very pale skin, a little bronzer or no bronzer

[smilesandsun]

So I generally don't use a bronzer at all and have very very pale skin (porcelain in BBrown) However a friend of mine suggested that I should use a little bronzer powder just to add a little life / less washed out.

Whats the thoughts out there. Do you use a bronzer or not?

thx

Nope, it never looks natural on me. I'm pale too and I just use pinkish blusher and sometimes some shimmer powder. My thinking is, pale is my natural colouring, so it doesn't look washed out on me :)

hmmm perhaps thats an idea instead, shimmer powder -- what brand do you use?

Don't use bronzer, just blusher. It will look all wrong on you ( peachy, coppery or even satsuma color). It won't give you the subtle sun-kissed look you want, just strange orange spots.

I'm very pale too. I lived in the Tropics for years and my face never got a nice natural tan, just melasma and lots of fine lines. So if you don't tan naturally, bronzer is the wrong product for you.

Looking washed out is an issue though if you are v pale. I've been aware of that since I was about 12 and fivide colors in two groups - those that wash me out and those that don't. Are you wearing colors that are too stong and harsh (or perhaps too neutral) for your skin tone? Blacks, browns and grays can be tricky. I finally had my colors done and now that I wear colors that really flatter my skin tone both in clothes and make-up, I look a lot younger and healthier. Just a better lipstick shade helps.

Good point DonaAna the colours wear can really affect how healthy you look. Lots of great threads around here about seasons and colours :)

I use a Lo'oreal shimmer powder called skinlights. It's lovely, not sure if they make it any more though, I've had it for years!

Benifit bronzer mixed with a bit of powder is fab for pale skin, I find it's nicer than just blusher

I am not sure if they do make skinlights I used that years ago!! I use bourjosis illuminating touch in rose along with a natural looking blusher to stop me looking so washed out. Wearing colours that suit you is also a must.

I'm very pale and have never found a bronzer that works on me. If it's summer I sometimes use a little fake tan (only a little) then tinted moisturiser one shade darker than usual, with goldeny shimmery colours to help create a sunkissed look. Only one shade darker is really important, though.

Otherwise, I think it'st just about getting your colours right. Black, navy and white are a disaster on me, but brown, olive, green and rust really perk up my skin.

Yep. I have the hardest time looking good in most basics - black, pale gray and most beiges and nearly all browns look horrible on me (I'm a light summer). On the other hand, smoky blues, most pinks and corals really make my skin glow, as do platinum highlights in my hair. Strongly recommend having your colors done as I had gotten mine all wrong and wore too many things that washed me out (slightly brownish lipsticks for example - I look best in pure pinks and cool colors).

Another thing - I used black and dark brown eyeliner for years without realizing that it's all wrong on me. Light, shimmery shades on my eyelids (champagne, apricot, silver and platinum tones) really open up my eyes.

The blushers I'm in love with at the moment is Chanel's Rose Ecrin. It's something to try if most blushers look too obvious or clowny on you. It's a lovely neutral, goes with everything. If I want a brighter tone, I put on some Chanel's Pink Explosion. They are expensive but last a lifetime. For the reference, Benefit's popular Dandelion is too coppery / orange on me.

Bronzer looks to heavy on pale skin, I'd concentate on wearing the right colours instead. I'd love to get my colours done.

If your skin is yellow toned and pale, bronzer will work. if youre all pink (and burn in the sun) then a rosy pink glow will make you look a bit less undead

At the risk of sounding like a Grazia jounalist I'm loving Bare Essencuals Rose radiance All over face colour. its soo great, you can pop lots on your cheeks for a 'just exercised' glow, or buff it al over face for a general healthier look

Putting anyhting like sparkly terracotta brick dust on your face just wont work IMO

I've got pale rosy skin and bronzers just don't blend with my skin tone at all, so end up looking really unnatural.

Patches of terracotta brick dust sums it up really

arf at sparkly terracotta brick dust

thanks sound like perhaps I should get my colours done, could solve a lot of problems
:)

I'm very pale too, with very dark hair which only emphasises it. Forget the bronzer - embrace the pale! Pale does not need to mean washed out. Hard to explain but I tend to go for a 'porcelain doll' kind of look - foundation that blends exactly with skin tone (sounds like you have this sorted with your Bobbi Brown), a flattering shade of blusher (I use the paler of the 2 pink shades of No7 mineral blusher - comes with a good brush too) and then make a feature of either eyes or lips to really 'wake' my face up iyswim.

I think for pale skin, a bit of lip colour makes a big difference. I don't like wearing lipstick during the day but I've found that a bit of lipstain with some vaseline/carmex over it makes a huge difference.

If I'm looking a little tired and need brightening then I put No7 illuminating primer on underneath foundation - comes in a more pinky shade and a more corally shade (I chose pink as more flattering). It has a teeny bit of shimmer in it, so might be what you are looking for?

Also, eyebrows (and decent eyebrow pencil to fill in) make a big difference to how tired/awake I look - maybe consider threading if you haven't already?

Sorry so long (I've become quite militant since ditching the fake tan/bronzer myself)

Bronzer looks wrong on anyone fair skin, Blush is better by a long shot. Peachy ones are the most flattering for a daytime look, just avoid ones with gold shimmer. Pinks look great on fair skin for a more made up look

I'm quite pale and use Bourjois bronzer sparingly - I think it looks fine.

I'm v pale and don't use bronzer but I have started using Bare Minerals foundation and their 'Warmth' which looks scarily dark in the pot but I use literally just a crumb and it seems to 'lift' my face a bit after putting on the foundation.

Cream blusher is good - Max Factor do a reasonable one for about six pounds. I use one that looks v v bright pink in the tub but is v subtle once on.

I am also very pale, and use a bronzer in small amounts in the summer, around my hairline and cheekbones mainly, it just stops me looking like casper the friendly ghost when everyone else is all golden and tanned.

The only two i have tried are Benefit's Hoola and Rimmel's sunshimmer, both are good for me, but it prefer the Benefit one.

I don't bother with it in winter though.