The Tan Dillema
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

Sat May 21, 2005 4:00 am

Hey guys and gals, well I'm still having the tan dillema. Here's my situation:

I'm a guy that gets freckles, and dear god do I hate em. Problem is, I don't seem to get tans either. Yet when I look at people with the fake tans, they often don't look great, so I'm torn. I really want a tan, but then again I don't wanna look stupid with an awful looking fake tan, so what do you guys recommend? I have a link to a recent shot of me at the bottom of this post (the one on the right is the recent one..lol) if that helps at all. Any recommendations on the tanning situation will be GREATLY appreciated! I currently own a small thing of "Alba Botanica: golden tan sunless tanning lotion". Is this a good product or will this make me look terrible?

Here's the link to the picture of me:
www.gameinfinite.com/before_and_after.jpg

Let me know what you guys recommend, thanks again for ANYONE who helps!

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 5:09 am

Really Emporor why do you need a tan - from looking at your photos you look great anyway and I have to say I think you would look better without rather than with Very Happy

I do agree with you that you can tell a fake tan a mile off but I think real ones are too risky - go and read all the sunscrean threads and if Bad bird doesn't put the fear of god into you Laughing

Oh and WOW what a transformation - and from a female point of view, there is nothing I find sexier than my boyfs nice soft milky skin - much better than cuddling up to a dry leatherback Shock

I'm sorry I've not been much help to here have I but again you look good as it is Wink

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 5:17 am

Well, I can understand why you want to tan...I as well love the look of tans. However, it is simply not worth it! Try to find a natural self tanner. The Jergens Natural Glow is super popular and everyone says it gives a healthy natural colour.

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 7:48 am

No dilemma, real tans wreck your skin (though men get away with it for some unfair reason Sad

) and there are significant health risks (which both sexes suffer).

Fake tans look ...fake!

Freckles are cute and as long as your skin is healthy it will look great Very Happy

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 10:41 am

I agree with Guapa real tans are bad & fake look fake. If you decide to go for a real tan make sure you use a good sunscreen to protect you from the nasty UV rays. You will still tan but safer.(someone is gonna shout at me big time now).

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 12:22 pm

BAD GIRL! NOW GO POST YOUR PIC!

Very Happy

She is right of course, photodamage is pants on women, but I think it looks cool on blokes. See Clint Eastwood Very Happy

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 12:52 pm

Emperor,
I have a similar skin type as you. If I try to really tan, my nose gets covered with freckles, then tan fades away in 3 days, and I'm left with freckles. I've tried the sunless tanners too, and I use them on my body (in a really light sahde), but I tried using them on my face & they make my freckles get darker too. Then the rest of the fake tans fades & I'm left with darker freckles. It's not worth it! Use a tinted sunscreen or mositurizer on your face if you really want the look of some sun. Also, I use a bronzing powder for men (I'm a guy too). It's by this makeup line for male models. The URL is:
http://www.studio5ive.com/HTML/mens-bronzer.htm

It looks pretty natural, and they have a "Sunburn powder" too that gives you a slight sunburned look on your cheeks & nose. I know most guys hate the idea of makeup, but NOBODY can tell that you're wearing it & it takes like 10 seconds to brush on in the morning.
Just a thought!
Good luck,
Darren

Sat May 21, 2005 1:19 pm

Well thank you for the kind words and advice, but since I don't wanna overclutter the forums with another topic, I might as well just post my other questions here:

1. What are some foods that are great for your skin? I'm trying to get on a better diet.

2. I know sun is good for your skin to an extent right? How much exposore(after hearing/seeing my skin type) would you guys say I get a day? I'm assuming not too much.

3. Every day in the shower I use dove exfoliating handsoap on my face, is this not a good thing? If not, what's some good things for my face in the shower?

Thanks guys, this forum is great and I appreciate all your replies!

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 1:28 pm

The Perricone diet is supposed to be very good for skin. Lots of salmon& omega 3 oils. Veggies and other stuff. I tried it but all that salmon got on my nerves. I think you can look up basic menu and ideas on the perricone web site.
Then someone in lounge (sorry cannot remember who) was saying they have been following GI index diet and their skin has never looked better.
There are diet topics on this site just do a search.
As for time in sun. Most suncreams tell you how long it is safe to stay out in sun. I am not sure because I am not very good at obeying rules, or doing what I am told GUAPAGIRL. Am thinking of buying new digi camera just so I can post my pics.

Sat May 21, 2005 1:29 pm

Well Salmon has a fairly decent amount of mercury in it does it not? Mercury in excess = bad.

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 1:31 pm

I dunno. He advocates special salmon bred somewhere and costs a bloody fortune but it is supposed to be pure.

Sat May 21, 2005 1:50 pm

After reading up a little bit, I have the following foods in my possession, would this be sufficient to improve my skin do you think?

Dry Oats
Yogurt(different flavors, should I just get plain?)
Cottage Cheese
Skinless chicken breast
Apples(wasn't mentioned, but is it good for skin?)

Thanks again, I figure if I can't get a tan I mgiht as well get as good looking skin as possible Smile

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 2:19 pm

Emperor you look fine to me, actually a bit similar to an ex boyfriend and he was lovely! Smile

Anyway whatever you do, don't go out at the first sign of sunshine and get sunburnt... MADNESS. I have a pal that got skin cancer last year, he's very fair and freckly, he had to have two ops, thank God the cancer wasn't too deep and they could take it away, suntanning just is not worth it. There's some decent fake tans but you need to shop around, Elemis does a natural looking one but it doesn't smell too great. How about one of those spray on tans that only takes a minute. Just remember to turn around so you don't end up looking like Ross from Friends!

As to what's great for your skin, yep those items sound fine, lots of fruit, veg, chicken and fish mainly, organic if possible.

I'd stop using the Dove and go for Anthony Logistics for your face, EDS do the range for great prices too.

Hope that helps.

free skin care · Sat May 21, 2005 4:28 pm

Emperor wrote:

Well Salmon has a fairly decent amount of mercury in it does it not? Mercury in excess = bad.

I am not sure...but tuna does for sure. You have to be careful of fish that live near the bottom of the sea.

Sat May 21, 2005 11:11 pm

Thanks, you guys are great!

Sorry I look like your ex bf.. Embarassed

Any other good shower products for the face that people can recommend? Thanks again!

free skin care · Sun May 22, 2005 2:07 am

Hi Emporor
Diet: vegetables, salads, fruit, meat, fish, nuts, pototo, wholegrains, seeds, plain yoghurt. Avoid sugars, empty carbs eg white rice, bread, pasta always go for the wholegrain versions, sweets, chocolate, crisps, anything with low fat on the label as normally contains sugar and rubbish.
Supplements: All males should have a zinc supplement 15mg a day (what's your sex drive like? If it is low up your Zinc intake), a good multi vitamin complex and fish oils.
Skin care: whatever works for you really I know Dermalogica seems popular with the males but my boyf swears by a cheap asda walmart face wash and then uses shower gel. He then uses witch hazel as a toner and Nivia oil free lotion. The real difference to his skin has been taking the above supplements (he used to suffer very bad acne).
But really Emporor your skin seems to me very clear and erm smooth as a babys bum Laughing

, so whatever you are already doing must be fine.
Also have a look at natural soaps, these are great for face and body, if you are in UK Neal's Yard do some really nice ones.
Very Happy

Sun May 22, 2005 2:51 am

rosebud wrote:

Hi Emporor
Diet: vegetables, salads, fruit, meat, fish, nuts, pototo, wholegrains, seeds, plain yoghurt. Avoid sugars, empty carbs eg white rice, bread, pasta always go for the wholegrain versions, sweets, chocolate, crisps, anything with low fat on the label as normally contains sugar and rubbish.
Supplements: All males should have a zinc supplement 15mg a day (what's your sex drive like? If it is low up your Zinc intake), a good multi vitamin complex and fish oils.
Skin care: whatever works for you really I know Dermalogica seems popular with the males but my boyf swears by a cheap asda walmart face wash and then uses shower gel. He then uses witch hazel as a toner and Nivia oil free lotion. The real difference to his skin has been taking the above supplements (he used to suffer very bad acne).
But really Emporor your skin seems to me very clear and erm smooth as a babys bum Laughing

, so whatever you are already doing must be fine.
Also have a look at natural soaps, these are great for face and body, if you are in UK Neal's Yard do some really nice ones.
Very Happy

Wow fantastic thanks a lot! Honestly I have a good sex drive however where can I get this Zinc stuff? Thanks for your kind words, you guys flatter me too much :P

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