What's wrong with being pale?!

[Bellydancingcaroline]

well, I am also so pale that I look florescent blue at times, and I use the Dove body moisteriser that give you a "glow". I still look pale after I have finished, and I am happy with what I do :-) I choose my own things to be stubborn over, and for me, it's body hair removal on the legs. My body hair is blonde anyway, and with a wee tan, you don't even notice it.

[*Shira*]

I think a good place to start would be for every light-skinned person on this thread to abandon the use of words like "pale" and "pasty white" when describing herself, and instead substitute more positive sounding words like "alabaster". If we use positive-sounding words to describe ourselves, we'll imply to our listeners that our skin color is beautiful. The words "pasty white" do not sound beautiful, but "alabaster" does.

[zumarrad]

I don't think "pale" is an unbeautiful term at all.

[*Shira*]

Originally Posted by zumarrad

I don't think "pale" is an unbeautiful term at all.

I'm accustomed to hearing the word "pale" used to mean "sickly". You know, as in saying to someone, "Have you been ill? You look so pale!" or "You look pale as death!"

But it's a lot better than "fish-belly white" which is how I've heard some light-skinned women describe themselves...

[zumarrad]

Yeah, sometimes people will use "pale" in that sense round here, but meaning "paler than usual". "Washed-out" is a very common usage that means the same thing.

I'd never seen "fish-belly white" till I went online. I think it must be a US thing.

I have an online friend who likes to make everything in her life extremely romantic, and she refers to herself as "moon-pale" and "alabaster".

[nitara]

Sorry. I will never use "pasty white" again. I actually really like my skin- it's flawless and wrinkle-free at age 38. So, alabaster it is!

[leylalanty]

Me too, I'm a proud to be pale person! I find that the best you can do, as someone else pointed out, is to wear face makeup in colors that harmonize with your natural color and emphasize your features (eyes, cheekbones, brow, lips) in the most flattering way. It is also important to make sure that your costume colors look good on your body's skin color - if I wear most shades of purple and most other cool colors, my skin looks really pale in a "sick" kind of way. And as others have pointed out - you can't please everybody and do not take the negativity home with you.

[ozma]

Originally Posted by leylalanty

It is also important to make sure that your costume colors look good on your body's skin color - if I wear most shades of purple and most other cool colors, my skin looks really pale in a "sick" kind of way.

I agree. I think if you receive a fair amount of (negative) comments about being pale it is worth taking an honest look at photos to make sure that your costuming color choices are flattering you and not making you appear "washed out" or sickly because that might be what some people are reacting to. If you decide your color choices are solid and not at fault, forget about the comments and move on.

[nimah]

My mom has a tanning bed in her basement. She's had it for over 10 years. She's 50, and looks a lot older than she actually is. That makes me sad.

I used to use it every once in a while, prior to special occasions. That stopped as soon as I started going to school for Radiation Therapy, i.e., treating cancer patients. I have a pin that says "Cancer Sucks", and that's no lie, so I'm not tanning my hide anymore!

It is my personal preference that I like the look of a tan on myself, though, so I do like to fake it with L'Oreal Sublime Bronze cloths (a wipe-on tan, easy as pie!) and the Jergens Natural Glow lotion.

[yasmindiab]

He he. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who's used the term "Pasty-white girl." In fact, my Aunt and Uncle call me that in the summer. They call me PWG for short. These are also the same loving relatives who call me "SpongeBob Square Toes" (because my toes really are square.)
;)

I know they mean it in good fun though. We live in the dessert, and I get lectured about six BILLION times a day that I need to put on sunblock. I use SPF 50, and still get a little color, but I'm ok with not being tan.

I used to tan, but...number one, I usually burn. Number two, I NEVER tanned evenly.
Number three, and most importantly...my mom is a breat cancer survivor. I don't want to do ANYTHING that will increase my chances of having any form of cancer.

Zummarrad, I love your friend's term "moon-pale." I may start using that!
Or maybe Chandani (moonlight in Hindi)

[Zareen22]

I used Lorelle (sp?) light/medium, the dark colors or shades may not look good if you are pale to start with - I apply a small amount startin a week - 10 days before a show and build up color slowly, this works better because you can avoid streaks and it taks a few applications to start to see a change - I just stop when I get to the color I like - that way you can avoid it looking too fake. I don't try to get a match to my arms (which tan easy & dark) I just try to make it less of a contrast. Good Luck

[tahiradancer]

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I think a good place to start would be for every light-skinned person on this thread to abandon the use of words like "pale" and "pasty white" when describing herself, and instead substitute more positive sounding words like "alabaster". If we use positive-sounding words to describe ourselves, we'll imply to our listeners that our skin color is beautiful. The words "pasty white" do not sound beautiful, but "alabaster" does.

Ah, but I used to run a store in Washington DC where the majority of my employees were women of various colours. They told me that I looked like a Cameo or a porcelain doll. Marie Osmond recently gave an interesting take on the later.

I have no problem with my white skin. hades, I am about to pay out large sums of money to help get it restored on places where there is sun damage. But I know that, when I am indulging in grave yard humour I am and will always be. . .

Fish belly white.

{{{HUGS}}}

[yasmindiab]

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Ah, but I used to run a store in Washington DC where the majority of my employees were women of various colours. They told me that I looked like a Cameo or a porcelain doll. Marie Osmond recently gave an interesting take on the later.

I have no problem with my white skin. hades, I am about to pay out large sums of money to help get it restored on places where there is sun damage. But I know that, when I am indulging in grave yard humour I am and will always be. . .

Fish belly white.

{{{HUGS}}}

he he. Marie Osmond's "doll" routine was SO NOT GOOD.


Sorry for the threadjack.

Back to topic.