Help! White, pasty-skinned woman needs advice

[llebrekniT]

Look at my countdown clock!<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_11_8.gif' border=0></a>

We leave next week and I will have to wear shorts. I am too white<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_10_22.gif' border=0></a> to be walking around showing my legs. But I can't stand to wear pants if it's above 70 degrees<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/28/28_1_9.gif' border=0></a>.

Can anyone recommend a good self-tanner? I haven't used any in years. I'm going to buy one tomorrow.

Any advice is much appreciated!<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_7.gif' border=0></a>

 

[Bichon Barb]

LOL. You crack me up.

I used Neutragena before we went last February. Just be careful to put it on evening or else you'll end up with streaks.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Wow, that white smiley was a good touch

My advice is get a super strong sunblock and don't worry about how you look. It's Orlando. People are used to seeing all sorts of bodies, and I don't think anyone really notices or cares, or if they do, they shouldn't. As long as you are protected from the discomfort of sunburn and possible longterm sun damage, what more is there to bother with? Life is too short. Enjoy!

 

[llebrekniT]

Ok that's one vote for Neutrogena and one for vote for sunblock and a I-don't-give-a-hoot-about-how-I-look mentality!

Thanks to both of you. Anybody else out there got any advice?

 

[meandtheguys]

My SIL went to one of those places where they basically air-brush the color on. She looked pretty good. Don't forget to use sunscreen though!

Michelle

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Well, I'm lucky. I'm naturally tan, so I don't have to worry about my legs

Go to a tanning place and get a $10 tan if you're that worried

 

[Hillbeans]

I'd recommend possibly going to the tanning salon for maybe 3-4 visits. The spray on tan's can look really fake and worse than no tan at all, especially if you do it yourself.

I went tanning a handful times before my trip and i'm fair. I would go in only for 5 minutes a session, but I got a great base tan and didn't burn.

 

[maci]

I like clinques self tanner. The "quick bronze", goes on brown so you can see where you are putting it, and it looks very natural. I always get compliments when I wear it!!
I use wet wipes to blend it in in weird areas like knees and ankles.

And yes the air brush thing looks great too, if you have a place close to you that does that!
Have fun!

 

[MosMom]

I use neutrogena as well and sunblock as I turn into lobster woman very quickly if I don't wear it. I would get the lightest Neutrogena color available though or you will look silly. I made that mistake and looked really out of whack.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I'm with Pixie_Dust. Slather yourself in sunscreen and let YOUR color shine through. I just got back from a visit with my mom in FL and she kept "suggesting" (repeatedly ) that I go out and get some sun on my legs. I couldn't be bothered. Too much else I wanted to do. Besides, why set myself up for the lobster look, peeling and maybe skin cancer?

 

[Pooh67_68]

I'm am also very pale and I don't care what people think when I'm wearing shorts. Actually when I was younger I wouldn't even wear shorts in gym class because of how pale I was. Than one day after I meet my DH I said to heck with it, if people don't like it too bad.

 

[r3ngels]

I have, also, used Neutrogena- spray on self tanner. It works really good... just make sure you wash your hands afterwards... I forgot once and had TAN palms.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

with the posters who say go to a tanning salon. DON'T! Please.

Very light skinned people are more likely to get skin damage which is very aging and can lead to skin cancer. I know whereof I speak. My brother died of melanoma last year. My whole family went to see dermatologists who all told us the same things. Always protect yourself from the sun. NEVER GO TO A TANNING SALON.

Some of the self tanners are very cool and will make you look just fine if you don't want to go pale.

Use at least an SPF 30 sunscreen too.

 

[llebrekniT]

Wow! Lots of replies now.

Thanks for all the advice and don't worry about me getting sunburned. I always cover me and the kids real good before we head out.

Don't get me wrong, I don't care about what other people think of my legs. It's me - I can't stand to look at my legs.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I consider it a successful trip to FL if I can be there 10-12 days and come home virtually the same shade as I went there, pretty white or some shade of it. Not looking for melanomas, they kill people. White looks great on white people, black on black, brown on brown, red on red, yellow on yellow (to be PC, I hope I did not forget any colors and the order of colors is purely random ). Why do we have to change colors??

 

[llebrekniT]

I change colors so I can stand to look at myself in the mirror with shorts on.

I'm really not vain, it's just I think my legs are pretty yucky to look at when they are all pasty white.

Believe me I won't be laying around in the sun catching rays. I've got a 15 month old baby with blonde hair and blue eyes. Gotta keep her out of the sun for sure.

 

[r3ngels]

I totally agree with you... I am wearing black capri pants and my legs are so pastey (sp?) looking... I think some people have beautiful white almost doll looking skin my skin is not like that. I look better with a little color. I am extremely fair so I don't get "tan" and I use sunblock everyday in the spring/summer but a little color looks better on me...

 

[SandrainNC]

I know what you mean about being pale. But I choose to be, so I have to find other options. I used to use Neutrogena but switched to Ban De Soleil bronzer cream because I thought Neutrogena smelled funny the next day. I only put on one coat though every couple of days. If you do more than that, it will start to streak. You are able to see where you put it because of the bronzer. You might also wear some light capri pants. They wouldn't be as hot as wearing blue jeans but offer more coverage. Good luck!! Sandra

 

[llebrekniT]

Originally posted by SandrainNC
I used to use Neutrogena but switched to Ban De Soleil bronzer cream because I thought Neutrogena smelled funny the next day.

Smelled funny? On your skin? Or in the tube? I definetly don't wanna smell funny and look funny.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Originally posted by Pooh67_68
I'm am also very pale and I don't care what people think when I'm wearing shorts. Actually when I was younger I wouldn't even wear shorts in gym class because of how pale I was. Than one day after I meet my DH I said to heck with it, if people don't like it too bad.

It's nice how a DH can change a woman's perspective, isn't it?

My legs are "fish-belly white" but I'm not pale enough to look like a cool Goth chick, alas. I have rosacea (and get tired of people commenting on my "sunburned" face!)
As for my legs, one work accident left a veiny spot, plus I have spots from irritated hair follicles that nothing can be done about. The thighs probably have cellulite too. But if the weather calls for shorts, that is what I'll wear (with the serious sunscreen of course!)

I know from experience that how I look will only get worse in time. No matter how bad I ever thought I looked, if I look back at old pictures, I always looked better in the past than I do now. I concluded that it is not worth worrying about how you look now, because in the years ahead you will think you looked pretty good at that time, even though you might not have thought so then. So it's better not to waste the time worrying (or spending time and money ruining your skin at tanning salons for that matter.)