Advice on tanning solution for VERY pale white girly

[PopandFizz]

Not sure where to pop this as couldnt see a beauty thread!

I am unbelievably pale. Actual snow white, can see my blue veins in my skin pale. Particularly my legs. Dont tan, dont burn they just reflect sunlight. I often wear tan coloured tights but they are clearly tights as the white shines through.

I have recently tried dove gradual tan and found that it felt like it looked like the tan was on top of the white (does that even make sense) and looked kind of yellowy brown. So I looked dirty pale!
I dont want to have a spray tan cos I want a longer term solution I can do at home and dont feel I want my whole body tanning necessarily. I dont want to look brown just not like Casper. I wouldnt know how to begin looking after a spray tan and my husband's ex did spray tans and ruined multiple bedsheets so hes against the idea.

Anyway, Im looking for advice or product recommendations or anything for a pale white girly. I have a dress for my cousins wedding that has a slit on each side of my legs and want them to look just...normal 😅

I am the same and had given up on fake tan altogether. Not even pale and interesting just really horrid blue grey legs and unhealthy looking. Just a couple of weeks ago in the heatwave I decided to take a punt on a bondi sands self tan for fair skin tones. Didn’t expect much but it is brilliant, doesn’t look orange, doesn’t streak, just gives me that natural healthy look and even works on my legs which are usually resistant to everything. It’s super easy to apply and my v pale 13 yr old daughter has been using it with great results also. The holy grail product is Bondi Sands Technocolor in Sapphire for a natural cool tone. It is formulated for fair skin tones. I know I sound like an ad but I am so excited about it, it is the first time in my life I have been able to have a bit of a tan! It is reduced in boots at the moment as well. Good luck!!

My arms and neck are fine with gradual fake tan but my legs go so streaky. I use instead leg make up - Sally Hansen.

Billy Connolly: 'Being Scottish I'm pale blue. It takes me a week to get white!'

I have tried every fake tan going and I joke that my skin tone is "Scottish Blue."

I really like the Bondi Sands one mentioned above or Tanologist gradual tan in light to medium.

The key is to buff with a tanning mitt after application and rubbing in, especially around feet, knees, elbows etc.

To make hands blend into the tanned arms, I pick a time when I'm not going to be washing my hands endlessly, put a small blob of whatever tanning stuff i'm using on the back of my hand, and blend with a tanning brush followed by a good buffing around the knuckles and finger joints.

For my face I use Bondi Sands face spray (in a white bottle, think you can only get from Amazon now) and blend with a brush.

I’ve given up on gradual tans they’re too streaky and yellowy, I just use the Rimmel Instant Bronze put on with a mitt, it takes the edge off the whiteness of my arms and legs, doesn’t leave marks on the sheets and washes off easily. And doesn’t have that weird smell.

Ive got no advice. But just want to say I hear ya.. im exactly the same.
I am trying dove light to medium and I feel I look yellow brown. . And after a while I feel I just look dirty.. so annoying. And takes ages to come off now, so just got to look dirty for a week till it goes..
I shaved my legs and now it looks even worse. Lol. Oh well.

I am so pale I am blue, I use Espa Pro Glow Gradual Tan Body Cream on my lower legs to take the gleam off - only once every five days or so, it just makes my legs look like they have a blood supply at that interval.

I find the St Moriz clear tanning mousse or gel is good for a light tan and doesn’t stain the sheets. Always use a tanning mitt and sleep in it overnight. Exfoliate thoroughly once a week and reapply. It should just give you a healthy glow not a dark fake tan look.

This sounds fab! Whats the 'care' like? Do you have to wash it off and how are your bed sheets? Haha.

Also glad to hear it isnt just me. Honestly, I think I last got a tan at 13 in Portugal.

Yes that is what I used and I also made the shaving mistake!

Its tough when your aim is 'has circulation' 🤣🫣

I had never heard of leg make up! Googling...

I'm the same. The only one I've ever liked on my legs is St Tropez gradual tan. I do two applications, two days apart. It doesn't streak and is easy to apply. Just rub it in really well. I never used to bare my legs without some kind of colour but I've not had time this year so the world has just had to put up with being blinded by my translucent legs 😭

Another vote for Bondi Sands Technicolour in Sapphire. Game changer!

Garnier summer body Gradual tan is the best, I’ve tried most of them and have issues with most, this one goes a nice natural colour that you are able to build over a few days, doesn’t come off scaly, doesn’t smell like tan and doesn’t transfer

Can I ask what the smell is like? I’m very pale and have tried a few if the gradual tans for fair skin but they all have the same underlying horrible smell. I always stop using them because I hate the smell.

Came here to say this 🤣

Scottish blue is a great term @DailyMaui

going against the grain of the thread here but I just started using a sunbed this year and my Celtic skin is loving it. I have tried every method and no fake tan has ever worked for me for a variety of reasons. Sally hensen spray is ok but takes so long and I’d never dare to use it anywhere but my legs.

I only go on for a short time but often to build it and of course not to burn. Over the last two months I’ve become the most tanned I’ve ever been… which is to say my veins no longer stand out and I don’t look dead. I’m still pale but I’m so happy with it. I took the dive for a holiday and i’m so glad I did.

im thoroughly of the mindset that it can be done safely.

I was going to suggest this one as well.

The best tanning advice is to not. You already look normal, there's nothing wrong with your natural colour.

There is no safe use of a tanning bed.

Gatineu is great but expensive.

there is no safe usage of a tanning bed. All tanning is sun damage no matter how nice we think it looks.

I think fake tan is akin to make up, or hair dye. I appreciate you may not use those either, but there’s nothing wrong with people making a pretty minor short term change to their appearance if it makes them feel better.

(Not sunbeds or anything. I’m talking specifically about fake tan.)

Show me the evidence that is not anecdotal and not overuse.

i came on to suggest Sally’s Leg Make Up too

Self tans / gradual tanners all either have a green base or peachy orange base - you can identify which by the stains they leave!

The trick to a “natural” looking fake tan is to choose the product that matches your skin tone - if you’re cool tones (yellow) you should buy the green based ones, if your warm tones (pink) you should buy the peachy orange based ones.