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Original poster

Is There a Natural Looking Fake Tan for Very Pale Skin?

27 replies

FlamingGalar · 06/07/2011 16:47

I have red hair and very (and I mean very!) pale skin. I have a hen night on Saturday and want to get the pins out without blinding the unsuspecting public.

Does anyone have a recommendation of a subtle, natural fake tan for pale skin? Because I have no "base tan" all the ones I've tried look very orange (and patchy). I really just want to take the glare off my skin rather than actually colour it IYSWIM? Any suggestions would be most welcome Smile.

OP posts:
Original poster
FlamingGalar · 06/07/2011 16:48

I have red hair and very (and I mean very!) pale skin. I have a hen night on Saturday and want to get the pins out without blinding the unsuspecting public.

Does anyone have a recommendation of a subtle, natural fake tan for pale skin? Because I have no "base tan" all the ones I've tried look very orange (and patchy). I really just want to take the glare off my skin rather than actually colour it IYSWIM? Any suggestions would be most welcome Smile.

OP posts:
GilbonzoTheSecretPsychoDuck · 06/07/2011 16:48

Watching with interest!

I'm loved on the beach as my legs reflect the sun onto everyone else in the style of those metallic boards people used to use.

Original poster
FlamingGalar · 06/07/2011 16:52

So desperate I posted it twice. Smile

Grin Gilbonzo. It's funny (and slightly depressing) because its true!

OP posts:
ScarletOHaHa · 06/07/2011 16:52

Stay pale and use Mac face and body foundation?

Butterbur · 06/07/2011 16:53

My skin is that pale, and I like Vita Liberata Silken CHocolate. It's a combination of a fake tan and a tint. On me, the colour looks at its best about 4-6 hours after application, until my next bath or shower, when the tint comes off. It's a much more natural colour than any other fake tan I've tried, and makes my legs blend in with my arms, where sun damage over the years has turned the skin a slightly darker colour.

shelldockley · 06/07/2011 16:53

I'm very pale too and I like Palmer's cocoa butter gradual tan, not too orange, and doesn't smell too much. It still goes patchy on my legs though, so I've found Superdrug's own fake tan wipes good, they leave a very light colour (just take the glare off as you say) and very easy and quick to apply.

ssd · 06/07/2011 16:57

for all of us pale skinned types,what foundation do you use? i read on here chanel vitalumiere is good but even the palest is orange on me (am scottish and pale beyond anything...), so any recommendations?

i don't go near the sun so dont use fake tan!

shelldockley · 06/07/2011 17:00

I use mineral foundation and find Lily Lolo porcelain or china doll to be the palest.

Original poster
FlamingGalar · 06/07/2011 18:16

Thank you all for your recommendations.

Butterbur, I bought some of the one day tint stuff and just found that it rubs off on clothes. Does the one you recommended stay put? Same goes for the foundation. I just seem to get the stuff everywhere!

Shelldockley, do the wipes give a decent finish? I always imagine them to be a bit patchy for some reason.

ssd I use mineral foundation as it's the only colour match i can get. Drives me bonkers as I don't particularly like the effect. It tends to divide all my wrinkles into an arrid landscape effect after a few hours. Has anyone tried Nicola Roberts line Dainty Doll? That's meant to be specifically for pale skin - just a bit of a trek to get to any shops that sell it.

OP posts:
Butterbur · 06/07/2011 18:18

Clinique Almost Makeup 01 (fair). But face is V freckly, unlike greyish legs.

Butterbur · 06/07/2011 18:20

FlamingGalar, I haven't really put it too the test - I haven't done it and worn any pale coloured clothes, just in case. It does come off on the bed linen if you put Bio Oil on without showering first. It looked like I'd had a very nasty accident!

Original poster
FlamingGalar · 06/07/2011 18:30

Ok, I may have to skip that one for Saturday, but put it on my "to try" list.

OP posts:
manicmummyoftwo · 06/07/2011 18:39

I like the 'Dove' gradual self tan. It is available in fair-medium and I find this gives a natural look without looking fake. I use it on alternate days to build it up so you may have to start pretty quick! It does have that horrible fake tan smell though so I always use it before bed. Lucky DH eh?!

Scotsfairy · 06/07/2011 19:16

Interesting thread! Will also be watching as I'm looking for a fake tan that will just take the blue edge off a bit!

FIFIBEBE · 06/07/2011 19:18

I am almost blue! I have only ever met 2 people as pale as me and I gave birth to one of them. I have an enormous box of fake tan products which I have tried over the years and have found to be too orange/dark/ patchy/rubbish. This year in desperation I decided to experiment slightly. Have mixed them with various body lotions and creams. If you get the dilution correct it can work well. I am currently using a Clinique self tan mixed with L'Occitane rose body cream.

nearlytherenow · 06/07/2011 19:52

I'm the same colouring as you. Fake Bake Fair is the best I've found. It's a gradual one, I usually do 2 consecutive days of applications, it takes the blue tinge off my legs and doesn't streak (although does go darker on knees if you don't moisturise well).

madhousewife · 06/07/2011 20:03

I just picked up some ST Tropez spray (came with moisturiser and scrub for £20) and I've been very impressed. I'm very fair haired and pale and this one has given me a very light, natural looking tan, no streaks, easy to apply, dried super quick and at first I thought, 'NO SMELL!' but a few hours later I could smell it slightly, but not too bad at all and I'm super sensitive to that horrible chemical smell.

HappyAsIAm · 06/07/2011 21:18

I am really pale too. I am afraid of fake tans, having had a horrendous experience in a tanning booth a few years ago, and so I use the wash off tans now. The best I have found is Make Believe light to medium from Boots. Its wash off, so easy to remedy mistakes. But because it is wash off, you can'y get splashed or caught in the rain as it does run!

shelldockley · 07/07/2011 10:43

This is the superdrug range, I can't find the actual self tan wipes:
www.superdrug.com/accessories/superdrug-solait-self-tan-corrector-wipes/invt/203419/&bklist=
I use just one wipe per half leg, rub it in quickly with your hands, and it just takes the edge of the blue tinge. If I do over a few days it builds up lovely too, I love having tanned feet, look so much nicer in sandals!

TobyLerone · 07/07/2011 10:49

I use this in light/medium (red hair and very pale here too). It smells nice and is very natural-looking.

It's definitely the best one I've found.

steben · 07/07/2011 10:59

Fake bake fair is excellent - and I have had a hand applied clarins one which worked well. However imo you cannot beat Fake Bake

MissFoodie · 07/07/2011 11:05

tbh I have never found anything that doesn't look fake/with a hint of fakeness to it, so I just dont bother any more- the only thing I do is use a colour on my legs so people don't have to wear sunglasses in my presence ;)

Bourjois do one which is good for legs, v subtle

I have also been asked to review a natural paraben free spray tan which apparently is amazing....we will see...I'm concerned about arising looking like a minstrel....I'll let you know!

Original poster
FlamingGalar · 07/07/2011 13:39

Loads of great suggestions, thanks!

Fake bake sounds like a good one. Is it pricey?

OP posts:
clarinsgirl · 07/07/2011 13:43

I'm with manicmummyoftwo. The Dove product is part fake tan part moisturiser so you build up gradually. I have very pale skin and use it two or three times a week to reduce the glare!