OMG - how did I miss reading this before today?!? Faking it - always. Now, we are talking tans here. One product I really like is the Mary Kay sunless tan. It works well. As long as you exfoliate, moisturize and then apply you will have an even tan. I have not ever done my face though, so I am not sure how that would work. You don't want it too far up the thigh area either - mmm, let me just say it caused a little irritation because of the scent.

For those of you who are using the sunless tan, are you applying it to your face as well as your extremities? How does it work with one's face?

As for the other faking, I must say "When Harry Met Sally" comes to mind but not for me personally. Once though, I did use that Meg Ryan screech as a humour tactic with my guy - I giggled and he, being a man (no offence guys) walked around for months saying "Whose the man"........Thank God he didn't pound his chest too! So, mental note to self - never gain inflate someone's esteem that much, it can't be good for them!

I'm white as well. I do burn when I get out in the sun for to long. When I'm going to be out for a long period of time then I use sunscreen because if not I'm going to the store to get aloe vera for the burn that I will get. I don't go to the tanning booths because I don't have time and I find them boring. I went when I was younger. I still wear shorts and tank tops. My thought is that I am going to be comfortable in the heat. IF someone doesn't like the way I look, then they have the problem not me. I'm decent. I would never walk around in something to short or where my tummy is hanging out. It would be plain gross. LOL!!!! I love the tank tops where the bra is built in. I don't care if I'm tanned or not. It's just never been an issue for me. We'll see if things change after I lose the weight.

I wish those built-in bras were sufficient for my busom - sure would make things easier! Hate having my bra show in tank top armholes, so it's hard to find them that fit well in that sense. Maybe when I'm done losing the girls will be sufficiently harnessed in a built-in. Sure hope so!

I have stretchmarks and I've heard that sunless tanner can help minimize the look of them, but I'm an african-american woman and wonder if sunless tanner would work on me. Any other af-ams who have tried it? I'm a medium color (somewhere between Beyonce and Kelly )and have noticeable light striations on my thighs and legs that I'd like to cover.

I laid out once.... before my junior prom. I burned freakishly badly... and I said I'd never do it again. And I haven't.
I, too, am as pasty white as they come. My forearms are slightly tan year round because I usually wear t-shirts in the winter too.
Over the last year or so, when I started walking outside regularly (and dressing in tank tops for comfort) I have tanned on my shoulders and upper arms. And this is from walking EARLY in the morning for 20 - 45minutes before the sun is up over the treetops (around 6:30 or 7am). I don't put on sunscreen when I walk.
When I know I'm going to be in the sun for long periods (like when we are camping), I slather on the highest SPF I can find and I make my husband wear it too. I have found SPF 60 this summer! WOW. I will burn bright crispy red without it (and I don't want to ruin my tattoos - they are almost always covered in sunscreen when I'm out on summer days).

I've never fake tanned since I've lived in Arizona where the sun shines 363 days a year, and when the temp gets above 110 or so, you tan right thru your clothes.

On the other - it's been so long, I really can't remember.

Hi!

Well, my guess is that it would work on you...just go for the darkest option and give it a try! The most you can lose is a few bucks, right?

Let us know how it goes, OK?


Linda

And WOW...talk about reviving an old thread...I started reading and there were people I miss so much (Jill...Celina??? We miss you TERRIBLY!!!!!)
I was thinking we were having a good old fashioned reunion...then realized this sounds VERY familiar, looked at the date and low and behold...a year ago

I really want to try the lotions that gradually get darker, I've been told now is the time to start taking care of my skin so that I don't age prematurely. I've invested in skinscreen like there's no tomorrow, I am always wearing an SPF 30! Fortunately I have some native blood in me so I'm always a bit darker.

As for faking "it", I couldn't... my boyfriend would totally be able to tell. But I don't think that it's ALWAYS necessary, sometimes the intimacy and the connection is enough for this gal! Hmm, that sounds pretty cheesy.. plus with endometriosis.. ouchies.

-Aimee

I have started using the lotions occasionally. They are good, but I do find if you haven't exfoliated and moisturised like there is no tomorrow, they tend to streak a bit. I tend to go for every second day application, otherwise you go very dark very quickly and it looks fake.

I was a lifeguard every summer as a teenager and still have a thing for tanning naturally. I do use sunscreen now (as opposed to the afro sheen and baby oil we used to use!). I have used tanning beds but only to maintain a naturally aquired tan. I have used self tanners too. Mostly to help cover tan lines or early in the spring when I am white as a sheet but want to wear shorts. Right now I'm using a product by Ocean Potion that is a daily moisturizer but it has a bronzer that gradually adds color. It has done wonders for deepening the tan I've already gotten this summer.

As for the other fake, with a fling or two but never with anyone I was serious with, certainly not my husband. Does anybody remember watching SOAP? I can't remember the character's name but she was the red haired lady from Who's the Boss and was a really ditsy woman on SOAP. Anyway, I remember seeing an episode where there was a line about her faking it and then she made the joke that she faked it because whatever her husband was doing was annoying and she just wanted it to end. But then she realized that now he thinks she LOVED it and will probably do it every time. It was funny but it also made me realize that a girl should ALWAYS speak up!

I too am using the Ocean Potion gradual tanner stuff. Got a big bottle of it for $4 and like it so far. I've been using it for a few days now and have a nice light tan going. Looks pretty natural too. It is sooooooo very nice to wear my shorts and capris without blindingly white legs.
I slather on the spf 50 sunscreen I buy for the whole family when I go out in the sun so don't usually get tan at all during the summer any more. If I skip the sunscreen, after the nasty and dangerous sunburn, I will tan.

I have never used the tanning lotions (I bought some but never used it), did do the tanning bed (but that was for a fahion show and since I was wearing white they wanted me tanned). Now, my one and only tanning method is the sun. I don't just sit down and tan, I usualy tan while playing outside, or on the boat.

I always wear sun screen though, at least 30.

I used to lay out, but not now. I do spend most of my time during the summer outside either gardening, swimming, reading, or watching my daughter play (teacher and off all summer). I do use SPF 30, especially when swimming. I don't generally burn, but do end up with a nice tan by the end of the summer.

As for "IT", I don't fake although I did occasionally in the early years of my marriage. I found it did become like Lucky said...Hubby kept with the same thing that "worked". I found that a little instruction and honesty changed everything. For the most part it's not an issue, unless I'm really tired or that blasted TO DO list comes to mind, then all bets are off. At this point in my life and marriage it's ok--if it isn't happening, it doesn't. No offense, no foul.

Since I was always the burn and peel kinda gal I have avoided the susn most of my life....I even uses a large t shirt over my bathing suit to avoid the sun.....However, I've found as I've gotten older that the many freckles I have always had on my arms don't fade any more and now that they are merging with those disgusting age spots I appear more tan than I ever have in my life....

I did use one of those self tanners once...actually my cousin and I did and we laughed for months about what a mess we turned out....he still reminds me of it more than 40 years later.....and yes, I too, thought this was going to be a different subject matter....