Please, please talk to be about fake tan.

[onesock]

I have auburn hair and very fair skin. Lots of freckles too.
A lot I have tried in years gone by just look ridiculous and the tiniest streak is very obvious on milk bottle white legs.

Have they improved in recent years? If so, white is best for very fair skin? Happy to pay a bit more if it's worth it.

So recommendations please.

St tropez more expensive than others but worth every penny imo - although it does bring out my freckles more

If you're so pale then I recommend Johnsons tan moisturising cream from any store .
Build it up every night.Its great for paler skins. Its cheap as chips too.
I also get the various spray on tans like L'oreal etc for a quick fix on my legs.

St tropez is tricky to apply on fair skin unless youre an expert.

Really?
I had a St tropez spray done about 5yrs ago and it looked awful; not at all natural. I just looked orange and the woman said the darker you are, the less orange it looks. Not at all helpful when I look like A4 copy paper!

Thanks though, Lima. Maybe it has improved or maybe the shop stuff is better.

I don't want to look really tanned just not so blindingly white.

Ah, thank you Skinny! Yes, maybe that was the problem.
Is the Johnson stuff subtle then? Do you knowe what it's called or do they just do one? Can I get it in Boots?

Yes to getting it in Boots. We've all been using it for years.Also Dove do a similar one.

It's very subtle you cant make any mistakes with it. Exfoliate first and remember to shave at least 48 hrs before so new skin isnt slippy and shiny so tan sticks when you first put it on, then just put it on every night before bed.
(dries really fast and doesnt stain the sheets)
You will be golden.

Promise me you wont hide your freckles though.. they are SO cool !

Thanks.
I've heard the nivea sunkissed one is good for fair skin too. Does anyone know about that?

Anything else that will just give a light glow to very pale skin?

I can highly recommend 'Dove Summer Glow' for fair to medium skin, it's a moisturiser with a hint of self tanning agent.

I'm strawberry blonde, very pale skin with freckles too. I have a little colour on my face and arms but my legs are bottle white, I use Dove on my legs only to give them a little colour for when I get them out!

I'm very impressed with the results, the cream dries quickly and I find it does not streak and the colour is very subtle.

Have bought it in both Boots and Tesco. HTH

Thanks, Claire. I'll try that one too!

johnstones holiday skin comes in two shades, including a fair to normal skin one here

a pale friend recommends the garnier one as well

I'd recommend watering down the gradual tan stuff with even more moisturiser - maybe 50:50 or even weaker.

I've got milk bottle skin too and even the faintest whiff of the stuff (no matter what brand) turns me orange. If I put on something like Dove Summer Tan on every night for a week, I'd end up looking thoroughly tangoed.

If you find it too strong you could do something like buy a bottle of Dove Summer Tan and a bottle of normal Dove body moisturiser and mix them.

Oh and they all bloody stink - even after washing - there's no getting away from it

The Garnier one is great.
I have pale skin and it's very gradual, almost to the point of un-noticeable the first night you use it.

Thanks everyone, really helpful.

i've tried nearly all the recommended ones on this htread, and i thought they were all vile.

The garnier gives the best colour and coverage and dries the fastest imo.

The saint tropez smells better but isn't worth the money compared to garnier.

My sister is v pale and she uses saint moriz mousse mixed with moisturiser, used sparingly on feet, knees, and elbows. It always looks really good on her.