Aunt jen, I bet you don't have "dimples" all over your legs. You must be hyper focusing.

Just don't wear a white bra. I used the same stuff on my shoulders to blend in my cap sleeve tan for a sleeveless dress... It stained my only white bra.

Avoid your knees, elbows and toes. Don't ask me how I know this.:+)

Jen I use self tanners on my legs practically year round because my legs are exposed when I work out and I have the same feeling you do about pasty legs.

I like the Neutrogena products - the smell bothers me less than all the others and I'm sure you know what I mean! Here's my process - shave, dry, slather moisturizer, wait a minute or two then apply tanner from the top of leg down, going around the knee front. With the little bit left on my hands, I then do the tops of my feet and knees - they don't get overdone or streaky that way but still blend with the rest of the leg.

I have wanted to try this but (and Jen, I know you will remember these, you and I are only a year apart) I have that awful fear of turning orange ala those goofy products from when, late 70's? Shoot, we'd lay out back then with iodine in baby oil. *shudder*

Thanks for the tips dlm, perfumey stuff is a migraine trigger for me, so I'll check out Neutrogena.

Thanks so much! Oakley, I can definitely see how this stuff could ruin white clothing! I force myself to walk around nekkid for quite some time after putting it on. (Hmmm ... TMI?)

Dlm, thanks so much for the great tips! I haven't been moisturizing before using the self-tanner, but I'll give that a try. I can see that it'd help the stuff go on much smoother and evenly.

Oh, Moonshadow ... yes, I've been streaked orange a time or two in my life! LOL! How I wish I'd never succumbed to the temptations of tanning in my younger years, but in our defense, we truly didn't know any better.

Luckily my body takes tanning lotions really well, or used to until they got rid of Q-T. Remember that one? Man, it made me DARK. But the new stuff is what turns orange on me, and I'm fair skinned and light hair.

I really miss QT. :(

This is timely, lol! Did anyone catch Rescue Me last night? It repeats Friday and Sunday nights, so the episode isn't online yet.

I have used different self tanners with varying degrees of success. Last year I loved the Loreal sublime spray. It's a really fine mist that dries quickly. I bought the Jergens mousse this year and have been using it mostly on my legs. I think that it has less odor than most sunless products. For detailed info on applying sunless tanners I recommend sunless.com

I love Netrogena too and it gives a silky smooth look to your skin. Feet can be a problem, as you know, so be careful.

Have fun on your trip AJ, you go on vacation a lot, huh?

....Jane

I believe traveling is one of Jen's passions? We love to take trips also - I sometimes joke that I work (part-time) in order to get vacation. LOL

No advice on the tanners, but ya'll have posted some interesting stuff. We spend alot of time outdoors and on the lake, so even though I don't lay out there and *tan*, I do usually have a tan.

tina

I also have the Jergens Natural Glow but am not real consistent with using it. I just try and be really careful with my piggers.
I do really like using Fake Bake lotion. Never tried their other stuff. I would only use it before bed though. There's a color guide in the lotion so it looks a little odd when on. It can get on your clothes or sheets (tiny bit) but it comes out no problem. Once I take a shower in the morning I don't have any other issues with it rubbing off on anything. Sometimes in the winter I'll just do from the chest up and sleep with a long sleeved shirt on. Put a towel on the pillow and no problems. Every time you use it the 'tan' builds up. I think it gives a nice, non orange, healthy glow.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fake Bake Lotion

I think that one of the most important steps in self-tanning is the use of a gentle exfoliant. It gets rid of all the dead skin cells and provides an clean and even base.

Estee Lauder was my product of choice for tanning but I've found that L'Oreal works as well. Neutrogena used to make a pre-tanning exfoliant but Ulta doesn't carry it any more, so I just pick up whatever says it's gentle.

Thanks so much for all of the info and suggestions! Terriks, your link is very helpful -- all sorts of tips there that I wasn't aware of! Wow ... who knew it could become something of a science to getting your fake tan right? LOL! I'm actually pretty pleased with my color thus far, and plan to stick with it on my vacation as well. I'll use lots of sunscreen when I'm out in the sun, but when we're back at the condo at night, I'll be "fake-bakin'" myself to keep the pastiness at bay! ;-)

Jane and Tina - Traveling is indeed a passion of mine and DH's! I too often say that I work in order to be able to take trips, and that's not too far off the mark because I certainly wouldn't have the funds to travel without my job! I'm fortunate too in that I get 5 weeks of vacation annually, so I'm definitely going to take advantage of that kind of benefit. ;-)

"I'm fortunate too in that I get 5 weeks of vacation annually, so I'm definitely going to take advantage of that kind of benefit."

Holy cow! Five weeks of vacation is sweet! I get 2 weeks and DH gets 2 weeks. In another year I'll get an additional week....woohoo! Is you DH fortunate enough to get the same amount of time as you do?

Actually, DH is retired ... so everyday is vacation for him. ;-) From time to time when he thinks about reentering the workforce, we always talk about the fact that if he does so, our annual travel will have to diminish significantly.

I definitely know how lucky I am to get so much time off! I've been working here for over 16 years and was thrilled when I reached the point where the additional 5th week was added!

Lucky here too. I work at a college and have been here a loooong time. LOL Besides liberal vacation and sick time, we get the benefits of some of the student break times also. Even though I'm part-time, I work enough hours to keep full time benefits (including leave).

I'm a big fan of sunscreen (started using some of that new Neutregena SPF 70 on my face this year), but you will still get some tan even with sunscreen.

tina

"we always talk about the fact that if he does so, our annual travel will have to diminish significantly."

Yep, that's another reason I don't work.

Jen, sounds like you have a great job and you're so lucky to have internet access to check in on GW. Many employers are taking that away from the workplace.

"Actually, DH is retired ... so everyday is vacation for him."

Now that is even sweeter! ;^)

When are you leaving ? did you ever get the bathing suit, I must have missed the follow up.

Tomorrow morning. :-)

I did get the VS bathing suit - ordered it in that lovely slate blue color, only to have it arrive in a package marked "slate", but the color itself was clearly dead, dull gray -- the color of a beached whale. So back it went to Vic's Secret, and I'm opting to take some of my old two-piece suits (ok, bikinis -- ::shudder::) instead of buying new. They fit since I've lost weight, although I wish I were firmer and more toned so I'd look better in them.

Oh well, it's vacation and I'll probably never see any of those people again anyway, right? ;-)

Have a great time !!!!!! this is so exciting, I'm happy for you !!

Are you going to PV? I seem to remember you mentioning you were planning a trip there. If so don't worry about how you look in a bikini, especially since PV doesn't seem to be full of 20 something hardbodies. I ended up wearing a bikini on our anniversary trip to PV in March and felt very comfortable in it. Especially since at age 51 I didn't feel like an "old lady" there. Have a great time! I highly recommend The Beach House for a relaxing day on Los Muertos beach.

I don't know why but your bathing suit saga made me think of my honeymoon on Captiva. I found the best fitting two pieces at a little galleria shop. (DH despises shopping but he had patience that day. ;D ) It was a mix n' match deal (I love those, so rare, when tops and bottoms can be purchased individually by size). I found two patterns I loved, got a single top in each and two separate pairs of bottoms, one for when DH & I enjoyed the privacy of our rented house pool and a bit more conservative cut bottom for 'public' on the beach. Which in retrospect was silly because the beach was right out our front door and in a residential area so we often were alone. But I was thinking ahead for back home. ;) I still have those suits (colors/patterns had a lot of longevity and didn't scream 80's) tho I haven't worn them in ages. Any chance you can buy a suit on vacay? I bet you could find some nice ones.

If you're easily offended don't open the link, but this is why I found this thread so timely and hilarious.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rescue Me 3 minute video

natal,

That is too funny. LOLOL! Everyone, have a little patience because the good stuff is 3 or so minutes in. Worth it though. LOL! I wasn't offended but I don't know what offends others. Thanks!

Golddust, wasn't that hilarious! Perfect for this thread!

AJ, are you back?

I too love the Neutrogena( micro mist, I think it's called). It dries almost immediately and practically never streaks.
As for feet,, etc. I am verrry careful and apply a very small amount to the tops and sides of my feet and then rub off most from the ankle bones...NONE on the toes or backs of heels, or any rougher areas: knees, elbows, etc, as others have warned. For my face I spray on my fingers and then apply vs. spraying right on the face.
This stuff "covers up a world of sin" as Granny once said:>)
Take it with you as it wears off in about 3 days.
Have fun!
p.s uh oh! Think I'm late to the game on this one.
PPS Cannot imagine using any cream first. Seems like this would diminish the effects of the tanner by putting up a barrier?

Jen, did you ever see this? Pertinent parts starts about 1.5 minutes into the video.

Here is a link that might be useful: Carrot (Rescue Me 3 minute video)