Love your skin - the pale girl's guide to summer

“I can smell the fake tans and hair gel already” – Jersey Shore

My name is Rosaleen, but a few years ago my good friend Natalie Nisbett introduced me to her friends as Casper, the Friendly Ghost. Hopefully this will give you a good indication of how pale I am. My parents are both Irish which means that I have inherited milky white skin and a sprinkling of freckles – it also means that getting a tan this Summer will be impossible. Now comes the predicament that so many girls are faking, to tan or not to tan?

Option 1: Fake it till you make it!

With so many amazing products on the market, why not try some fake tan? Here are some suggestions for getting it right.

1. Exfoliate thoroughly before you tan. By removing any hard/dry skin, you’re less likely to come out in patches. Be sure to pay particular attention to dry areas such as ankles, knees and elbows. Your skin will feel gorgeous after a pampering too!
2. Get a girlfriend to give you a hand. There are certain areas that no amount of yoga will enable you to reach – you’ll need some support when doing your shoulder blades and back.
3. Invest in a spray tan! Trust a professional to do the dirty work for you and you’ll be left with an even tan that lasts up to ten days. Natural red-head Lindsay Lohan, above, has professional help to ensure that her tan is always even.
4. Take care of your skin. Once you’ve perfected your tan, you want to take the necessary steps to maintaining it for as long as possible. When you get out of the shower just pat yourself dry, or try to dry naturally if you can. Then, invest in a rich moisturiser to keep your tan looking fresh. Johnson’s Baby Oil is fantastic when applied to wet skin – that covers the drying and moisturising all in one.
5. Know when to call it quits. If your tan is looking patchy and starting to wear off then have a soak in a hot bubble bath and grab the exfoliating gloves immediately. Nothing looks grubbier than a patchy tan. With freshly exfoliated skin, you can start the process again and have a fresh golden glow no sooner than you’ve removed your last one.

Option 2: Embrace your fair complexion!

Whoever said pale couldn’t be exquisite, too? Flaunt your skin and work with what you’ve been given using these pale preparations.

1. Invest in a strong sun screen. Your fair skin will be prone to sun damage and you don’t want to fry yourself. Apply a factor 50 cream for complete protection or use a once-daily lotion like P20 to save your skin the burn.
2. Add splashes of colour to your complexion by jazzing up your makeup. Bright colours will clash wonderfully with your skin and flaunt your complexion instead of washing you out – see how Gwen Stefani rocks that plum lip in the above photograph. I love Barry M’s lipsticks and nail varnishes for great value and striking shades.
3. Use a highlighter to brighten your skin. There’s no denying that a tan helps you to look more toned so those of us who are paler will have to work extra hard to keep up appearances. Highlight your brow bone, cheek bones and collar bones with an illuminating powder or cream to chisel your best assets. I adore MAC Strobe Cream.
4. Keep your skin super clear – blemishes will show up more easily on fair skin. Make sure that you drink plenty of water and use a cleanser, toner and moisturiser every morning and evening. Use a face mask once a week to really revitalise your skin – places like the Body Shop or Lush are brilliant for helping you to choose a mask that suits your requirements.
5. More pink than pale? Try Benefit’s ‘You’re Bluffing’ concealer to neutralise any redness on your face, or rub half of a fresh lemon onto knees and elbows to eliminate pinkness on the body. Strange but true!

So there you have it – whether you’re hitting the bottle or going au natural, your pale skin will glow and be gorgeous!

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