We've got an appointment on July 15th to get our portraits done at Walmart. Lots of time for me to get "bronzified" for the pics! B)

I just wonder which would be the safer bet... Lying in the sun getting some rays the natural way with an 8 SPF Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion .... or .... apply a gradual tanner or instant bronzer?

:rollseyes: Do the instant bronzer if you're worried about skin safety....but I'm always afraid it'll look "fake" if I tried it....

If you lay out just for an hour each day, you'll be able to get a nice glow by then...

That's what I'D do, anyways....

I'm not toooo worried about skin safety. I've heard alot of "horror stories" about instant bronzers, so I have never tried it. Yeah, I don't wanna look too fake, either! :lol:

but yanno, you don't even hafta lay out....just put on a tank top & play outside for an hour or so each day with the kids....that way you'll get exercise AND sun!! B)

but then again...this :hammock: sure does look inviting....

:wall: every stinkin summer i go through the same ol' thing. i think to myself...."nikki, if you put the self tanning/bronzer on at the beginning of the summer just so you look good, then you can gradually get a real tan at the lake and the bronzer/lotion will disappear"..........

and every year the same thing happens....

i put on the tanning lotion/bronzer (have tried them ALL ladies!!) and i end up ORANGE!!! then it takes me atleast two weeks for it to come off. :doh: in the meantime, i am desperately trying to avoid people while i play on the boat so i can hurry up and cover it up with a real tan!!!!!!

DRIVES ME CRAZY EVERY YEAR!!!! stick to the sun....it proves over and over to me that it's the best method of looking tan!!

um....I'm not really qualified to answer that. i have to use SPF 50... B)

Yikes~~that's what I put on ANDIE!! B)

Me? I don't usually put anything on, (SUNSCREEN, guys, sunscreen.... :rollseyes: ), I might get a little red but it turns into tan....

I figure if I'm only out for an hour or so, why waste it with sunscreen? Now, if I'm at the beach or will be out for awhile by the pool, I'll slap some on....

Really? Andie looks so much darker than me....I am just very light and sensitive to the sun. Fifteen minutes outside and I am burning..

she still can get pretty pink....I could probably bump it down to like 25, tho....she has a pretty fair complexion....she can get dark but she BURNS first....

I definitely don't wanna look orange! :sick: I had a tried a tube of gradual self tanner on my legs only a while back...followed directions and applied everyday....after about a week, I noticed my towels were all streaked orangish! :o Of course, from my legs! :doh: So no more of that.

Like Deb, even if I burn a little at first, it turns into a tan. My shoulders are nice and bronzed already, except for those white lines from wearing a tank top! :grin: Need to get a tube top or something....get the white lines outta there....

Oh and the other day Candace had a tank top on and I only put SPF 8 on her and she didn't even burn! :thumbsup: We were outside all day, too.

Found a site with lots of other sites: http://www.no-tan-lines.com/articles/safe_tan.php