I did, years ago, and I thought it looked subtle and natural and faded evenly. It was at a high end spa.

Nowadays if I want a little color, like usually before vaca, I use the towelettes on my face and I find they work very naturally.

https://bluemercury.com/products/tan-towels-self-tan-anti-aging-towelettes?variant=32366501068875&currency=USD&utm_content=TanTowel+Self-Tan+Anti-Aging+Towelettes&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwve2TBhByEiwAaktM1OBd9tbzLK8ZvzU2nJMZ2Q93Y5pOAGEApkZeeE5Nn-QF2IWYrFHKChoC1tUQAvD_BwE

For arms and legs, I like this:

https://www.ulta.com/p/clear-spray-tan-in-a-can-pimprod2021700?AID=165150&PID=10078&CID=af_165150_10078_&clickId=Qci2KsRJBxyIRiCU1cxy1VBoUkD0yLWON0UuUU0&SubID=harpersbazaar.com&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=10078&utm_campaign=Content&utm_content=core&irgwc=1

I haven't gotten a spray tan in the last 3 years or so, but I use Bali Body 1 hour express for body at home and St. Tropez Water Face Mist for Face, Hands and Toes. You have to work fast with the Bali Body 1 hour express, but the color is perfect when completed. I usually wait 3-4 hours before showering off and the color goes on a greenish tone -so don't be scared! I guess it is to assure it won't leave you orangey. The St. Tropez Face Mist is perfect for your hands and won't leave them quite as dark or yucky brown-looking in your knuckles or on your toes. That's my two cents!

I'm not a regular convo lady, but I am a regular at a spray tan place. Where I go, they airbrush it on and you can pick your shade level. So you can go just 1-2 shades darker than your current skin color. You can even get some abs and contouring if you want!

So perhaps looking for a similar place near you would be best with your concerns.

I exfoliate prior sometimes but don't really do any maintenance. Don't use any body lotions for the first 24 hours. My place also recommends not using Dove soap. I guess it scrubs your dead skin off too well lol.

A new trend is to buy DHA liquid drops and add them to your daily lotions and moisturizers. I have a facial spray that I spritz on some evenings when my face is pasty haha.

As I always say If you can't tone it, tan it!

What is DHA and how does it work, please?

Spray tans and airbrush tans are different? Which is better?

I have these questions too. This looks like an interesting option — and very good reviews!

OMG Nini! That is hilarious! And, I'm privvy to the competitive cheer scene! My very close friend is a cheer coach and her daughter will be an OU cheerleader this year! I've been to watch some competitions and love them. Probably because I was a cheerleader too. I use to always go spray tan where the OU cheerleaders went, because they are always "in the know"-but I normally do my own at home now, since I have perfected it, IMO.

DHA I believe is the colorant, or whatever dyes the skin. IDK haha. I have a spray that I get from my place, and I just spray my face a few times a week before bed and it keeps me from looking sick and pasty.

I'm of Irish and German heritage and I'm about as pasty pale as one can be. I've been using self-tanners for years. The Jergens Natural Glow works well to get the glare off and I use it a few times a week during warmer months on my face and especially on my legs to cover freckles and spider veins. Since it's a fairly light lotion it doesn't really leave streaks. If I want to go darker I'll use L'oreal Sublime self tanner. Spray tans are good to get your whole body one color but they don't last very long so I prefer to do it myself as needed. I can never really be "tan" since I'm so fair to begin with and the best I can hope for is "beige".

“You can even get some abs and contouring if you want!”

Or you could exercise 😎

Ha! I tried self tanning lotion some years ago and it came out great the first time, but never again after that 🙄

I am naturally fair skinned and spent way too much time in the sun in my youth - so much so that I developed skin cancer in my 40s. Now I wear lots of sunscreen, cover up, stay in the shade and just put a little blush on my cheeks when I'm looking pasty - it can really do wonders 😊

I don’t mind that my face is pale. It’s my legs and arms that are so darned pasty. I’ve several events this summer where I am going to be wearing dresses. My legs need a little color. And if my legs get a little color, then my arms do too.

I tried the Jergens but it was more than 10 years ago. It streaked on me. Maybe I’ll give it another try.

Here’s an odd trick: i just sprayed my face, but not wanting to darken my melasma patches, I covered them with toothpaste. Hope it works.

Martin, I think we’ll need to see the video of that.

Ooh, Martina, I’ll have to talk to the folks at that tanning place about doing something like that to my melasma.

We have a new spa* in town that does Versa Spa Tanning. Apparently, there is a subtle color you can get called ”clear.” I’ve been reading about it. I’m so skittish about fake tans. A pretty young girl who worked in my office did something to herself, I never asked what, and she was glow-in-the-dark orange. 🍊🥕 That is my greatest fear!!

We are going on a cruise in July on Holland America. They have an Orange night (Holland; House of Orange. Get it? I didn’t catch on right away). I don’t want my skin to be the orange thing I wear.

*now that I’ve started talking about spray tans and investigating spray tans, I’m suddenly getting tons of info about spray tans. Hmmm…. coincidence?

O.k., Sue. It didn’t work very well. Here Here”s an awful verrry close up just for you. xo marti ( female, so not Martin). My melasma is pretty bad.

Treatment for MELASMA is available.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31802394/

Yes, I go to a skin/medi spa that has spray tanning with air spray. A professional will help choose your color. There are 2 options where I go.......can't shower for 12 hours and can't shower for maybe like 5 hours.

Shave, exfoliate before you go - no lotion, deodarant. Take/wear loose clothing you wouldn't mind getting stained. You can get it everywhere or they offer disposable g-string for modesty. They will put a little lotion over your mani/pedi ( get before tan not after) They can contour your biceps, abdomen, legs even a little bit below the cheek bone.

The place I go offers a lotion to extend the tan and it gives a nice glow as the spray tan is wearing off. I will also use the Isle of Paradise tanning drops with my moisturizer on my face and neck. Wash hands after use........I put a dab of whitening toothpaste on my palms & scrub so I don't have orange hands!

Tranexamice Acid. That is new to me. Im just a bit hesitant about taking an oral fix. I will look into it, for sure. I’ve tried all that you mentioned excrpt a peel. Oh, and I dont believe my hydroquinone included corticosteroid . Thanks do much for this!

Although, yes, the hydroquinone was helping, though sooo sloooow. I will try the triple fix.

Once i start, tho , there’ll be no more face tanning . Darn.

Well, I’ve done it now! Bought the DHA drops for my face. Instructions said to mix 2-12 drops with moisturizer and apply. I used 4 drops. Here is an actual photograph….

Totally ORANGE! Fortunately, I have nothing pressing to do for the next couple of days. In a minute, I’m going to use a resurfacing face mask to see if I can strip some of it off!

I used the L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Coconut Water Mousse on my legs. They are much more natural looking except for the one spot I missed. The mousse comes out white but is colorless when applied making it hard to see what might have been missed. I used a mitt to apply it.

I live in a college town. Surely there is a good spray tan place here. I just don’t know how to find it! The spa I usually go to has cut way back on their services because of staffing problems. It appears that spray tans is one of the services that has been eliminated.