fake tan or real pale?

I tan to keep a little color, but I don't over do it. And I never tan my face.

Haha I'm really pale too and let me tell ya, your skin probably won't even get any color or "tan" in a booth. I've done the Mystic spray tans which work pretty well if you want to do it for a special occasion

I grew up in the age of baby oil and iodine. Then bake in the sun for hours. Paying for it now with skin cancers having to be removed from my face every 4 or 5 years.

Tanning bed: Not happening! Just as dangerous as the sun! And who wants to be laying naked in a bright box.

Spray tan: Have friends that have done it and they are pleased.

Tanning Wipes: Seem to turn my pals a little orange.

Solution of those too white legs at the party: I have actually put foundation on my legs and it evens out the skin tone and makes for a nice look. Also, it doesn't rub off like I thought it might. They actually make liquid makeup for the legs now.

And bare naked legs: Nothing wrong with that, either. Choose whatever makes you feel pretty.

I forgot about the makeup! I used the Sally Hansen airbrush makeup for legs and it works quite well. Gives you a little bit of color/evens out everything and makes your legs look nice but naturally so. VERY good idea

I don't bother trying to tan. People can just get over it that I'm pale. Some guys even prefer it.

Same here. I get a little bit of color in the summer...but otherwise I'm pertty pale..

Been told though that my brown hair, pale skin, and ice blue eyes are beautiful...so I've learned to embrace it.

Maybe you should try make up. They have bronzer powders that you can use. Just brush a little of that on your legs and it should add some more color I never had that being pale issue, but I do have uneven skin tone so using bronzer helps me a lot

The sooner this ridiculous liking for darker-than-natural skin goes out of fashion the better.

It's interesting from a sociological standpoint, I guess, because pale used to be the "in" look. It was a sign that you were high-class and didn't have to work outside for a living. Hence, in the US, the term "redneck" - a usually southern farmer who worked outside and often got sunburned on his neck while in the fields.

Now, tan is the "in" look because it signifies that you have time for leisure and CAN be outside instead of stuck in an office all day (or can afford the price of tanning beds or sprays, faking the time commitment that would normally be required to develop a tan by being outside). I'm not sure how that translates to "looking healthy" though.

Maybe in another 50 years pale will be "in" again because it will signify that we are affluent enough to stay inside and interact with the world virtually, like in some of those sci-fi movies.

The sooner this ridiculous liking for darker-than-natural skin goes out of fashion the better.

It's interesting from a sociological standpoint, I guess, because pale used to be the "in" look. It was a sign that you were high-class and didn't have to work outside for a living.

Exactly!

Somehow societal values have turned upside down, and not for the better.

In my world, making it look as if you have the resources (and the lack of imagination) to lie about on your *kitten* doing nothing but getting brown and crispy from head to toe under the sun all day every day doesn't constitute any sort of status symbol whatsoever...

Don't damage your skin for a bit of color. Honestly I see people my age who tanned in beds when we were younger and they look older than they actually are. You will have your skin your entire life treat it very well.

I am incredibly pale by choice. I tan easily but it's not something I really want to do to my skin, just a personal preference. I get made fun of a lot lol the typical "casper" and "albino" stabs but I don't really mind. Not a fan of spray tanning either but really, I think being tan or pale just comes down to what you think looks best and whatever makes you feel more confident!

Im ghastly and I LOVE IT!!!!! I know some tanning bed lovers who are younger than me and look way older,and then some just look like ummpa lumpas

Irish and British here and I am practically "see through." I tried tanning but I always end up red, burned and splotchy no matter what I do. I then peel like crazy and have a barely there tan. Ugh.... and my hubby fears skin cancer for me because he read/heard the paler people are the more likely chance they can get it (not sure about that though...???) Spray tan wears off too fast on me. I guess I stay white, even though tanned fat looks better than white fat, haha :laugh:

Your husband is correct. Both of the people I know who personally have had skin cancer are redheads.

I don't bother trying to tan. People can just get over it that I'm pale. Some guys even prefer it.

I think a woman with fair skin is hot. Just my 2cents.

I actually love pale complexion and refuse to date men who purposely tan. My last boyfriend was a tad insecure about his paleness, but I tried to reassure him that it was definitely a preference of mine and I wasn't just saying it because I liked him a lot. He got a lot of flack for it growing up so he couldn't believe someone preferred it.

On women, a fake tan can look okay or even good, if done right. My best friend tans even though she has a natural tan, because it evens her skin. I just dont find it appealing on men.

I love my pale skin! It took me a long time to except it, but I feel that its who I am and I just look plain weird tanned. Lol. Don't cover up your natural beauty, learn to love it.

I'm naturally pale but have been using the beds. I hate that people don't believe that I'm full Italian because of my skin. Not to mention it feels sooooo good in the winter and I feel so much better about myself with a tan.