about pale skin?

[Thurlow]

I'm down south, so it's going to be baking today. I'm not wearing tights, which is perfectly acceptable in our office.

Now I'm as pale as they come, especially my legs. I just don't tan at all.

I have had TWO comments already today from people - "blimey, you're brave, getting your legs out when they are so white!" Both from colleagues who were wearing dresses with no tights themselves, so it wasn't even a subtle dig at that. One then started a conversation about whether or not I'd considered fake tan.

Why is pale skin seen as so bad? Why shouldn't pale people wear skirts and dresses the same? Why should we go through all the faff and cost of fake tanning?

First world problem, I know, but it's really irritated me not already grumpy with the heat and crappy air conditioning

Can I ask my fellow pale skinned comrades, do you ever manage to shave your legs without getting those red dots on your shins?

I think they're the pores where the hair was. Only on the bottom front part of my legs. No amount of scrubs, moisturisers or careful hair removal prevent them. Wondering if it's a pale skinned thing.

I think it's a keratosis pilaris thing. I keep meaning to try lactic acid on mine as a treatment.

Fraggle ah no I don't mean that. This is more like pores not raised dots.

I've found using an oily body scrub and then a moisturiser, regularly gets rid of that. I like Soap&Glory Sugar Crush scrub and either Garnier body repair or neutrogena deep moisture body lotion. I think ones containing urea are very good for KP.

Same here. My tan is another's pale :D My arms tan a bit, my tummy and legs don't, ever!

I think people just don't think sometimes.

My legs are very pale and also quite veiny. Had one leg varicose de-veined but can't afford to do the other. I also have spider veins. So my legs are pale with purple blotches and one leg looks like Stilton with the veins (at least they're not too bulgy yet).

And in this heat the legs are out. I don't love my legs at all but needs must. I always wear something knee length or slightly below the knee as I have really bad veins on my thigh.

Apart from that my legs are a good shape, so from a distance all is ok!

I have to wear my watch in the sun so I can take if off to show my tan. I can remember on a trip in the caribbean the local guides telling some black people to put sunscreen on because they can burn too - as he had done a few weeks previously

For cheaper foundation, you could try Barbara Daly Vital Skin in Porcelain or Ivory. Other than that it's more pricey with Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation or that Face Ateliar one everyone is raving about. You can get a white foundation thingy to lighten any of the shades to get your perfect colour

I don't tan and I never will, I'd look ridiculous with fake tan on to be honest! (Red head - lots of freckles). I don't care if my paleness offends! It's either that or lobster red. Tell em to feck off.

I think between the pale actresses and pale models, and fake tan being associated with TOWIE types here (and in the US with aging and plastic surgeried types), not to mention being decades into the relentless adivce to use sunblock, naturally pale skin be in a serious resurgence.

Though I bet even that will have it's limits somewhere slightly darker than milk. And no freckles.

yay! Pale skin convention! I'm white pale too, don't get comments when i'm out and i always have my legs out as i massively overheat! I couldn't care less what people thought I love my skin and better than being orange! DP is the one who always comments, he has olive skin that tans in winter and is always taking the mick

I too am heartily sick of people telling me I'm pale (I bloody know I'm pale, why tell me??) and that I should use fake tan. What makes people think they have a right to comment on the appearance of others? I don't like fake tan, it makes you look grubby and smell of stale biscuits. Would never dream of going up to a colleague wearing fake tan and commenting on it though.

I love freckles. My friend has them and she's always trying to conceal them but I think they're so pretty.

YANBU!

I am also very pale and want to keep my skin that way. Tanning is very ageing, not only damage to the skin but I think people's faces look older tanned.

I slap on factor 50 and sit in the shade

That said, darker skin is very beautiful too if it's natural.

I'm very pale, which I like. I don't tan, just burn and fake tan looks awful on me.
My legs are, however, flourescent white and I prefer a hint of colour. I want the merest hint of a tint, just to take the edge off. I find all the products on the market way too dark so am still looking for the elusive product.
No one has ever commented on me being pale, except on holiday. I always just say I like being pale.

I saw a young girl out today in a short sundress who was very pale- all I thought was how beautiful her skin looked...oh, to be a teenager!

A friend of mine has started a Facebook group to swap beauty and skincare tips- some of these foundation and body lotion recommendations would be really appreciated. Come over and a have a look if you think you might be missing a trick, it's very friendly and there are lots of mumsnetters on there .

I am actually olive skinned, dark hair apart from the grey and dark eyes. My legs are white from winter too...

I do think pale skin is actually gorgeous, and I'm pleased to see so many of you lucky ladies embracing your glorious translucent complexions

I saw a lady today who must have achieved her tan and skin texture with ronseal, or being buried in a peat bog for a thousand years, nothing wrong with healthy, pale skin.
She was actually the colour of a conker and looked completely un-natural.

I'm trying to work out what pantone colour I am.

Jesus, just googled the temperature in old Londonium and it is HOT! Phew, the Tube must be fun. (Just jealous cos I'm not there)

Pale skin? I have no idea what the problem is. On holiday once someone said to my mother 'You must be from Lancashire with legs that white'.

Cheeky sod.

Embrace the milkbottle I say.

Because they are fuck nuggets who like skin cancer or have bought into very good tanning marketing.

I'd rather not be orange and streaky and have to spend all that time and money on the socially acceptable tint.

I'd rather we lived in a society where you didn't have to whack out your B&Q colour chart at the first hint of sunshine. Sadly people are stupid and buy into it.

I'm super pale with dark hair. I burn very easily and don't tan and so am very careful. I am happy in my own skin (!) but hate the, 'ooh, are you ok?, you are pale' comments.

A couple of years ago I had a two week holiday in Cuba where I managed to remain milk bottle white. I caused quite a stir with a South American family who were so amazed/ horrified/ amused by my skin colour that they actually wanted to take a photo to show people back home!

bolleauxnouveau that Pantone thing is addictive. humanae.tumblr.com This website is really good for it. I think I'm 108-9 C

berts For times when I have wanted to take the dazzle off, I've used St Tropez instant tan in light/medium. It washes off with soap and water so it's basically make up for your body/legs.

Yy to 'are you ok?' I think that's the worst one. You're feeling good and someone basically tells you, you look ill. I own a lot of blushers. Seems to do the trick,

I think that if you are pale, but slim and have flawless skin, it does look beautiful. The problem comes wjen, like me, your skin isnt snow white, but sort of grey, mottled, corned beef, totally uneven and covered in cellulite. Even exfoliating constantly doesn't give me that flawless pale skin that you see on these beautiful, pale airbrushed models.

So, sometimes I fake tan. I like it, and I look much better and slimmer, my cellulite is less noticeable and my skin tone is more even.

So, call me 'stupid' or whatever, but I think that I look better with a bit of colour!

can't find my pantone, my face is quite florid these days but 78-7C is close