but I'm now suffering from my hours in the sun during my childhood and teenage years.

Last year I had to have most of my nose removed because of an infiltrating cancer that had eaten nearly all the way down to the bone. There was just a small spot to see on the outside, but it was wreaking havoc under the skin. Had I not had it seen to it when I did, then nasal reconstruction probably would not have been possible. As it was, my plastic surgeon did such a good nasal restoration that my scars are barely visible, but I was one of the lucky ones.

Two weeks ago I had a malignant growth removed from my leg, and I had 2 removed from one hand several years ago. I also had a melanoma removed from my back last year, but luckily that was benign.

I no longer care that my skin is pale, but if I did want a tan for a particular reason (like a wedding), then the only way I'd agree to one would be by having it sprayed on, and definitely not a tan that involved exposure to any harmful ultra violet rays.

[Blues Girl]

I used to go to the tanning beds year round. I was obsessed. That was when I was younger. I haven't had a "real" tan for four years. I can't handle the heat, it's time consuming, and I just don't care about it anymore.

I use Clarins self-tanning creme in the spring and summer. It gives me just enough color to feel comfortable wearing shorts and skirts and it doesn't streak.

[SandyC]

Originally Posted by Blues Girl

I use Clarins self-tanning creme in the spring and summer. It gives me just enough color to feel comfortable wearing shorts and skirts and it doesn't streak.

And where does one buy this brand? I don't care what I have tried I always streak, even with Jergens.

[Blues Girl]

Originally Posted by SandyC

And where does one buy this brand? I don't care what I have tried I always streak, even with Jergens.

I buy it at Macy's. I haven't had any trouble with streaking and the color looks natural. It's more expensive, but a little goes a long way.

[kicker]

I've never used Clarins, but I sense it's more expensive since it's at Macy't but Jergen's Natural Glow (Wal-mart, Target, etc.) just did enough to make me feel less typing paper white. (or printer-paper white - does anyone type om a typewriter anymore?)