My dermatologist would say go without a heavy tan. He says that a tan is evidence of sun damage to the skin.

Some tanning lotions are dyes to make an appearance of a tan. These may be safe if those do not contain anything harmful.

Oh, there are ones here where you enter into a shower and turn when it sez turn. Looks very good. Before you go, , take a dry loofah and rub it all over your dry skin then wash it off. This way you will get rid of any little bumps or dry skin.They will also give you something to put on your fingers and toes if you want to just leave them. It looks better and wears well. I know what I say is controversial but for a special occasion I have used the tanning bed and then the spray tan. It looks very healthy and lasts a little longer. I don't usually go out in the sun and sunbathe or use the tanning bed but I'm giving you that special occasion look that you want. I'm giving you that special occasion look. Also I don't tan my face. I take two caps they give you for your hair, And put the second one over my face. Enjoy.

Yes, spray tan companies still exist. There are YouTube videos by people who have had it done, and they give you pointers:
Spray tanning on YouTube

If you just want some color on your legs, I like Jergens Natural Glow 3 days to glow. I get enough color the first time around.

Jergens

I was wondering what about the home application tanners? What is the best. I use one now by L'Oreal and it is pretty good; wonder if there is a better one?

My rather vain mother went to her salon in a taxi from her nursing home to have a spray tan every few weeks. I kid you not...she was in her upper 80s.

Spray tans are quite popular, I think. I'd never do it myself at home, but have had it done two or three times in my life prior to an event.

I had a lovely morning at an area spa yesterday coincidentally; a friend and I had a sugaring treatment on exposed body parts and a light spray tan. She also had a mani/pedi while I kept her company. I do my own nails.

She's hosting a party tomorrow night and wants to feel fabulous. I am always pretty pasty looking and needed some color to feel best in my outfit for the evening.

It's just a glow, a bit of color on my very pale skin, which is always slathered with sun screen or covered up with clothes and hats.

I'd worry that if I tried to use a home treatment that I'd mess it up, that it would look streaky or obviously fake.

Do you remember the "Friends" episode where Ross goes into a spray tanner? Just the thought of it makes me laugh! Sorry for the detour, Lea. I hope you have a great time at your reunion.

sjerin, that Friends episode was on the other night, whichever channel it is DH will watch the news on before he goes to bed has the Friends reruns following. I was working at my desk and had my back to it but was still chuckling listening....

I remember over 50 years ago when I was in college, my roommate wanted to use one of the new rub on products for a tan for a formal dance. You applied the stuff, and over the next few hours it darkened your skin. She put it on without enough time to change color, so her date picked her up and she was her usual fair self. The evening events were low light, so when she came home, he finally saw her in full light, and by then the tanning lotion had worked and she was much darker than when he picked her up. It was funny watching him do a double take.

L'Oreal Sublime is what I use and I'm very white but now a nice soft tan.

I was going on a cruise and wanted to look tanner(I'm pretty fair) so I got a two for one special spray tan. I did a trial run a couple weeks early and I'm so glad I did!

I went lighter but it still came out too dark. Some areas were darker than others. I put stuff on the bottom of my feet so they wouldn't tan but they came out dark. My palms came out a little tan also but not too bad. But the worst part was when it started to wear off. I was very careful but it was splotchy and looked bad.

I never went back for my other spray tan and decided to embrace my fair skin.

My daughter is red headed with snow white skin. A few years ago she purchased a machine that she could spray herself at home; her husband would do it for her! She got herself sprayed for our vacation which consists of horse back riding in the Ozarks and playing in the river..... in August, I might add! After a few days of sweating and all the activities....she started shedding her tan....we all said she looked like an appaloosa!!! She was a good sport...didn't bother her a bit. I think I would have stayed in the camper the whole time if it was me!! lol