Sunbeds: how do we feel?

No, no, no, no, no.

Fake all the way for me.

If you're pale, a spray tan is likely to be a bit of a shock; some of them can be very dark. There are some here who could reasonably be described as "fake tan queens" who will have recommendations for paler ones.

What about a sunbed scares you? Claustrophobia? Or fear of damage done?

Edit: Queen Fake Tan in the house...

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For someone who is now on her second mole removal i think they should be banned.

Agreed that sun beds should be banned. I've posted on a tanning question before, but I really think pale skin is so beautiful! Embrace it!!!

As for spray tans -- IMO they look fake. I've rarely seen one that looks like you are naturally in the sun. If you're going to get one, I'd definitely try it out way ahead of the wedding to see how you feel about it.

If only it was that easy.

Thanks girls

I don't know, I guess it was an unfamiliar experience so all the sounds the bed made was just a little disconcerting. Along with the stupid horror films popping into mind at the same time.

Also, the damn thing makes you stink. Bad.

Thanks for all the advice, I think I will just carry on with my exfoliating routine, etc

No amount of effort makes any difference if you're anaemic.

I HATE being pale; to me it makes me feel shite and ill. The worst thing someone could say to me is "you look pale today".?

That made me smile Trickers, it's what my mother says any time she seems me without makeup on!! I have very pale Irish skin and did sunbeds once before a holiday to Florida (on the advice of my doctor unbelievably) I ended up with prickly skin which was horrific.

I've had the occasional good fake tan but only where I've known the person doing it, who in turn knew to keep things very light or I would have a fit and look like a cartoon figure. These days I just can't be bothered, it's exfoliation all the way and the occasional slap of body lotion (getting better at this now though!) Healthy skin honestly looks so much better....

I love having a tan. Iv been on sunbeds before but its a hassle keeping it up knowing the damage it can be doing, when you can just slap some instant on ?..

If your really that pale then I dont think it would do you any good going on the sunbeds coz ul need to be at it for a good while and you no doubt will burn to start wich you dont want. Id say just get a light spray tan done a few days before your wedding, have a test run a few weeks before so you know how its guna turn out?

If you don't want to use a sunbed or fake tan, try one of those self tanning body lotions. I've used them,they're really good and look natural as you build the colour up gradually day by day. Just make sure you don't have any dry bits round your knees,elbows and heels-I always put a layer of normal moisturiser on those areas first and then apply. I think Dove/Nivea do them, around £4 from superdrug/boots etc. x Not sure if it rubs off on clothes though ? Worth a trial go

Depending on the month I get married in I am either planning on sitting outside and developing a tan with maybe a couple of top ups from a sunbed or just going for the sunbeds and building it up over a few weeks.

Im not the greatest of fans but I havent been on one since I was about 17 and its not something I am planning to make a habit out of. Spray tans just look stupid on me and my skin looks that pale people always ask me if I am ok..

If you arent comfortable doing sunbeds then I am sure you can find some fake tan if you shop around for a while.

Thanks Selenalee69

I will be having a few sunbeds before my day as i have quite bad skin and want a healthy looking glow...like all things in life no harm if done in moderation dont go on for too long or too often and invest in some of the sunbed creams to keep your skin moisterised...i also find they stop me getting sunburnt when im on holiday in hot countries (like i will be on my honeymoon) and sunburn does far worse damage then a couple of sunbeds ever will.

No no no no no no.

Fake tan, moisturiser with tan, spray tan....anything but sunbeds. I too am a firm believer that they should be banned...the sun does enough damage, we don't need sunbeds too. My aunt died of skin cancer when I was 15 so I am so very against the sunbed. If you get the right tan moisturiser it can look lovely, even on really pale skin. It will give you a natural healthy glow. X

I went on once last weeks my fiancé has banned me from going on them so I'm just usin spray in a can its about a tenner and looks good

Haven't used them properly since late teens, about 15yrs ago, but probably will do one or two a week month before wedding.

I use fake tan now (Fake bake usually or St Moritz if skint), but it does occasionally leave grubby marks on things and I couldn't cope with finding I'd f**ked up on it and streaked an arm or something the day before wedding!

I went on the sunbeds almost every day from the age of 15 to just over 25. It was an addiction but I eventually broke free from the habit! I have not been on a sunbed since March 2011. So very proud of myself.

I am now very pale but I do not use fake tan or spray tan because I like a golden tan not an orange tan!

Dont get me wrong I felt so much more confident and nicer with a tan but I am hoping I will eventually love my pale skin like i used to love my tanned skin. My skin has been damaged from the sunbed, i am full of little brown moles. Now i live in fear I will get skin cancer. So honestly for the sake of having a 'tan' for your wedding day I would definatly say its not worth it.

Don't do it. I used to use them many years ago until I realised that I started to glow under ultraviolet lighting! The skin damage was visible and I had only been using them for a few months. Since then I have decided that I really love my pale English skin and actually chose not to tan myself. I really don't like fake tan and actually I can spot a fake tan a mile away.

I've gotta admit, i'm way too nervous to go on a sunbed. I can get a natural tan, but obviously need some serious sun, which isn't good either.. I've never had any luck with fake tan, always look like something out of T.O.W.I.E, but i love the tan lotions, such as dove. Good for your skin and produces a really nice natural looking tan. Win win!

One thing I don't understand is, if you don't hold a tan naturally, you wont hold a sunbed one either for very long, plus all the damage to your skin is just not worth it.

I don't think they look natural either if you are pale and everyone knows it.

I have more olive skin on my arms and really pale skin everywhere else, especially my legs, so I use Dove summer glow stuff, which is a tan in a moisturiser. Built up over days it really evens out my skin tones and looks lovely and natural imho.

I got loads of comments about how healthy I looked so was pleased. Only thing is it can't be rushed as I found obviously the layer you put on washes off and if you stop using it, disappears.

I applied it every day and it built up fine. If you have a shower every morning and apply it in the evening and let to try overnight it shouldn't go on clothes during the day but should still build up really nicely.

I did once experiment by applying it twice a day to see if it built up quicker, and it didn't come off on clothes once dry, but did seem to wash more of it off in the shower and not build up any quicker lol.

Stick to the tanning moisturizers over a month before the wedding and you will have a nice glow without being pale or without looking fake.

I will be using fake tan.

MIL2B was diagnosed with Skin cancer last year, she's not used sun beds but as we all know the risks why would you do something that could potentially give you skin cancer?

Thanks for the great advice

Well, I am one month away TOMORROW so I guess I best get myself to boots tomorrow ;-)

x

The reason sunbeds get such a bad write up is because most people abuse them!!!!!!! There are a few facts that most people do not consider before they start abusing them.......oh and if they are such bad things then trust me they would have been banned by now!!!!!!!!

Right, I don't think this is quite true for a couple of reasons. First, studies have shown that, depending on your age bracket (the younger you are, the higher the risk factor), even tanning once a year increases your risk for basal cell carcinoma by 10%, while 6 times per year by over 80%. I don't think anyone who goes 6 times a year would consider him/herself an abuser. Second, saying that if something is bad it would have been banned is putting a lot of faith in the government regulators. There are lots of things that are bad for you that aren't banned (cigarettes, saturated fats) because, among other reasons, there are powerful industrial lobbies at work.

first of all - love this post!!!

2nd of all - embrace the paste! I'll be a very very pale Irish bride. Never gonna get a sunbed as 5 mintes in the sun turns me into a lobster, so I imagine that i'd be a raisin after 2 seconds on a sunbed. TBF, is tanning that fashionable anymore anyway?

I am sooo terrified of looking red in my wedding photos - have been wearing factor 50 and a scarf during our present hot snap

I haven't read all the other comments but i don't see no harm in sunbeds as log as you don't use them all the time. i always go on a few times before i go on holiday to get a pre-tan or for special occasions such as weddings and will deffiantly be going on before my wedding day!! if you not use to going on use a bronzing cream rather than a tingling cream and put sun cream on any large moles.

plus with a sun bed you will get a nice evan tan - no patches or streaks xx

Do you have absolute risk increases for this, rather than relative increases, which usually look far more dramatic. Sunbeds increase your risk of skin cancer, as does regular tanning. It's down to the person to weigh up their own willingness to take that risk. Drinking, smoking, driving a car, using innocuous implements in a domestic setting, all can cause you serious harm or even death.

Yep exactly. This is why you should only have X amount of sun exposure a year, whether its uv rays or sun exposure a year. And yes there is a new law which has now come in to place....18 and over.

Some tans are available in different shades to suit different skin tones. Personally I find the ones labelled 'dark' or for olive tones way TOO dark! I also think that those with olive tones do not need fake tan. My Mum is quite olive-y and always looks healthy and bronzed despite never using tan. Im in between, and find that a lighter tan helps enhance my tone - which is enough. Like some of the others have mentioned, dove glow is brilliant. Moisturiser and a little bit of tan, it's just enough to give you a healthy glow.

I have bad skin and it's taken me years to find a skin care routine that works for me. I have oily skin and not just an oily t-zone but my whole face is oily. I always worried about how my skin would be on my we wedding day and to plenty or preparation and it was good and my make up stayed on. If you're concerned about how pale you skin is, how about a self tanning lotion like I've. I've used it before and it's great. I don't see the point in using a sunbed with the health warnings they have when there are safer options available.

I can recommend the Palmers Cocoa butter with self tan in it.

I mix one blob of this one with normal cocoa butter and rub it in and it gives a really nice colour and you can build it up over time.

Also I have had no bad experiences with it smudging or streaking.