Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with tan

Whats the deal with spray tans?

Unred — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:11:56 -0800

What do I need to know, as a very pale girl, about getting a spray tan? I have to wear a dress for a wedding in about a month, and I'm a little worried about my alabaster skin distracting the wedding guests. I've never gotten a spray tan, but think it'll look better than smearing on self tan. Any stories/tips to share?? And any recommendations for NYC tanning salons are appreciated.

How can i get rid of my white panda eyes after a skiing holiday?

freddymetz — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:24:13 -0800

How can i get rid of my white panda eyes after a skiing holiday? After wearing sunglasses while skiing, that area remained white while the rest of my face tanned!
What can i do about this? Ideas that come to my mind are to continue tanning with a balaclava or to apply some kind of make up that will cover it up/even it out.
If anyone really needs a picture to answer my question, i can take one!

Fake Tan vs. Sun Tan

lukeo05 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:01:37 -0800

How does a real, UV created tan work when it is acquired after skin has been fake tanned with a cream/spray type product? If you fake tan before a holiday, when you get on holiday, how will the sun effect you? Will it not make a difference until the sun tan reaches the level of the fake tan, or will it all add together to create more and more tan...?

Is going to a tanning salon a good idea before a tropical vacation?

browse — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:30:29 -0800

Is going to a tanning salon a good idea before a tropical vacation? I'm the kind of pale white boy with reddish hair who gets sunburned really easily. Very easily.

And I'm making plans to go to Cabo with a girl in mid-February. Yes, I will slather on the sunscreen religiously. And wear dorky hats with really big brims. But aside from all that...

Would it make sense for me to start visiting a tanning salon between now and then, to build up a little tolerance for the dreaded UV rays? Any and all advice would be most welcome.

Laugh lines are not funny.

pseudostrabismus — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:51:31 -0800

I'd like your real-life testimonials for wrinkle treatments that actually work. Bonus points if your skin is brownish. I'm in my 20s and starting to get naso-labial folds, or laugh lines, from my nose to my mouth. Ack. Right now they're pretty faint, and kind of look like the ones in this photo. Close to my nose there's a shallow fold about 1/2 an inch long, and the rest of the way down to my mouth it's like a slight darkening of my skin in the shape of my future wrinkle. Waah, what do I do? Right now I use a powder compact to tone down the darker colour, but it gets kind of cakey. Liquid foundation is even worse- it creases.

I have about the same skin tone as the person in this photo. Olive-brown with yellow undertones, with slightly darker patches around my eyes and mouth. So I'm particularly seeking melanin-friendly remedies.

Oh, and I scar easy, plus I'm a cheapskate, so no plastic surgery and no weird injections. But creams, masks, scrubs, you know, topical stuff like that- fire away!

Why am I sun burned so badly?

Jimmie — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:23:11 -0800

I'm 50% Native American, and 50% Sicilian. Why am I sun burned so badly? I was out in the sun earlier today, used SPF 15 sunblock, and re-applied every 30 - 45 minutes. I was outside for less than 3 hours. I have never been severely sun burned in my life, and am 21 years old.

Spending nearly all of my days indoors (as a computer programmer), I thought a little natural light would be healthy. I haven't been out in the sun for an extended period of time for over a year (which gave me some nice dark color!).

I have no freckles, dark brown hair, and green eyes. I have a decent amount of curly, dark brown body hair. I typically get wonderful, healthy-looking tans, as if I've been restored to my natural skin color.

Today, I turned into a lobster. My lips are so dark I am considering seeking medical attention if they show no signs of improvement in the morning.

Oddly enough, my burned skin (practically my whole frontal-body) is not in much pain at all. I've been applying vinegar and aloe-vera every hour or so. I hope to purchase some cocoa butter tomorrow morning.

Why all of a sudden have I become so sensitive to the sun? Lack of protein in my recent diet maybe? If you have any suggestion for me, please shell them out :)

Also, I know the dangers of UV rays to my body. Please be constructive, as I am already burned, and telling me of my stupidity will do nothing more than hurt my character.

Casper or George?

BruceL — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 21:25:04 -0800

Are there *any* parts of the body that can be safely tanned without really having to worry about skin cancer? I've started wearing sunscreen on my face, ears, and the back of my neck every day now, but would like to (if it's safe) be tan from the chin down. But I thought I heard somewhere that it's not safe to tan the torso either. 35/w/m living in Phoenix who is just now getting with the program, after years of sun and burns.

Why are bodybuilders tan?

bd — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 23:42:59 -0800

Why the hell do bodybuilders use self tanner? Everytime I see a bodybuilder it seems they are orange in color and extensively use self tanner. Why is this?

It seems that some of them want to change their race such as these guys.

How can a very pale person get a good tan?

lazywhinerkid — Fri, 26 May 2006 03:03:06 -0800

I want a quick, real tan but I'm pale...really pale. People need sun glasses when I take my shirt off to avoid the glare... (more paleness inside) I'm going to be in a Persian Gulf country for 24 hours (long story) with not much to do except chill at the beach in the sun. I really want to come home with as much of a tan as possible. Being so pale though, I don't tan, I usually just burn. Generally the sunburn turns into a tan after a week or so but I'm hoping to maximise my 20 hours in the sun and get as tanned but not burned as possible. (And no, I don't plan to spend all 20 hours in the sun!) Are there any products, etc. that might be of assistance? Any other advice? Cheers!

How to fade or even out a real tan.

echo0720 — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 13:22:28 -0800

I tan super easily, I spent the afternoon in the sun. Now I have a farmer tan. I need to wear a sleeveless dress next weekend - how do I even out the tan lines in a safe way? For reference purposes, I have medium olive-tan skin to begin with (I'm Indian, relatively light skinned for an Indian girl though, I guess), and I tan super easily. Today I was outside for 2.5 hours in direct sunlight and didn't put on any sunscreen (oops, bad idea) and now I am very tan on my forearms, but pale on my upper arms and shoulders (not to mention my chest now has a v-neck tan - argh!). Any suggestions on how to fix this?

A great tan without the sweat?

brownbeards — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 17:45:09 -0800

Now that spring has sprung and it's time to pull out the skirts I'm looking for recommendations on the best self-tanning products. I'm looking for something that's easy to apply and doesn't leave me looking orange or streaky. It's been 10+ years since I've used any of these kind of products and my experience back then has left me a little gun-shy.

Tan B Gone

Mean Mr. Bucket — Sat, 26 Mar 2005 18:37:43 -0800

Will a glycolic resurfacing peel make a tan go away faster, or are there proven methods to reduce an accidental tan? How long does a one time tan last?

Tanning question

Dean Keaton — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 09:33:41 -0800

I just got a tanning booth subscription at my gym. I've never really been able to tan in the sun but I don't spend much time outside as it is. I have gone twice, 5 minutes at a time. (mi) Here's the deal: My chest doesn't see the light of day. It is now quite pink and tender, but less tender than it was last night. The rest of my body, even though it does not get out in the sun, has remained relatively unscathed. I am not expecting miracles or orange skin, I just want to get to the point of a light tan.

A. Is this possible with my skin type? (Tend to freckle, has been seriously sunburnt in past)

B. How often should I go to properly and safely "work myself up"?

C. I don't mind having minor irritation, i'm more worried about hurting myself. Any pain involved: Too much?

P.S. Those two days were back to back over this weekend.

Tanning

timyang — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 00:58:29 -0800

Is there such a thing as a permanent tan? If so how do you get one? My Googling only leads to salons that offer tans which don't last very long.