Pale gals. . . self-tanner yes or not?

Anonymous

So it's that time of year, when I'm torn: should I embrace my ancestral Scotch-Irish pastiness or race to the drugstore for self-tanner?

Do you hit the self-tanner or stay pale and pretty?

12 years ago

General

49 replies

Latest reply was from Patty

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It's up to you and the effort you are willing to invest each day. I'm pale all year - no self tanner and no tan.

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Man; I slather on product in an effort to be pasty! Let's trade!

12 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I embrace my pastiness!

12 years ago

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I'm very naturally pale and i'm trying really hard this summer to be more ok with that. I will use self tanner but hopefully not agressively. Being honest i probably will sun bathe a tiny bit using a sunblock too. BUT i am also a recovering tanorexic (I have some fun pictures if you want to see them) so maybe i'm not the best person to ask? lol

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I recreate outdoors regularly and so I eventually get a tan even with sunblock on. I will occasionally use the Jergen's gradual tan lotion in my tan line areas to try and 'blend' better ha ha. I guess I'm more concerned with uneven color than whether I'm lighter or darker toned overall.

12 years ago

Aida

Veteran

I tried a self-tanner on my legs for the first time last year and it was OK but too much effort for me, and I'm not in a hurry to get any this year My issue with my pale skin isn't the paleness but that my skin is quite translucent (the tanner did help with this a little). I do tan ever so slightly if out in the sun when we actually have sunny summers, but overall I'm totally fine being pale.

EDIT: I should add I'm a religious sunblock user: on my face/neck/chest I use SPF 30 daily regardless of season, and in real sun SPF 70+ on anything exposed.

12 years ago

lynn

Veteran

I self tan from April to September! It is a huge pain but I am so white with dark hair and I live in a hot climate. I have to wear shorts and sleeveless tops to survive the heat so I use Loreal self tanner about every other day. I sunbathed for years with two melanomas being the result. Self tanner is part of summer for me.

12 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Im active enough in the summer that my arms get some color, but I'm pretty careful about using sunscreen. I do a bit of subtle self-tanning lotion on my legs, which always seem especially pale and translucent. Honestly, a big part of it is because veins are visible through my see-thru skin. Lovely, huh? A little color helps.

I just got a little sun on my vacation last week, so I'll probably use some self-tanner to prolong the color. I'm too lazy to get carried away with it though.

12 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

Huh! The tyranny of self tanners... meticulous exfoliation, even layers, not touching anything for what seems like ages...not to mention having to redo it every 3 days. Why?

12 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

Oh yes one more: the smell! (once it's dry)

12 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. I don't find it that complicated or demanding, but I also use a very subtle tanner, in light application, so any irregularities in color are not obvious.

I also like to use it to even out any weird tan lines, especially from shirt sleeves!

12 years ago

qfbrenda

Veteran

I'm just pale. I would try the tanner, but my husband is horrified at the thought and loves my pale legs... go figure. So I don't see the point.

12 years ago

marianna

Veteran

Pale and proud!

12 years ago

DanaLynn

Active Member

I used to use it in my early twenties. Now I have embraced my fair skin and work to keep it that way. When I go out in the sun my freckles come out though even if I wear sunblock. I love my freckles though- I wish they stuck around all year.

12 years ago

Joy

Veteran

My pasty arms are bothering me more than pale legs so I use a little cream self tanner on my shoulders when going out until they get some color. One hike on a trail or afternoon in the garden will do it even wearing sunblock.

12 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

I'm going to try it this year. I also quit half way through because it's too much trouble. Will see what happens.

12 years ago

san

Veteran

I like a good healthy glow but I can't use self tanners because they bring out the age spots. Darn.

12 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

I am not against it in theory, but it just seems like a lot of chemicals. I don't really understand how they work. I try to get regular small doses of sunlight, especially in spring and fall. I think this is healthy. I remain pretty pale though.

12 years ago

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I use gradual tan moisturiser on legs and arms. I use SPF 15 or 30 (anything higher gives me a rash) on exposed areas for most of the year when in NZ and in the summer months in the UK. Just enough for my skin to go a little bit darker than its normal pasty shade!

Does anyone who wears sun block all year round worry about vitamin D? In the UK they recommend supplimenting it during pregnancy and if breastfeeding, although since it is now summer, my doctor said averaging 20 minutes of sun on forearms and face is adequate (I don't like supplimenting with vitamins unless needed medically).

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I use sunblock year round on my face. If you're living in the northern hemisphere, you probably aren't getting enough exposure to direct sunlight to get Vit D... I think.

12 years ago

anna

Active Member

I am quite pale ( but not as pale as one of my daughters who will disappear if she stands in front of a white wall ) and I just don't care about the color of my skin anymore.Not enough to do anything about it anyway. I might color my hair or put blush on my face but the rest will stay the shade it is. In spring I always get a bit of color on my legs and arms from gardening in shorts and a T-shirt.

12 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Pale and proud. I can't be bothered with the investment of time for self tanners and I'm not keen on the smell. I'm getting dark patches on my face through the sun and possible made worse by the pill so I am trying to religiously slather on SPF 30 everyday x

12 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I use self tanner but not all that consistently. I don't find it all that onerous -- I just slather it on after my shower, most days.

12 years ago

kitty400

Active Member

I too am Scotch-Irish and used self tanner for the first time last summer but I am so use to seeing myself pale that it looked odd to me. Some of my coworkers have tried to convince me to use self tanner more but I like my paleness and freckles

12 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

no, because I would be that girl walking down the street with orange streaks running down her legs if I tried this

12 years ago

Marigold

Active Member

I'm always searching for the best self-tanner, so far the best I had with the Nivea gradual tanning lotion, no streaks and very slow building 'tan', but hate the smell as well! I love tan skin though and can't wait till summer gets here, as I spend a lot of time outdoors and manage to get a nice tan no matter the amount of sunblock

12 years ago

TylerAnne

Active Member

Has anyone else seen this "New Rules of Sun Safety" article? It says that it is unhealthy to get ANY amount of sun on your skin, and to take supplements for vitamin D.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel.....y-2477938/

On the topic of self-tanner, I use a tanning moisturizer like Jergens Daily Glow, but only once or twice a week because after that the color begins to look unnatural. I also only use it on my legs, because it is difficult for me to apply evenly in other areas.

I think that pale skin can look beautiful, but mine doesn't because my translucent skin shows my veins and if my legs get cold at all, they get red splotches
Good luck!

12 years ago

Anonymous

Hey Scottish sister, me too! I use it sparingly on my legs only, for a nice glow with summer skirts and sandals. I use a good brand 'True Blue Spa' so no orange! The rest of me is pale as ever. I have to be careful about the sun here in Mississippi, I burn very easily!

12 years ago

Debora

Veteran

I don't use self tanners. I do use leg makeup, though, two or three times a year in the spring when my legs are still pasty from the winter. I had a cocktail reception to attend last night and I went bare legged. I'm 56 years old and my legs show my age! What I use is a product from MAC called Silk Sheen Leg Spray, and it's a makeup that washes off at night.

I like that it gives my legs a slight sheen and sun-kissed look. I feel like it almost "air-brushes" my legs. The directions tell you to spray a small amount in your hands and massage on to your legs and arms, but I have found that I get a more even appearance by applying it with a soft application brush. I just rub the brush over my legs until it is blended in.

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12 years ago

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