I wish I was one of those women who on a hot day.....

[mrsdavidbowie]

Just get out there and look amazing.

I suffer from polymorphic light eruption and pustular rosacea which is looking particularly lovely today. I never sit in the sun ...even a few minutes chatting to a friend in a supermarket carpark makes my skin uncomfortable.

The faff of suncream in case its going to be sunny.

The radioactive whiteness of my legs ( no fake tan works)

Roll on October,.......

[AMcoffeeLover]

Sweaty pits are a problem......but sure max strength has helped.
Plus loose fitted gypsy tops are in which should be good! No sweat marks!

[mrsdavidbowie]

I've used Piz Buin Allergy...react to it.
Last year used the one in the white bottle with red and blue writing..

[Wagglebee]

Light eruption! Ah that's what I have. Thank you, I didn't know it had a name. Only started the past couple of years. I have it on my collar bones and chest sometimes. I'm slathered in Aveeno moisturiser atm and it seems to be helping.

[KatieScarlettreregged]

I have cankles and swollen, puffy feet that expand during hot days. I practically had to cut my (perfectly well fitting at 7am) shoes off my malformed hooves when I got home.
Seriously considering Birkenstocks tomorrow.

[Wagglebee]

Just how do these women make their legs so smooth and glossy? Mine are so white, you can see the hair follicles and veins through the skin. Shaving causes red spots but waxing tears my thin skin. Ugh.

Actually this is my main problem. I think if I could solve this then I'd be alright.

I'm happy with my body shape and weight. Hair is good. Feet are footner'd and once nails are painted they are also fine.

It's the red spotty calves, white legs and lovely purple patch of thread veins that screw the little floaty dress dream up.

[toffeeboffin]

Yup, I prefer a roll neck and jeans too!

How do people not look greasy and sweaty with sun cream on? Do they wear it at all? Is it magic cream?

[mrsdavidbowie]

I had my legs lasered and its one less thing to worry about.
My skin generally is fantastic. Bloody sun.
And my poker straight hair is shit too. Had it cut last week but didn't have much length off..of course it is just flopping .

Think I'll wear a balaclava.

[SirChenjin]

My legs are covered in broken veins - it's like a road map of the British Isles down there, so little summer dresses are out unless they're below the knee to cover the worst of them. Then there's the problem of a wobbly tummy - unless I encase it in sweat inducing control pants, and hair that goes frizzy when it's humid, and pale white skin until I can find the time to stick the fake tan on. Oh, and my feet swell up, and I have a long walk from the station to my desk so I need comfy shoes.

I may as well give up. I used to be a short summer dress and little sandals girl years ago

[haroldsfakebluetits]

Yep yep yep. I hear ya ladies.


I too spent today hideously jealous of everyone else who can just 'do' summer.

[BitterChocolate]

You all need to move to Ireland. We did have a sunny day today, but it was still pretty cold so everyone is still wearing trousers and long sleeves. I NEVER reveal my legs and tbh I've hardly ever felt too hot in trousers. If things get really hot (here we define unbearably hot as over 20C) I put on a maxi dress. I think I wore my maxi dress about 4 times in total last year.

Try Sunsense sun cream. I use the tinted facial sunscreen, but they also do one called Sunsensitive which is one of the very few that doesn't bring my DS out in a nasty rash.

[Cheesymonster]

Same here. Pale but not interesting. Size 16/18. Sunburn, never even slightly tanned. Prickly heat and face that goes super red in the heat. Have bought some floaty tops in primark that cover mum tum but what to put on bottom half?! Am still living in skinny jeans.

[Cheesymonster]

[HellonHeels]

I also look awful in summer. Sweaty, with hair that manages to be frizzy and lank. Red blotchy skin.

On the bright side I look great in winter :-)

[Cancookdontcook]

I much prefer summer dressing but it has been some time since I have been able to expose my knees. So that rules out little dresses, skirts or shorts. Leaving jeans, leggings and maxi dresses. Just watch me sweat.

I bought fake tan for the first time this year but my children inform me I smell of cucumbers and it is such a faff applying it non-streaky and waiting for it to dry that it is easier not to bother.

[DipsoHippo]

Ah BitterChocolate, living here in Ireland does suit my aversion to the heat ... do you remember the fall out from Heat Wave 13? The whole country wore an array of 1990s shorts that they had to dig out.
As, obviously, HW13 hit after Penneys had got all their winter stock in.
Yesterday was roasting here if you stood in a certain spot at high noon but I still needed a fleece to cover my chilly arms

Back to topic- I don't even attempt fake tan any more. It just looks ridiculous on me. I am so pale, I am grey. I try to tackle the red blotchy/lumpy limbed look by using a good body scrub to get the dead skin cells off and get the blood circulating. A lot of body lotion, and I have some "oil" stuff, that leaves a nice sheen

(Obviously this all involves a lot of faffing in the shower, so I started it religiously in January new year, new me and tailed off by mid Feb)

I am a fatso too, so I stick to maxi skirts and dresses, a sturdy vest top (that conceals the boobage) and a cardi

[KiteKit]

I have found my home :-) I am pale (red haired) have developed roascea and also suffer from acne on my chest and back from time to time...I have a varicous vein on one calf and thread veins on my lower ankles etc. I NEVER look good in summer and I dream of being olive skinned and able to waft about in little dresses.

My feet are in ok condition and are small but have the most ridiculously soft skin and every shoe / sandal gives me blisters once the weather warms up at all.

This year I have invested in some nice dresses for our holidays as we are going on a sun holiday to Mallorca (dh and dd do not suffer from my skin type and they love the sun).

I have decided to ignore feeling self conscious about my vein and brave wearing knee length dresses. I have bought a couple of very nice ones in GAP and Boden this year and I am determined to wear them (on holidays - not brave enough for work!)

I second the san tropez wash on wash off tan - it is wonderful and does not smell and really give a very nice subtle glow. I am using it on my arms at the moment and will use it on my feet for sandals / shoes later.

I also used the san tropez in -shower tan and found it very good for getting a pale golden glow that looks realistic with my pale colouring.

I have tried to work out my best body parts (or at least the ones I object to least!) and have bought a couple of halter neck type jersey dresses that are ankle length (so they cover lots of my problem areas such as chest, calves etc and expose my shoulders and arms which I am ok with. So I am hoping they will help.

I am dreading the swimsuit shopping though and am putting it off!

[EthelCardew]

This Sally Hansen airbrush legs stuff gets good reviews.
www.boots.com/en/Sally-Hansen-Airbrush-Legs-Tan-Glow-75ml_1154646/

I'm not sure I'm bothered enough to give it a go - I can just see myself with some hilarious graffetti-legs-type outcome.

[quirkychick]

Yy Sally Hanson airbrush legs. They do a paler one - great for covering blemishes as it's not fake tan so you can correct any blotches. I would still only wear knee length skirts/shorts though .

[Ohanarama]

Hi fives my gang! I'll raise you spotty back - alongside red face, frizzy hair, droopy knockers and pasty skin! Tasty! Ironically I loves my weeks holiday in the Med, leaving my self esteem at Stansted, obviously.

[BuntyBoogaloo]

Sisters!
I've got a wobbly tummy, chunky muscly legs (that never get exposed) and big ugly feet
Summer is hell.
I'm even avoiding maxi dresses this year, as I've put on so much weight and the aforementioned belly needs serious trussing up. I can't deal with struggling with Bridget Jones pants in the heat... Role on the Autumn.

[Passthecake30]

Strangley my polymorphic light eruption that has plagued me for the last 10 years or so hasn't made an appearance this year? touches lots of wood

I do have a large blobby purply vein thing about the size of a 50p behind one leg (thanks kids), and my other veins are getting more visible now, but I have decided if people don't like the look of them....then don't look!

[Dowser]

Malibu spray tan oil isn't greasy if that helps.

I'm useless with fake tan. I've still got a bit of a tan from Tenerife. I just love wearing less clothes. Thursday was underwear , dress and sandals.

Today it's underwear, thick tights boots, a dress, a cardi, a fleece and a light anorak for our visit to the zoo!

Thanks Edinburgh!

[EthelCardew]

passthecake Ooh you too, wonder why it's not happened this year. Not that I mind!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I hear you OP me too!

[Passthecake30]

ethel fingers crossed we're cured forever! !!! Can't think of anything I have done differently....maybe a bit less stress, but life was never that bad for me!