If you have really pale skin, how do you do bare legs?

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I want to get my legs out with summer dresses and skirts (before I'm too old) but am so put off by how white and blotchy I look. They almost look patchy bluish / purplish, as you can see the veins etc....

I've heard stockings, but really with a sun dress and sandals that doesn't work. Make up as well, but won't that sweat off and leave marks everywhere?

So what works to make you feel more confident at leaving the house with bare legs?

I quite like the Rimmel Sun Shimmer, but would like to try the Sally Hansen one.
Those of you who recommended it, which shade and formula do you prefer?

I go the lightest with SH. I'm as white as they come, any darker looks obvious.

ok point taken a out fake tan. I've just bought some Palmers cocoa butter moisturising natural bronze self tanner.

I will report back.

It's May, almost everyone has white pasty legs. I'm also sporting a couple of small but bloody wounds following some overenthusiastic shaving. And I Don't Care. It's well worth it for some lovely sunshine.

I am shite at applying fake tan, and in particular the Holiday Skin kind seem to fade really unevenly when I do them

so I have come to terms with baring my milk bottle legs, and concentrate my efforts on de-fuzzing, exfoliating and moisturising instead.

My legs are nearly the same colour as a bottle of milk, as is the rest of my body. Fake tan looks awful on me, and very obviously "fake" so not used it in years. I also have muscles from years of swimming and horse riding
But they don't bother me at all, I don't think they are a bad thing. There are lots of things abour myself I don't love, but I would rather accept them than worry about it forever. Its hard to get there but when you do its the best feeling ever.

Sorry haven't read the whole thing but I use the fairest colour of the No7 stuff. Not expensive, gives a nice "off white" colour. I just shave and rub in like I'm moisturising like my life depended on it.

Muscles are a good thing surely MissB I'd love my thighs to be more toned. Not enough to actually do something about it but you know..

Unless you did mean it was a good thing, in which case just ignore me. Too much sun. (in the shade protecting my pale limbs.)

I like St Tropez every day moisturiser. Goes a nice colour on me and doesn't smell of biscuit crumbs, always a bonus

I am very pale, and bruise easily. But for casual wear, I'm happy to get my muscular legs out unadorned.

For work or occasions, the SH stuff is brilliant as it evens everything out. I find the easiest method is to use a fake tan mitt

Me and fake tan, even the gradual stuff do not get on, so I gave up on it years ago.

I've got this which works well when I can be arsed to put it on - it's a posh version of Sun Shimmer, basically. I bought it in France though where it was half the price!

oh dear bonsoir I'm feeling bad now..I am mid thirties and have two fairly obvious spider veiny things on one leg and hate the idea that I am repulsing people by getting my legs out....which I do. I just used to carry on regardless but maybe I'd better cover up!

Which colour SH should I be getting? I am pale but I wouldn't say very, very pale other than on my legs. My legs get a tiny bit of natural colour EVENTUALLY. But it can take a while. Should I get light or medium?

Mulberry please do not feel the need to cover up because of a random woman on the internet. I suspect that nobody other than you notices

Mulberry, I have several thread vein patches and I am self-conscious about them, but all bar one are on my thighs, so I try not to think about them as I never get anything out above the knee. I did, however, see a feature on tv a while ago about concealing makeup for body blemishes (thread veins, vitiligo, etc). It looked very effective - the lady they demo'd on had lots of broken veins on her ankle and instep as a result of a sprain, and after the makeup was on you couldn't see them at all. Something to think about? And cheaper than surgery!

God yes just use a bit of Rimmel Hide the Blemish (palest available shade obviously!). I like this as it's nice and creamy. Zapped veins can just come back and also I agree they are not as noticeable to other people.

I have a small patch of thread veins on one of my thighs. It's just at the height where a lot of dresses come to. I have to admit, despite my advocating getting your legs out earlier, I am self conscious about it. I don't wear shorts, although I would like to, for example.

Are there concealers specifically for the body or would a facial one do? I feel like they wouldn't cover the purple enough?

Sorry for the hijack OP

I should just take my own advice and not give a shit.

I've had thread veins on my legs since I was 19. I noticed them on holiday while sunbathing and I was self conscious for about 10 minutes till I realised my friend next to me had exactly the same! They're normal. I don't do catwalks so it doesn't really matter does it?

I've got the make-up to cover them, but I have so many thread veins (they're literally all over my legs) that it takes ages to cover them all - which is why I use fake tan. A bit of colour reduces the redness, or at least the contrast between the white and the red/purple.

reporting back. ..Palmers cocoa butter natural bronze body lotion....it's ok not brilliant.

posted too soon. I used a tiny bit. ..size of a toothpaste squeeze. ..and it's just about not too orange. I won't be bothering again. pale and proud is the way forward for me

In terms of concealer, I'm thinking this Covermark stuff or this Rio stuff. Not a concealer stick for the face by the likes of Rimmel or Boots No 7.

That stuff works - but remember if you have broken veins all over your legs it will take a long time to apply. You have to prep your legs, then apply the cream to each vein or patch of veins, then set it with powder (iirc) - I found it such a faff, but if you only have one small patch that you want to cover it will be fine.

Tbh Sir, I use the ultimate concealer - leggings