I’m pale. Like, really pale.
I don’t mind being fair-skinned most of the year. I know my skin-tone goes well with my hair color and I like having freckles, but in the summer when you have to bare so much skin and mine is just so pale, it’s not my fave.
The problem is twofold: first, tanning is not the best choice for keeping skin healthy and second, even if I wanted to tan, my skin just won’t. So I’m left with either blinding the world with my fair skin (which I do most of the time and I’m learning after 36 years that I’ve just got to go with it) or fake a tan.
I’ve talked about self-tanners on here before (right here) and have tried out a handful of different products to see which ones work best for me. I have used Jergens Natural Glow for a few years but the application process is less than appealing. It’s hard to get it on consistently and it smells a little weird and takes a bit to dry. Not deal-breakers, but I was determined to find something better.
After hearing from a few different sources about these tanning wipes by Dr Dennis Gross, I decided to give them a try. They are a little bit spendy, but I found them on Amazon for less than other sites and figured if they worked on me like everyone raved about in the reviews then it was worth a shot.
I purchased the glow pads for body – which are 8 x 10 inch disposable cloths that you wipe on your skin (think large baby wipe with tanning solution instead of soap). There is no lotion or mitt or spray involved and after applying, your skin is dry within a few minutes. It’s a little tricky to get it perfectly even, especially around the knees and ankles. There is a slight fragrance that isn’t terrible, but after several hours of letting the tanner do it’s thing, I like to shower off.
I took after photos the day after using self-tanner and here’s how it looks:
The color is definitely a bit on the orange side (especially on super pale skin), but it’s passable. I like how the tan camouflages all my old-lady veins and gives my skin a nice glow. My knees, ankles and feet aren’t perfect so I think next time I’ll apply moisturizer to those areas before using the wipes to ward off so much absorption. It kind of looks like I missed my shin in the photos, but I think that’s just a reflection.
I used one wipe for my whole body – legs, arms, torso, back and chest. I started with my legs, which is probably why the color is a little more saturated on them so keep that in mind when using the wipes. After four days, the color is still apparent and as it fades, it looks a little more natural. You could probably just reapply once/week to keep a nice fake glow going all summer.
TIPS FOR USING SELF-TANNER
(in particular, the Dr Dennis Gross Glow Pads)
- The wipes are textured to act as an exfoliator, but it’s a good idea to exfoliate before applying. While showering, use a washcloth to gently scrub off dead skin.
- Apply the wipe in a circular motion to avoid streaks and missed spots.
- You’ll only need one wipe for each application.
- The color looks best and most natural (at least on my pale skin) a few days after applying. If you have a special event you’re preparing for, plan to apply the self-tanner a day or two before.
- Let air dry for 5 minutes before dressing.
- Apply moisturizer to keep skin hydrated and to maintain color.
So while my kids get browner and browner all summer long, I’ll stay my true fair-skinned self with loads of freckles and an occasional self-tanner glow.
Do you have a favorite self-tanner? Any tips or tricks to getting a smoother application? Please share!
P.S. I also ordered the glow pads for face, but after using them twice and both times breaking out, I’ve figured out that my sensitive skin does not like them. I’ve heard great reviews, so don’t let my warning stop you if you need face tanner – they might be just right for you.
I know I’m late to this party, but it took me a while to get a minute to report my findings. Pale is beautiful, but after years of trying to tan (including back in the QT era), I tried Jergens. Not so orange, but a little smelly. After reading this column and all your great comments, I went to Sephora and decided to spring for the ~$30 Vita Liberata foam. Fabulous! I shower in the morning using a bath puff made from recycled milk bottles (takes care of the exfoliation), don my surgical gloves, and slather the foam on my lower legs, upper legs, arms, and chest. (OK, I should call it my decollete.) No smell, no smear. I dress and go to work and my colleagues think I spent the afternoon sunbathing. To enhance their perception, I use a brush-on bronzer on cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead, plus a shimmery lip gloss. I glow!
Thanks for the suggestion!
Hello! St. Tropez just came out with a self tanning oil for the face, neck, and decolletage. I am also very pale, and the color of this self-tanner is natural. On me, anyway. : ) It also fades naturally. I’ve given up on self-tanners on my legs, because the the smell and the way it fades. I use Tarte’s body bronzer on my legs now and love it. If I were to try self-tanner, I’d probably buy off QVC due to their great return policy. You can get the glow pads you mentioned there. Love your blog!
Fake Bake Flawless (another poster I saw mentioned it). I LOVE the color. I have med/olive skin so I use FB Flawless Darker in summer and FB Flawless regular color in winter and it’s perfect. :) I usually am able to get 2 bottles for $26 on Amazon.
I love Rodan + Fields Foaming Sunless Tanner. It is easy to apply and won’t turn you orange. It is currently sold out but should be back in stock soon! https://lucil.myrandf.com/Shop/Product/ESST125
I think your color looks great! I am also fair skinned and very freckly :) I recently bought Neutrogena Micro-Mist airbrush sunless tan, and love it. I have it in medium and it seems to have very little “orange” color to it. I shaved, moisturized, sprayed it on, and then moisturized again. The results were great :)
~Julia
The last word in self-tanners: ARBONNE. We have a wonderful new self tanner — not stinky, and not orange! Not to mention all the Arbonne basics: no parabens, no petroleum, no animal ingredients or animal testing, no phthalates, etc. I am happy to help you with samples and can help you get the best discounts on this and other toxin-free skin, body, hair, and nutrition products for the whole family. Let me know how I can serve you.
I use both the face and body wipes and I love them. The hardest part I have with them is doing my feet and blending it to look natural.
St. Tropez is the BEST self tanner. It’s totally worth the cost. I’ve tried so many different products and nothing compares. (I’m a super pale irish girl with legs covered in merit badges- my mother’s nickname for spider veins gained during pregnancies.)The express mousse is great- put lotion on knees, ankles and elbows first to act as a barrier cream. Then use mitts to apply mousse. You’ll be tan in hours! The regular mousse is great too. Didn’t care much for their spray tan option.
I was wondering if since you used on your body, but not your face, if you can tell a big difference? I don’t like to use stuff on my face either because its very sensitive but I don’t want it to look different then the rest of my body. Thoughts?
My face gets more color naturally than the rest of my body (especially my legs) so I don’t feel like it looks too off. You could use the face wipes, though to get it more natural.
Hi!
I’ve use Clinique self tanner, and it comes in a light shade which works better on my pale skin. I haven’t tried the others mentioned here, but the Clinique self tanner has a slight tint to it, so you get a little color the minute you put it on. I’ll usually do it before we go to the pool, and then let it do it’s thing while I’m outside!
So, thankfully, because I’m Filipino I am tan BUT I do work at Ulta and always ask people for feedback about sunless tanners. The #1 right now is the St. Tropez in shower gradual tan. You put it on in the shower and apparently it’s super easy and you can build your tan and do it every few days.The #2 is the Tan Towel wipes. I’m assuming the wipes work much like the one you tried but I’ve heard it isn’t orange at all. Either way you look great with or without a tan!
Such a fun post! And I haven’t used Dr. Gross’s self tanner, but his products always come highly recommended. I just wanted to mention that St. Tropez (along with other tanning/beauty products-including Dr. Gross’s ) are available from QVC. And although the price isn’t always the cheapest, you get the opportunity to try a product for 30 days and send it back if you don’t like it. You end up being out shipping but it can be worth it to try a pricier product without risking a large amount of money. Just wanted to pass that along.
Oh Emily, my white matches your white! I have been a slave to self-tanners for many years and I truly despise them. The maintenance is a pain and if I try to maintain color all of the time, by the end of a couple of weeks, the tanned places on my legs look like they’re breaking apart. Mu thighs look like a giraffe. Consequently, I wear a lot of long flowy skirts and drawstring linen pants.
No matter how much the media tells us “tan is OUT” and “SPF is in”. I still see women at the beach trying to get that perfect tan. I also think bright white legs under shorter dresses looks awful. So I remain in a constant conundrum.
I did have one great experience with a self-tanner. My sister, who is a self-tanning extraordinaire was visiting. My husband and I were getting ready to go on vacation and I was complaining about wanting to wear shorts because of the self-taner. She took me into her room and pulled out a shower scrub and told me to take a shower with the scrub paying special attention to my arms and legs. Done. She then put a mitt on her hand and pouffed out St. Tropez tanning mousse and proceeded to circularly rub every square inch of my arms, chest, hands, legs, back and feet. She told me not to move for 15 minutes. I then went to bed. I woke up in the morning looking like I had been to Hawaii and gotten the most natural golden tan ever. It stayed for a good 7-8 days with nary a touch up. I was thrilled. When I got home I thought I would buy some of her gold magic when the thought hit me, I was going to have to use that mitt on myself trying to get the even coverage she got when APPLYING it on ME, not herself! “HIGH MAINTENANCE! I went back to my stinky Clinique self-tanner using it only when I needed to.
I like mousse tanning solutions. Both Xen Tan and St Tropez work great with an application mitt. Xen tan has a nice vanilla scent. St Tropez does not smell bad either. Must exfoliate first, but both work great. I use two pumps per limb section (2 for knee down, 2 for thigh, etc) and it covers well with a fairly natural tone. : )
Thanks Emily. Have you ever gotten a air brush tan on top of the wipes? Just curious how that would look? If it would be too much?
Rodan + Fields has the best self tanner I have ever used! I am a fellow pale girl, but use this a few times a week to have some color. It sells out because it is so popular;)
rebeccahamilton.myrandf.com
I love bare minerals tanner. It gives you an instant tan as it’s a highly tinted lotion. It comes with a brush to apply it. I use it on my legs all the time. :D
Ha! I have no advice whatsoever to offer you on self-tanners, even though I am a fellow pale, ghosty girl. I just had to chime in on the “old lady” veins and say that it’s totally our kids’ fault! (But then, I’m sure you knew that).
I got a beauty of a set of varicose veins with the twins, and they were even more brutal with Theo (5 months) and haven’t completely faded yet (probably never will). (Insert inspirational song about battle scars and whatnot).
One thing I find interesting is that they show up most predominantly on the right leg. (Saw that on yours, which are NOT bad at all), and it’s definitely true of mine too. My nurse friend said it’s because our hearts pump blood across our bodies down our right leg through a main artery, and then it circulates back up, which creates a lot of strain on your veins in that leg especially.
You know, because you total wanted a rambly discourse on veins and the not-so-fun side-effects of birthin’ babies.
I do airbrush tanning here in Utah, and I LOVE the Endless Glow self-tanning lotion Brilliant Glow. It’s pretty strong so a little goes a long way. It smells great, so good for your skin, and it’s slightly tinted so you can see it go on (no need for gloves, just wash your hands when you’re done). They also have a airbrush spray that I use all of the time on my face and chest, sometimes the tops of my arms, that goes on so easy and has a bronzer so you look instantly tan! Anyway, if you want to check it out, you can go to my website http://www.endlessglow.com/hpeterson or shoot me an email and I’d be happy to send you some to try!
Also, your application technique makes all of the difference with lotions or any self tanners. Trust me, I’m a pro (literally) ?
I am also a fair-skinned and freckled gal. After trying many sunless tanners, I have found that I like Fake Bake Flawless the best. The name doesn’t sound very appealing, but it truly is the best formula I have found. I tend to look orangey with self-tanners and this one is extremely natural looking. I buy mine at the beauty supply store and they say it’s by far their best seller.
I am every bit as pale as you naturally and I LOVE St Tropez sunless foaming mousse. You apply with a glove (both available at sephora) and there is never any streaking and the color is the first I’ve found with NO orange at all. The smell is not fantastic but no self tanners are. Everyone thinks I have a “real” tan!
I love your blog:)
I am definitely going to try this brand! I have fallen in love with the self tanner from Victoria’s Secret but it is $15 a bottle-the most I’ve ever spent on a self tanning cream. It’s worth it though! It’s very generous, and I often mix it with my regular lotion to either lighten it or stretch it. I also like to apply regular lotion on the spots i tend to be the dryest and possible areas that could dry darker due to thicker skin(soles and sides of feet, knees, elbows, even on the bottoms of my hands and in between fingers and toes). That always helps me to avoid the fake look that is easy to accomplish with self tanner! Thanks for the tip! I LOVE your blog!
I am really fair too. I have a bottle of Beautisol (medium tan) that has worked well and isn’t too orange.
I think this is the key to an even tan is – shower, shave, exfoliate, and always use a light application of lotion to ankles, feet, knees, elbows, and other dry areas you may have, apply tanner.
As soon as I finish up my bottle of Beautisol, I am going to try Tanwise (for body) and Tomas (face and neck). This is a link from a fun beauty blog singing its praises, showing before and after on a fair skinned girl, and also links for tips on how to get an even natural tan.
http://www.maskcara.com/2014/03/18/the-perfect-tan/
Fellow fair skinned girl here. I discovered Xen-Tan last summer at Ulta (they didn’t have it this year but Amazon carries it) and have had really good results. I like to exfoliate really well then apply a very conservative amount the 1st day, let that set, then apply a second thin coat the next day. I feel I have a little more control over the coverage that way. I of course use the light/med. but they have a few different tones as well as one for the face- which I haven’t tried.
I am in LOVE with Rodan + Fields Foaming Sunless Tanner! It’s lightweight, oil-free, doesn’t streak and doesn’t leave my skin orange and I’m pale too! :) I always exfoliate first (to keep it from streaking) and then apply the tanner. After the tanner dries (5 minutes) I apply lotion to help it last even longer. It retails for $24 and when used on the entire body 2-3 times a week will last 2-3 months. It’s my fave!
I am really fair too. I have a bottle of Beautisol (medium tan) that has worked well and isn’t too orange. Shower, shave, exfoliate, and always use a light application of lotion to ankles, feet, knees, elbows, and other dry areas you may have. I found the key is to never skip these steps for an even and natural tan.
As soon as I finish up my bottle of Beautisol, I am going to try Tanwise (for body) and Tomas (face and neck). This is a link from a fun beauty blog singing its praises, showing before and after on a fair skinned girl, and also links for tips on how to get an even natural tan.
http://www.maskcara.com/2014/03/18/the-perfect-tan/
So I am extremely pale, my face actually looks weird tan (I tanned in tanning booths in my young age). My legs are the only thing that really bothers me so after trial and error of a bunch of products I came up with this solution. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs mixed with a shimmery lotion (I found one from victoria’s secret), but a bronzing lotion would work too. Together they really give you a natural healthy glow. Salley hansen along looks like you are wearing make up on your legs and has a very matte look to it, mixing it together with the shimmer lotion in your hand before you rub it onto your legs is the perfect touch. I only worry about doing this when I am wearing shorts or short dress.
If you have a Sally’s near you(or sallybeauty.com), you should try Tanwise dark tanning foam/mousse! It’s like $10, and then I bought a mitt at sephora to apply it. It has color guard, so you can tell where you’ve put it and if it’s even. It has a slight greenish tint to it which makes for a super natural looking tan, not orange at all! I highly recommend! I put on a very thin layer because I’m also naturally pale, and it doesn’t look crazy.
I am even paler than you and far lazier, so the world just has to deal. :o)
(Well, not really, because I’m allergic to most sunscreen, so I am usually pretty covered up!)
But you do look really good, and natural!
I just tried St. Tropez self tan bronzing mousse before a trip to the beach. I got it on Amazon, and I liked it more than Jergens, which is the only other one I’ve tried. I’m very fair skinned too. It’s a lot easier to get even because of the mousse consistency and the fact it’s tinted when you apply it. I applied it wearing disposable gloves. First time I left it on overnight before showering, which was too long because the odor became too strong by morning. Overall, the odor is not very strong when you just leave it on for four hours or so before showering. It also dries very fast. Color is good, doesn’t seem orangey to me. I recommend it!
Hi! I am a fellow lover of sunless tanner. I live in Florida where people have tans all year round. But with 4 kids I don’t have time to lay out for a tan most of the time. I think I’ve used every tanner there is. I recently started using Rodan&Fields for skincare and tried their sunless tanning foam…it’s amazing!!! No horrible smell, goes on easily, and isn’t orange. Just wanted to pass on the suggestion:) jeanicemartin.myrandf.com if you decide you want to try it!
I have finally found the best self tanner. I have tried lots of them, and I am pale like you. The best I have found is Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 week tan mousse, in medium. I order from Sephora (read the reviews that tell how to best apply, they are very helpful). It is easy to apply, does not have that funky smell, dries quickly, has an instant bronzer, and a very nice tan color, not orange. Be sure to exfoliate first. Dry your skin well. Apply the foam to the mitt(important) then apply to your skin in small circular motions, like buffing. Use a cotton pad to lightly wipe over your toes, ankles, heels, and knees to achieve a more natural look in those areas. To get the extended tan, rinse the next day, you will see the bronzer rinse off, dry off well and reapply. I haven’t tried it 3 days in a row. Twice gave me a nice tan that did last 2 weeks, but did gradually fade. It’s very important to moisturize daily, it helps to maintain the color.
You are not alone, I also do not/cannot tan! I agree with Kristin, he Tarte w/mitt was pretty good. But this year I’ve started using Vita Liberata and I like it better. Really pricey but brown color, not orange, dries super quick and no smell. Follow instructions! Don’t be surprised- you’ll be super brown at first but A lot washes off in the shower. It does build and lasts a week or so… for those of us that don’t tan, it’s worth the price. Thx!!
Emily, I feel for you with being pale. While my skin does tan fairly well…I don’t spend a ton of time outdoors (especially since I live in AZ and the summer gets 120 degrees!). So, often times my upper body gets some sun, but my legs don’t tend to see any. If I don’t go and get an airbrush tan…I use Fake Bake. I’ve gone through a lot of different tanners and either they leave me too streaky or I don’t like the smell. I got Fake Bake at Ulta and it comes with an application glove…and also you can buy a mitt too. I like the smell…it’s not too tanner smell and it looks natural. The best part is that if you get too much on…you can always wash it off with soap and water right away. Otherwise, you let it sit for awhile and then it gradually comes off.
I use Tan Wise and buy it at Sally’s Beauty Supply. I’m in my ahhhheemmm early 50’s and while I love to be in the sun I’m trying my best not to as much and really covering up with sun screen when I am. I started using this last summer and continued through the summer. It’s a great price and one bottle lasted me all summer. This comes out in a mouse form and I use the mitt’s to apply it. It is a buildable tanning solution so it gets darker and darker each time you use it. I’m usually pretty good with two applications. I think it does a beautiful job with great results and no order. They also have one made for faces, which I use and they have one that is not a buildable products just put it on for the day and then it’ll wash off. And they also have a tan remover which I love. I’ve used this on those little spots that the tanner wants to grab onto. It seems like no matter what you do you always end up with a spot or two. Mine is always a dime size spot on the top of both of my feet. I also think this product leaves my skin nice and soft. And one tip I’ll also add (sorry for going on and on) while most self tanners say NOT to use moisturizer, I’ve found I really like the combination of the Nivea lotion that you put on in the shower and then rinse it off. After I get out of the shower I apply my self tanner and walahh.
This is great info! I also have very pale and sensitive skin and struggle with the same things! I found Loreal’s Sublime Bronze. It’s great, has a nice scent that I put on at night, let dry, then let it do it’s thing over night, and wash off in the morning. It’s nice because since it is tinted, I can see where I am applying it–an a little goes a long way…and looks most natural. I only use it on my legs as I’m afraid to get other areas streaky and with my skin being so sensitive, I’m hesitant. I’ve never found it left on a towel after a shower. Great stuff, especially when you’re in SoCal for a wedding with all the tan people! ;)
If you are ever in the market for another tanner, I would love to send you a bottle of Rodan + Fields tanner to try out. The color is incredible, and it goes on so easily! You can email me if you decide you want to!
i love how honestly you share Emily! If you want a great self tanner tan I have been using and LOVE Tarte’s self tanner with the mitt. No orangy glow, no streaks. It’s amazing stuff and has better for you ingredients. I’ve tried a lot and it’s the best by a mile!
I have tried every fake tanner under the sun as well as worked at a salon for years. I’ve tired the cheap, I’ve tried the expensive and hands down the best ones I’ve found are Fake Bake and Sun Laboratories. Ones a spray with application gloves and mitt and one is a creamy lotion. Both are green based which gives a natural brown tan rather than orange. They both go on very easily, not splotchy or uneven and look very natural. Highly recommend them!!!
I like using tan wipes too, my helpful hint: before applying the tan wipe put a dab of hand lotion on the palms of your hands and let it soak in for a minute. This prevents your palms from tuning a strange tan color but allows the tops of your hands to receive the application they need. :)
I also am super fair.. I finally tried tan physics after seeing it on Facebook over and over. It is actually really good. Dries quick, not much smell and pretty natural.
have you tried Arbonne’s new Self Tanner? I am fair complected as well and this one works well without being too orange :)
Try Jergens Natural Glow. Comes in shades (fair to medium, medium to dark). No orange, very natural. And you can get at CVS, Walmart, Target and the like.
Hello, fair-skinned companion!! I’m a Brit and arrived in this country back in ’97… and I’m still as pale as a white cat in a snowstorm! Every summer I watch my son turn beautiful shades of golden honey by just looking out the window while I look enviously at those ladies who are able to show legs in summer and not blind everyone around them. Nice to now I’m not the only one who thinks about these things when the layers start coming off :) Honestly, I just wish now and then that my legs would match my arms! Talk about a ridiculous-looking ombré effect…! haha! At least now I live in lovely Portlandia where it matters not to anyone what anyone else looks like :) Thanks for your post… love love your blog… So inspirational… And not just when it comes to milky-white body parts :) Blessed be! xxx
Hi Emily, you look great! This time of year can be tricky for those of us who are fair. I’ve always had great, natural-looking success with Clarins Self Tanning Milk. The shade is “just right” without getting streaky or turning into an off-color.
Looks great! Just curious if, when you shower, it wipes off onto the towel? I’ve used the lotion-type self-tanners, and you can definitely wipe some off after a shower. Also, how long does this tan last? It really looks good tho.