To despair of being pale and freckly at this time of year.

[Tolkienista]

I hate my pale skin and freckles at this time of year, especially when so many people are looking lightly tanned and so lovely in their summer attire. Skin really does look better with a light tan.
For the rest of the year I'm absolutely fine with my skin..
My skin is clear and unlined and I look good for my age too I'm a size 8-10 and can just about wear anything, so there are lots of good things with my body.
I do apply instant tan to my arms especially and sometimes my legs, but it's just wash off in the shower stuff.
Anyone else suffer from tan envy?

Have you tried longer lasting tan across your body OP? I really enjoy using it (I'm on the blue end of pale)

It isn’t hot like this for very long. Not having a tan is okay.

Same, @Tolkienista- I’m a ginger and the only thing I’d change about my physical appearance would be to give myself darker skin. I agree that a light tan looks fab and I hate fake ones - I’ve tried many over the years and they always stain my sheets, my clothes, wear off unevenly etc.

No OP, I’m so pale I’m blue with tons of freckles but I like it that way. I had skin cancer in my 30s, a mole that just looked a bit navy blue - tiny. I’ve been paranoid ever since. My dermatologist calls me pale and interesting, I bet he uses that line with everyone he can.

Also pale and freckly, burn like a lobster in 10 minutes. But that’s ok, it’s just me and my colouring. I have wholly accepted my appearance over the years. Sounds like you’re almost there too, keep loving yourself and extend that love to your complexion too. You’re beautiful!

Skin only looks good with a tan if it is already capable of tanning - it's accentuating what they could do naturally and therefore looks good with their natural hair, eye and existing skin tone.

You have your genetic heritage. That isn't something to regret or despair over, it just is.

You're a member of the Factor 5000 Club. Welcome, we have air con and shade.

Oh I absolutely love and admire super pale skin! It’s so beautiful and rare.

Having had three experiences with mole removal recently, I’ve now embraced pale and interesting. I haven’t sunbathed for many years, but I wouldn’t dream of it now.

I might wear some tinted body lotion, but generally, long dresses or linen trousers are airy and comfortable.

I’m at peace with my pale body now and always wear factor 50 and hide in the shadows. It doesn’t stop the constant comments from leathery people saying I’d look healthier with a bit of colour.

leathery people saying I’d look healthier with a bit of colour.

This really tickles me! 😂

I don't mind being pale but I would love not to burn, even with SPF 50. I could live without freckles

I love my pale skin and freckles.

I make sure I wear sun protection (I had SPF 50 on today) and a hat & sunglasses.

I went to the beach today (I live by the sea) and fully enjoyed it. I just make sure I don't stay too long.

I think fake tan is hideous and if anyone thinks I am too pale, then that is their problem, not mine.

There is a generation who have this leathery skin and it's extremely aging. However I hear you, bring able to have some tolerance to the sun would make like easier

Same
“have you ever tried fake tan?”
”if you use factor 10 you’ll tan eventually”

it’s like my hair because it’s curly
“don’t you ever straighten it?”

pale and fine with it

I personally love being pale.

I agree, I’ve love a bit of tan. However having just come back from Santa Ponsa, it’s clear who the people are that have spent far too much time in the sun. It really does ruin your skin.

I don’t mind being pale, my envy is an even colour whatever shade I am. You see pale people who are just uniformly pale, I am blotchy pale.

Oooh, great replies so far thank you all and I'm loving the overall theme of being happy with yourself and that pale is interesting and not to be snubbed in favour of fake tanning or even worse baking /frying in the sun.

Forgot to add that I've been lucky enough to visit Australia five times and I lived in New Zealand for a year in my 30s. The one thing I remember about Australia is that they're years ahead of us in skin protection and i rarely saw anyone especially on the beach who was deeply tanned well certainly younger people. Many wore wide brimmed hats, cotton long sleeved shirts and loose trousers.
It made me very aware that your skin is to be carefully looked after and I've done that ever since.

Yes I totally agree with you and that's something I should have mentioned in my original post.

The threat of skin cancer always focuses my mind. I'm always extremely careful when going out especially in this intense heatwave. Never want to be that person who's says " I should have been more careful" I always am careful, always will be too.

I am also pale and used to feel self conscious. Then I realised what a waste of energy that was, along with worrying about having a bit of a tummy and wearing glasses. Now I choose not to dwell on such things and it's incredibly liberating. Pale skin is beautiful too.

I’m pale and freckly. I don’t use fake tan as it looks fake on me (redhead). I’ve been so careful with my skin over the years that it’s pretty good for early 40s if I say so myself. I get a slight golden tinge in the sun these days which I really like. And I just pop a tanning drop or two into a moisturiser if I want to lift the winter pallor a little. At this age the people who tan start to look leathery so I’m glad of pale skin,

Yes you're so right and I should have put that in my original post that the threat of skin cancer especially in fairer skinned people (like ourselves) is paramount in my mind. I'd definitely rather look plae and freckled without the worry of scanning my skin for worrying changes.
Definitely do not want to have skin cancer at any point now or in the future.

I’m another pale-blue-with-freckles. I’m going abroad next month and earlier today I was contemplating getting a fake tan (never done it before) so that that glare from my legs doesn’t blind people. Then I thought “what if it comes off in the hotel pool and I look patchy”, then I’d look stupid and pale, not just pale.

Like a pp said, with my colouring a tan would look wrong anyway.

There are always the people who will say that a tan makes you look better, but I don’t agree and in years to come, the people tanning now, will be the leathery ones.

Having punch biopsies concentrates the mind very well.

Nah, I like being pale and sun damage in later years is pretty devastating to some. I enjoy the heat but not direct sun. That's ok.