Help! I like to tan and stay pretty dark during the summer. But no matter what I do I can't get my face to tan very well. I have acne scars so I always wear foundation. I have to wear makeup in the tanning booth because I only seem to have time to tan on my lunch hour or right after work and there would never be enough time to remove my makeup and reapply so I have to tan with it on. I know this is keeping me from getting very tan on my face and meanwhile my body gets darker and darker while my face stays light. I look ridiculous, white face w/ dark neck :-( Does anyone know how to solve this? Surely a lot of you girls must tan and know a solution... do I just have to pile on the bronzer to try and match my body a little better? Or is my only solution to try and find a time to tan without my makeup on?

thanks!

I have the same issue!! For me I use a bronzer it is called Suddenly Sun by California Tan - infact the tanning salon I go to sells it. The tanning bed that seems to work the best (for my face) is the UltraBronze tanning beds. If you are not familiar with it; it is wonderful. You stay in it for 30 minutes and it's the one with a "mattress" and you have to flip over to get front and back and only takes 3 sessions to acquire a great tan. It's a little pricey but you tan quick and it seems to last much longer than other beds. I also make sure I don't wear foundation with a SPF in it when I'm going. The bronzer that I like Last but not least, you can take your makup off with baby wipes and then just reapply your makeup after your session?? Well those are my suggestions; good luck.

Yeah I have this same problem also. I have some mild acne, and because of it I refuse to leave the house without makeup on. So when I tan, I have the ghost face and brown body. I have tried self tanners on my face, but they pretty much fade after a day or two because if you use any scrubs or cleansers that have AHA, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide, it causes the skin cells to shed twice as fast so I have found that self tanning my face isin't even worth it anymore. I use Physician's Formula bronzer on my face and it works well and looks very natural, but I would still like to have that same glowy tan AFTER I wash off my makeup at night!! I really don't know what else to do but buck up and take off my makeup at the tanning salon and then reapply, like what river25 suggested.

your face will not tan w/ make up on...and plus you tan better if you exfoliate 2 hrs before you tan and moisturize right after. plus dont you feel sweaty and gross when you go back to work? your wasting your time tanning if you dont remove your makeup plus sweat and the makeup getting into your skin is not good which will lead to more acne and such. plus did you know that tanning clears up most acne if it is done in moderation?.....i suggest you find a time after work or before to tan and wash your face 2 hrs before you go adn then moisturize right after. trust me its better for your skin and you will feel better too. or if you dont want to be seen w/ out makeup on, wear it to the tanning bed then take it off w/ makeup remover towelette things (ponds works good)

Help! I like to tan and stay pretty dark during the summer. But no matter what I do I can't get my face to tan very well. I have acne scars so I always wear foundation. I have to wear makeup in the tanning booth because I only seem to have time to tan on my lunch hour or right after work and there would never be enough time to remove my makeup and reapply so I have to tan with it on. I know this is keeping me from getting very tan on my face and meanwhile my body gets darker and darker while my face stays light. I look ridiculous, white face w/ dark neck :-( Does anyone know how to solve this? Surely a lot of you girls must tan and know a solution... do I just have to pile on the bronzer to try and match my body a little better? Or is my only solution to try and find a time to tan without my makeup on?

thanks!

Here's a tip:

The owner of the tanning salon that I go to said not to use anything, and this includes moisturizer, with mineral oil or petroleum in it. She said they act as a sunscreen and can prevent you from tanning for two weeks. Just a thought. BTW, I use Hoss Sauce tanning lotion. It can also be used as a daily moisturizer. It doesn't contain mineral oil or petroleum.

Never tan my face...and I'm dark. I go with a darker base color and a powder for the summer. I went to Merle Norman and had the base match my thumb area skin test...you do not want milky, or pink, you want a beige and then the powder I use is a makeup base called Ultra Golden and on top of it and it closely brings my face in touch with my skin color, hair, etc. You might need an acne type base. But I will tell you, the better products cost, but are well worth it and last a lot longer than other brands. I squeak by at 28.00 bottle, but it lasts 6-8 mos...and the powder usually about 4-6 mos. If you will go to the store and ask for test tubes from them, and buy the powder you might be able to tell better in your own environment too. Don't let them con you into over darkening or under (to light) I always use the thumb area for my tone matching. I learned that long ago in costmology school.

Haha way better than one of my friends.. her face is TOO dark and looks orangey compared to the rest of her.. but she also tanned way too much and it looked so bad! I used to cover my face while tanning to prevent wrinkles on my face, so I would put self tanner on my face before I go to bed. I would do this as often as I needed it, and get a darker face makeup and/or bronzer.

I have some acne and go to the tanning beds to control it.. and for me it works.. the saving grace of facial tanners is "vanishing act" by designer skin. Its a facial tanner with blemish treatment in it.. salicylic acid. So I put this on and tan.. kil 2 birds with one stone. ;)

The problem with those sunless bronzers for me is that they get in my pores and the few pits I have and make them darker.. hence drawing more attention to the imperfections. So for me the sunless tanning dye things are a big no no. Vanishing act has been a miracle to me... it has bronzers in it also but it doesnt grab my pores or scars... HUGE plus.

That happened to me too, and I had acne. What I did to completely solve it was to quit tanning altogether. When I got my acne in control I bought fake tanner for my body and used bronzer on my face to match it up. The Olay Quench tanning stuff is really good, doesn't smell as completely awful as the Jergens.

I always cover my face with a towel when I tan in the salon. I want to keep my skin looking young. So just as you, I have darker skin everywhere else except my face. So after I apply my foundation/concealer, I apply a powder bronzer. I think almost every cosmetic company has one. I use Wet "n" Wild. It is dirt cheap and looks great. For the best results I use a large powder brush to apply it.

Good luck,
Mommaoftwinsplus1

Another great lotion that tans gradually is made by Hempz, I think it's called Hempz Glow. It doesn't have a bad smell either.. it actually smells kind of like banana and smells pretty good :) I use regular self tanner and it does smell (not as bad as others though-- Loreal Sublime Bronze gel) but I use it overnight so I don't have to go out with it on! The gel wasn't too thick either so didn't make me break out like some creams would. It did make me appear shiny though but I would only be sleeping!

hey im going around asking every body if mineral oil is good for your skin or not. my best friend has a phobia about that and im trying to see if it is true so can you plz help me ?

I prefer to cover my face up with a towel as well when I am tanning. I dont really want my face to have an orangey color to it. But, sometimes even if I have make-up on and don't cover my face, my face will still get a little darker. I never have time to take my make-up off either. If I don't go right after class when I get back into town then I usually don't go tanning.