I am a very pale, very freckly woman in my late 30s with strawberry blond hair. A few years ago, I stopped wearing shorts altogether. Too many people commented on my bright white legs, and I got tired of it. I still go to my community pool with my daughter, but mostly because I know everyone there so I am not as self-conscious. However, I have decided that enough is enough. I have very pretty, very shapely legs, and I want to start enjoying summer dresses again, even the short ones. Besides, I want to show my daughter how to be a confident woman who is comfortable with herself, and how can I do that when I am hiding my legs in jeans, no matter what the weather? I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good self-tanner. I have some spider veins, just small ones, here and there that I'd like to camouflage a little. And, I'd like to try to get my legs to at least match my arms, which have gotten slight darker over the years from sun exposure. I tried several tanners last summer, but always came off looking orange, even from the ones that say "for fair skin." Any recommendations out there from fellow pale girls who got results they like? I am not looking to get a deep tan look, just to take the glare off and match my arms and legs. Thanks, ladies!
When I said that people commented on my legs, I meant complete strangers would come up to me and act startled and amazed and ask a ton of questions. Yes, it was rude and I tried to have snappy comebacks or walk away, but some people would persist, my husband would get mad and it always ended up in a scene. Since years of a retail job in college gave me spider veins, I figured jeans or pants or maxi dresses were just easier when I was dressed casually. Maybe it's because I live in a California beach town when tan is the norm; maybe it's because people are jerks. lol! I have ventured to the beach in capris or shorts or even a bathing suit several times since my daughter was born, and the comments have started up again. She is old enough now to realize that people are being rude and it makes her uncomfortable, as well, so I am hoping that tinting my legs ever so slightly might at least decrease the attn I get.
That said, I think I tried the Jergens a few years ago and didn't like it. I'm going to give it another try since that is, by far, the one most recommended. If I end up with orange legs again, I'll just look into getting rid of the spider veins, bring out my stash of shorts and sundresses, and be done with it. It'll be a good chance to brush up on my classy comebacks and set a good example for my daughter. Any suggestions for comebacks? ; )
I've been using a self tanner made by Jergens, just to even up my legs w/my arms/shoulders. I've had good results. It's subtle and doesn't look orange when the color develops, and it's cheap. Besides that, a friend/coworker of mine is very pale and has done the spray-on tan at the salon. It looked great and lasted for about a week.
I would stick to the recommended products on the Skin Cancer Foundation list http://www.skincancer.org/seal/display.php?c=11. Of the responses you've already received, the Jergens product is on that list.
I use Jergens Natural Glow moisturizer, which is a gradual tanner. I use their face product (the same stuff but with sunscreen) every day and have not found it to be orange at all.
To be honest, I don't do my legs often and they are pretty pale, and I am okay with that. I have had people be rude. A coworker once said something to me, and I know she meant well, but it sounded offensive to me. This is my SKIN color. I think it is like racism---insulting someone's natural skin color as inferior to your own skin color, trying to make someone feel bad about the color of their skin---I just don't understand how people can think that those kinds of comments are acceptable much less funny.
I am also very fair. Forget the tanning lotions and be the color you were meant to be. I wear dresses, shorts, etc. I just use sunscreen to prevent burning. I also use a sun umbrella at my kids soccer games. It covers more of me. Other cultures find our pale skin desirable. My husband is from Japan. When I am in Japan I always get compliments on my skin. It's amazing to me that wherever we are people are uncomfortable with themselves. I hate to say it, but if you allow people's comments to change what you do, you are teaching your daughter to do what other people want. Not what she believes is right. Our actions as parents are very powerful. That power can be positive or negative. Good luck!
I too like the Jergens, although I do think it has that smell. I put it on days when Im around the house and not in enclosed spaces. I may just be real sensitive to smell. After a shower, the smell is gone.
The Jergens and Dove work pretty well and gradually tan you. They do stink in my opinion though.
We use Clinique and it works well and fast however, it still has a slight smell. My daughter and I use it but we are darker olive toned skin and I'm not sure how it would tan on fair skin.
Good luck!
If you have tried several and you look orange, you may be one of the very few people who's PH level is off and no matter what tanner you use, you will always be orange.
You can get a PH balancer at your local tanning salon and that will balance out your PH so you can use the self tanner and it won't turn you orange. It is by Norvell and it comes in a little brown bottle and I think it's around $10.
You just spray it on before you put the self tanner on. If they don't have it, they can easily order it for you. BTW, Norvell has great self tanners that give you beautiful color and smell good too, so you may want to go ahead and get some of their tanners as well.
I use Peter Thomas Roth Self Tanner. I have to order it online. It is not cheap but it is also not the most expensive out there either. And it works. It is the only thing that I have ever tried (and I have tried a lot - drug store to super expensive) and it has never turned me orange and it has never made me streak. As for the spider veins, you might want to look into getting an actual vein concealer. They are a little thicker than a normal concealer. Your local drugstore should have one that you can try out.
I didn't read any of the responses, but I just have to say...eventually you will just be who you are. I too am a strawberry blonde. I too have a fair complection. I have felt self concious about my fairness, but I have felt more self concous about another difference. My difference is that I had an injury when I was young, so the comments about the lightness have been minimal compared to the comments about my skin graft and missing toes. Anyhow, don't worry about the lightness. It is what it is. Relax and enjoy.
S., Being one of the fair skinned people also means that I burn at the word sun. I have learned that I can wear good sunblocker and then it doesn't matter that I am not tanning. I have never given up shorts only wear the longer length and that helps but I wear skirts and dresses without careing what othes think. You might be surprised to know that other than taking note of your pale skin they don't give it a second thought.
None of the so called products work for me but I know that Joa Rivers is advertizing one on QVC that oyu can check into.
Good Luck.
Hi,
If you are in shape and have pretty legs you are way ahead of most women, Whoever said something mean about the color of your legs is probably jellous. Show you daughter that you are proud of your natural beauty and put on sunscreen skip the fake tan.
I have used several products out there and I like the Jergens and Mary Kay for the price. I found if I exfoliate before it seems to last longer and look more natural. (The product looks darker in dry skin areas if not exfoliated.) After I exfoliate, I went to a spray tan booth got a light tone and continued with the self tanners. This method works wonders for me.
I've never used a self tanner, so I don't have any suggestions for products, but I have heard that you should exfoliate before you use any such products so you're tinting new skin instead of the old dead skin cells that are just waiting to slough off. So maybe trying a good scrub on your legs just before you self tan will help?
Good luck! I'm going to have to get me some of the Jergens and see how it works for me, since I'm in a similar boat to you!
I am also real pale (irish heritage) and I found the best thing is jergins tinted lotion. it slowly builds a tan that looks natural and doesnt have the bad self tanning smell
i recomend u 2 buy tanning locion and get a sun baht on ur back yard a cuple of times until u grt the color u want or in thw pool if u like.
HI Mama-
L'Oreal makes a gel tanner. I used it for 3 days in a row on my shoulders (because I am ghost white). I waited until it started to fade to use it again. If I went more than 3 days, I started to look fake and baked. I have tried lotions, sprays, etc. This gel is the best. I put it on at night (because no self tanner smells that great) and watched some tv or did some housework. After a few hours, I went to bed, and showered in the morning. By day 2 I noticed the "tan look" and by day 3 I was happily summer-ified. It's also pretty inexpensive, so you haven't wasted much if you don't like it. It was my favorite out of what was available at the local markets.
Hope this helps
-E. M
