Embracing the pale…
If you follow me on Twitter, you may already have spotted that I’m a lot less “orange” these days 
I took the decision around a fortnight ago to embrace the pale me, the “real” me, and lay off the fake tan for the forseeable. Yes I agree my timing isn’t great…. coming into the height of summer n all but its something I have been thinking about for a while, and now I’m doing it, it feels good
I’d really just had enough of the whole fake tan process, the orange bed sheets, the streaky hands and wrists, the un-natural colours and smells! I truly believe that no fake tan looks as good as a natural tan, but knowing the dangers I just wasn’t willing to use sunbeds, or sit out with a low factor on to inevitably burn and peel anyway (I’ve learnt that particular lesson this year, ouch my poor feet…)
One thing I’ll admit in regards to a tan is I did feel A LOT slimmer in the body & I guess look healthier…. but most of the time, I simply felt grubby and dirty looking as it wore off unevenly no matter how much exfoliating I did. To put it bluntly, I looked like shite and I see people every day who look the same, serving me in shops with their white hands and patchy orange arms, or orange necks and white faces. What on earth are we doing girls??
I’ve been scrubbing like a mad thing and I’m almost back to my natural skin colour barr a few stubborn patches. Already I feel cleaner, tidier and more classy. I also feel a bit more interesting, I’m able to experiment with different make-up and colours than the standard ones I’d gravitate towards with a tan.
As part of this new experiment I ordered some Dainty Doll Cosmetics by Nicola Roberts (the ghostly one from Girls Aloud) from ASOS. I remembered that she had released a line specifically for the fairer skinned peeps last summer. A lot of the range is vastly reduced, and so I picked up a Concealer, Eyeshadow and 2 Lip Glosses for £20. Not bad, but is it any good???
The packaging is undoubtly cute and kitsch on the exterior, its a bit more disappointing inside where the plain black packaging is simply imprinted with yellow/ gold blurry writing. It all feels a bit “cheap” and Oriflame esque….
The Concealer I bought was in Natural as I’m obviously not white in skintone, just pale. This is lovely, very light and moisturising, I’m not entirely sure this won’t move about and collect in my fine lines though, I’ll keep you posted.
The Eyeshadow is called Honey Bronze, the left side is actually an eyeshadow base/ primer and the shimmery brown eyeshadow is on the right. Its very silky and has a lovely veluxe pearl type finish to it, but the colour is similar to a lot of other shadows I own. It is flattering though and easy to wear.
I got two of the Lip Glosses (the only 2 colours I could see for sale), top one is Rosebud, and bottom Hibiscus. These are plumping glosses and therefore sting quite noticeably just after you apply. I can’t decide if I dig this or not. There is no noticeable taste from them good or bad and that gets a thumbs up from me. They don’t last very long though and I’ve had to reapply every half hour or so with Rosebud. I don’t really mind this though, although I know that would drive some people mad!
L-R; Honey Bronze, Hibiscus, Rosebud
Apologies for the picture quality but I can’t find my camera for the life of me!
To be honest this seems like a nice cruelty free range, but colour wise it would definitely only suit who it is designed for, fair skinned people. Funny that
The eyeshadow colour would be lost on any type of swarthy skin and the concealer would be WAY too light.
I’m a bit confused about the availability of the range…. is it being discontinued? Does anyone know? When I searched for it online I was directed to Jellypongpong, although they actually haven’t sold the range since February 2009. The products that I received from ASOS still carried the Jellypongpong labeling though, so I’m assuming they bought their remaining stock?
If anyone else tried the range I’d be particularly interested in knowing what the foundation is like.
xoxox
1Martina
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 15:33
Well done on your decision,I am not big into the fake tan thing,Every now and again I apply some Johnsons holiday stuff but it always looks crap on me!I thing most Irish women are getting a bit obsessed with the fake tan thing,I hate that orange blotchy look a lot of girls have this time of year.Good luck with the new paler you,I personally think it looks nicer and more natural. M
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2Lucy
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 15:40
Love that you’re embracing the paler you! I wanted to get a foundation from that range, but heard a lot of bad reviews about the quality of the coverage, and apparently the palest one has glitter or something in it. so…I was put off buying anything.
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3dressjunkie
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 15:44
Thanks Martina
I do think agree, the fake tan obsession has reached new giddy heights lately. I saw a wee girl in Asda last week and she can’t have been much older than my son (8), and she definitely had fake tan on her legs, they were all streaky, I mean c’mon, what is up with that?! xoxox
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4dressjunkie
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 15:45
Lordy, did you say “Glitter” Lucy?!!! Thats my trigger word, I may not be able to stop myself
xox
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5Holly
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 15:51
yay im so glad im not thwe only one – i too am embracing the pale look, i gave up on tanning two weeks ago to much hastle and messy, patchy ahh!!I’m loving itxxyou look great Arlene true YM!!xx
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6Gemma
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 15:53
Good to hear, I just can’t pull off fake tan, I’m far too pale to carry it off – it’s so obvious when I wear it! Holiday Skin is my limit.
Glad to see a review of this range, I was intrigued when it was released but didn’t see too many reviews of it. I haven’t purchased and tbh I don’t think I’ll bother, I’ve been pale for so long that I kinda know what I can and can’t wear (other’s opinions on that may differ!) – although I’m still after the ideal foundation, but yeah…her range just doesn’t appeal I’m afraid, especially if you like to experiment with your make-up. It’s all a bit basic, but there’s a market for that so fair enough.
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7dressjunkie
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 16:04
Thanks Holly, I honestly feel a lot better since I stopped applying all that muck. I think a bit of Rimmel Wash off Sun Shimmer will be my limit if I ever need a bit of colour on the pins in future
We should start a campaign to de-tan everyone 
xox
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8dressjunkie
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 16:11
Gemma, I honestly believe us fair skinned lot are better off when it comes to colour. We can get away with the vampy red lips etc.
xxx
The Dainty Doll range is VERY “safe” in regards to colour, although one of the girls on Twitter was saying that she was on the Late Late show and is extending the range…. perhaps shes extending it to… exciting
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9brunette1652
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 16:18
i need to get scrubbing this tan off i put it on saturday nite and now its horrible all patchy and peely everywere! and it always wears off ur face and leaves me with the orange neck/white face situation, im scrubbing it off tonite! as for the Dainty Doll make up i was watchin the late late show a few weeks ago and nadine coyle was on it and she said after the tour that nicola was going on to expand her makeup range and that she was interested in it!!xxxx
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10Beth
wrote on 16 June 2009 at 18:23
Good for you on giving up the tanning. I’m really pale myself (MAC NW15 is my shade) and don’t tan naturally at all, I just burn like crazy, then either end up looking dirty (nice!) or back to bright white again.
I’ve tried all sorts of tanning bits and bobs but somehow I never feel that they look right on me so I’ve given up too!
I’ve never tried the Dainty Doll range myself. With foundations in particular, I like to be able to test them and wouldn’t want to take a shot in the dark on something that may make me look even paler than I am! Maybe if the range is expanded there’s a chance of seeing it in some stores so you could have a play and see what its like!
Bx
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11ams
wrote on 17 June 2009 at 8:34
Arlene you look only bootiful pale but I think that girls with darker hair can look more funky and fashion forward being pale and interesting. Me Im not so sure. I look sick washed out and blue and need a bit of something to perk me up. My legs are practically radioactive so cannot be exposed (I find tan impossible to get right on them anyway) without scaring children. If I was a bit more toned I possibly wouldnt look so bad.
I was watching a show on female body builders lst night – now there was some scary tanning!!! Cuprionelsque and applied with a paintbrush!!
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12dressjunkie
wrote on 17 June 2009 at 8:38
LMAO @ Cuprionelsque!!!
Thanks AM, I think everyone needs a bit of colour of the legs if they’re wearing a dress/ skirt etc… I’m afraid I’ll still be rubbing a bit of Sun Shimmer in to them on the odd occasion! xoxox
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13nikky
wrote on 17 June 2009 at 15:16
I have the Dainty Doll foundation and while the colour is fabulous, the texture is not good. It is aimed at teen girls and thus is for oily to combination skin. I have the skin of a snake and it emphasized everything!
I quite like the concealer though…especially since MAC discontinued NW10 and all their products are too dark for me now.
I’m using Max Factor Colour Adapt in Creamy Ivory for foundation and I LOVE it. Pale enough, light moisturising long last coverage and cheap! I feel good about being pale wearing it!
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14dressjunkie
wrote on 17 June 2009 at 16:29
You’ve confirmed my fears in regards to the foundation. Although I am combination I’m very dry under my eyes and cheeks. I’m sure it would look gloriously cake like on me…
I’m using Dior Forever Foundation at the moment in 010, I think that may be the palest and tbh its not even that pale. There really is a severe lack of products out there for the ghostly gals. Its interesting you’re using the Max Factor, I’d noticed that the drug store lines actually seem to cater a lot better than the high end brands. Particularly Maybelline, their foundations go almost white! xx
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15nikky
wrote on 17 June 2009 at 16:34
High end companies have a nasty habit of discontinuing their palest lines (because they aren’t economically viable), but high street don’t seem to have the same problem.
The Max Factor is great. First foundation I have repeat purcahsed in 4 years…and it seems to work on pink toned skin like mine and more yellowy pale girls. People seem to forget not all pale girls are the same kind of pale…
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16dressjunkie
wrote on 17 June 2009 at 16:38
I’ll definitely pick that up when I get paid. I’m the lovely yellow pale, just delightful sans make-up..
Thanks for the tip Nikky! xx
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17Sharon
wrote on 17 June 2009 at 16:44
I am glad to hear that you are embracing your natural skintone. I am a pale-skinned cailin myself and I have never, ever been tanned. I have never felt the need to have a tan(except for a disastrous incident with fake tan at my debs that I can safely say has put me off fake tan forever). I still wear bright colours and coloured nail polish and I don’t feel that I cannot wear things because I am fair. If I wear a skirt or a dress I will simply wear tights, either natural or black or coloured, rather than apply fake tan. I don’t tan naturally(I freckle or I burn – even if I’m smothered in sun cream.)so maybe that has influenced my opinion of fake tan. I still think that fake tan looks fake and orange and I think it is more hassle than it’s worth. The only thing I don’t do is wear a lot of pastel colours but that is more a refection of my personality that avoiding them because I am fair. I found it quite hard to find a foundation to match my skin but I use The Body Shop’s Oil Free Balancing Foundation SPF 15 in 03 and it sinks into my skin really well and it doesn’t look like I’m wearing make-up at all. It has lasted forever ’cause it’s in a little pump. On Nicola Roberts’ make-up range I think it is aimed at young girls and teenagers rather than adults. More of a tween thing to appeal to the band’s younger fans? That’s just my opinion though.
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18Karen Quinn
wrote on 18 June 2009 at 15:36
Welcome to the land of PALE Arlene!!!! Good to have you among us!
Well as you know I am ghost like of the skin and pretty much dont do tanning at all. I had a minor foray into it once for a few months but quickly realised that I didnt actually feel like me, it was as if my face and body didnt really match my personality anymore! Sounds a bit mad but as you know me I think you’ll know exactly what I mean. I think you look brilliant if I’m honest, natural and real. I think a tan can look good if it is expertly done and people have a skin tone that suits it but on most people it looks orange and (sorry all tan addicts)on occasion trashy. For me there’s no getting away from the fact that a real tan is sun damage and it is the only way to get it really even all over.
As I always say if I was supposed to be a different skin colour I’d have been born in a different climate!
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19dressjunkie
wrote on 18 June 2009 at 16:20
I totally understand that Karen! I didn’t feel like “me” either! I’m having no issues being pale again so far, the only wee one is obviously wearing dresses and getting the legs out.
As Sharon says tho tights are always a good option. Obviously not opaques in this weather but at night time an aul 10 denier natural tan just to even the skintone out won’t go amiss!
I even bought an odd set of “toeless” tights from Asda out of curiosity….
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20Sluuurp
wrote on 19 June 2009 at 15:09
I bought dainty doll foundation with much excitement in the Jelly Pong Pong near Covent Garden. Being crazily pale (death warmed up occassionally) it seemed like the answer to my prayers. While the colour was good (I bought the mid-range one the white one is clearly for goths) it reacted terribly with my skin. It dried and caked up despite mixing it with copius amounts of moisturiser – it looked like my skin was flaking off! It also clogged my pores up dreadfully leaving me with a sprinkling of white heads for days after. It might have been an unfortunate personal reaction but I’ve never got this with any other foundation. I get the feeling the ingredients like the inner packaging are cheap and not particuliarly good for your skin.
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21nikky
wrote on 19 June 2009 at 15:15
Sluuurp, I had pretty much the same results with the foundation. It was like applying polyfilla to my face…
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22Sharon
wrote on 20 June 2009 at 2:30
I like your lil’ motto Karen – “As I always say if I was supposed to be a different skin colour I’d have been born in a different climate!” :] I think I’ll be quoting it from now on….
I think if you put a little bit of effort into finding a really good natural looking pair of tights and use a lil’ bit of bronzer on your face and chest area you are good to go Arlene. That’s what I do most of the time anyways!
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23Shelley
wrote on 20 June 2010 at 20:19
Hi – I think you are just right to stay pale and interesting. I am a redhead and just burn in the sun and I am proud to have pale skin. I do on occasion use a very light tan for my arms and legs if I am wearing a dress such as Dove or Sunshimmer but I went for a spray tan once and looked awful!!! I think its about time people accepted who they naturally are. It would be a very boring world if everyone just looked the same. I am really disappointed about the comments re Nicola Roberts range of makeup as I was really keen to try them but think i’ll give that one a miss – don’t want my face caked in foundation!
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