calling all seriously pale people...

[madmomma]

How do you feel about being pale? I am virtually white, and am pondering whether the time has come to accept that I need a bit of colour to look my best. In the past I've always made the pale + interesting thing my 'look', but I'm finding it harder as I get older and more tired.

I am very lazy and I hate the feel of creams on my body, so fake tan feels like a major ballache to me. I can't use sunbeds cause I have loads of moles & I don't think a regular spray tan is realistic or affordable really.

I don't know what to do, + I'm wondering what other people do. Do you work with what is and just flaunt your whiteness? Take a moderate approach and just use a gradual facial tanner? Or commit to the upkeep of regular fake tanning?

I absolutely know that pale can be beautiful, but I'm finding I have to make more and more effort not to look ill + shattered.

Any thoughts?

Fake tan doesn't work on me. I now embrace my pale/blue look
Benefit Coralista blush makes me look awake and I always have eye make up on. Pencil brows in with asda eyebrow pencil in blonde.
TBH I can't be arsed with tanning so if my White legs offend anyone looking they'll just have to put up with it

I embrace my pallor!

I wear rosy lipstick, a smudge of eyeliner and I pencil over my pale eyebrows to darken them but that's it.

I think fake tan is disgusting and would hate to have my body smeared with the stuff.

You're right lambethlil, I have got marginally more colour as I've got older and yes, it probably is sun damage.

During summers like the last one I don't take on any colour at all, but when I am exposed to the sun, I'm more likely to gently tan than turn red.

I do come from a family of natural blondes and red heads. We are a strangely pale lot. When we have a family get together we must look like a gathering of the undead.

Wow what brilliant responses. Am coming back later when I don't have a baby smearing cheese on toast all over my laptop. Thanks so much for replying.

Nars Multiple in palm beach is subtle but helpful to my very pale face.
Clinique 'perfectly real' foundation is also good (tailored to how pale / cool (or otherwise) your skin is).

I think WhollyGhost was making a joke. No biggie.

I am very pale but I like it. I find it more attractive as I am getting older. If you look ill, it sounds like your colours are draining you or your make-up is wrong.

I'm pale, and I like it ... I have a lot of naturally blonde hair, very fine eyebrows and slatey eyes. Pale skin seems to just go with it all really - i have a bit of an English Rose thing and wear vintage frocks/skirts/sweaters and brooches etc.

If I were thinner and more glam i might get fake tanned but being a fat plump, soft-bosomed milkmaid type a tan would look stoooopid.

I use BE to give myself an evened out complexion (I have very sensitive spot-prone skin) and a bit of radiance, and like red lippy or wings of dark brown eyeliner

The only thing I don't like about my pallor is that I CANNOT wear heavy/dramatic/smoky eyes. Simply cannot. Makes me look dead as a coffin-nail. Any drama has to come from lippie.

YY to all those who get asked if they are ill, very annoying. I gave permanent dark circles too that don't help. I also find the skin on my neck is very sensitive, and the slightest rub shows up as huge red marks.

It depends if your going for bold or subtle? A nice pink based blusher looks nice as opposed to a bronzer, and cool colours like turquoises go well. What colour eyes do you have? Also, I think a nice big, brightly coloured scarf doubled around your neck looks nice, especially this time of year.

I find paler colours make me look pale too, especially tan colours and peaches. Tops have to contrast otherwise they just fade into the skin!

Also, I do like st tropez tan if I am going out. It is green based as opposed to orange, and doesn't streak, which can show up more again a pale skin!

Pinot, it was while I was at school.

We wore uniform, blame that I do. I don't normally look ill, just pale.

velcro & Katie I have no eyebrows! Literally a few transparent wisps. So I wear a shitload of eyebrow pencil, which does help a lot. Nothing there to shape though - looking on the bright side I guess that saves me money
itsalladirtylie No I genuinely look ill. Huge undereye circles on white skin etc..
flowery Where did you get your colours done? I definitely fancy trying that.
Marie thanks for an opposing take. I'm going to try that aviva tan if I can find someone who does it, and see if I find it worth the upkeep expense.
lambethlil I'm 32 and a factor 50 devotee, so not much sun damage but zero colour either!
nippy I've no idea what season I am. Brown hair, green eyes, grey skin.. That lipstick sounds beautiful, where can I buy it?

If you are very pale, never ever, ever wear cream colours next to your skin. It will make you look ill. You can wear white but not cream.

Even with just a few wisps get yourself down to a Shavata brow bar. They will tidy and show you how to pencil and highlight.

A good foundation will work wonders. Bobby Brown do very pale, as does Shu Uemura and I bought a Chanel that is very pale the other day.

MarieFromStMoritz if the Ooompa Loompa look works for you, by all means embrace it. I don't pass judgement against anyone who chooses a particular style, but it's not for me

Besides, fake tan does not have to look orange, done well it looks great.

Agree that wearing cream next to face is a v bad move. DD1 has a gorgeous lace jumper in a v v pale beige colour and I covet it - but it makes me look like an animated corpse.

I rarely wear lipstick but when I do, a sort of 'dusty' raspberry colour works best on me - or a Benetint rip-off. For blusher, I like a fairly 'doll faced' look - Origins Pinch My Cheeks is an absolute rip-off and stains fingers, but the colour is perfect for me. Or Boots Natural Collection do a good quite bright pink, which I also like.

Please talk to me about eyebrows. I have dark hair and eyebrows but my brows seem to be fading and getting thinner - and I have no idea how to use a pencil on them - and what colour? Dark ones look ridiculous.

I went to my local House of Colour consultant madmomma, utterly fabulous.

Interesting about the cream vs white. I went to my colour consultation wearing a white jumper which, when compared to the cream colour samples held up to my face by the consultant, made me look exhausted and ill, with a purple nose.

I am very pale, but the underlying tone of my skin is warm rather than cool, meaning bright white is a big no no for me.

Remus I swear by dior eyebrow pencils. The only ones I've tried that don't look ginger on me. They do brilliant natural colours and you could get a fair one if you feel too self conscious with brown. You just pencil in little pretend hairs really, in the place where your own should be. Then brush through with the little brush on the end of the pencil. The dior ones are really easy to apply and blend. I've got a blonde dior one that I don't use that you're welcome to if you want to give it a go. If you pm me yr address I'll shove it in the post to you. Once you get confident with a fair one, you'll probably want to go a bit darker.
Definitely going to google house of colour.

That's really kind of you. Will PM you!

Go to a Shavata brow bar. They will show you how to apply brow pencil and brush it through (and then make you buy all a pencil, highlighter and brush/comb thingy). I had compliments after I had mine done and the less observant thought I'd been on holiday

I am very pale as well, I used to go down the fake tan route but gave up a couple of years ago. I have very good skin anyway, so it was a waste of time covering it in St Tropez muck anyway.

I have a very pale bronzer, which works wonders. I don't put it on to look bronzed, rather use it to contour under cheekbones. Then I apply pale pink blusher as well on apples of my cheeks.

My other 2 make up essentials are under eye concealer - I have violet shadows under my eyes and use By Terry Tiuche Velouté which is perfect. I also groom my brows and colour them in - I naturally have pretty dark and defined brows, however lately they are starting to look more sparse. I have a brilliant Shavata brow kit, which has coloured wax which you can mix to colour them in. I really recommend it.

Re foundations I use a By Terry one as I find most foundations are not pale enough. However I have recently ordered some Lily Lolo samples and they are very pale. I have also heard good things about the Dainty Doll range.

Bobby Brown bronzer is good. It's very matt with no nasty shiny bits and a little bit swept across brow, nose and cheeks can make you look much healthier in the summer months.

I remember your fake tan thread GetOrf pmsl.

i'm very pale but i like it now i've had my colours done as it looks 'right' with the right colours (i'm a spring so high contrast similar to winters). still can't live without blusher tho - much prefer that to lots of bronzer.

I also had my colours done with Colour Me Beautiful. It was the best thing I ever did, beauty-wise. It is quite remarkable how some colours can make you look ill whilst others bring you to life.

I second the recommendation for Bobbi Brown bronzer. It is the only one that makes me look healthy as opposed to dirty.