So, most of us already know the basics of keeping pale, such as using a parasol and sunscreen when going outside. But keeping out of sunlight can only go so far.
I've always loved how gloriously pale the Gothic models I've seen are, but their paleness is usually due to a lot of Photo-shopping and bright lighting.
So besides the keeping out of the sun bit, what else can we do to achieve the lightest shade of pale?

I'm thinking my options are probably limited to:
-Lightening creams and lotions
-Make up
-Odd recipes for skin lightening I've found.

Since skin-lightening is popular in many asian countries right now, a lot of companies (such as Yves St. Laurent) have created skin whitening creams. Link. The downside to this is they use very harsh chemicals and probably something akin to bleach. I'm not sure I'd want to put that on my skin, but it is an option.

White makeup would probably work well, but I've never really worn foundation or anything of the sort. And I'm not sure there are any foundations/powders out there that could both stand up to the very high humidity where I live, and not clog my pores.

Then there's the skin lightening recipes I've found. Such as the one on Mookychick: http://www.mookychick.co.uk/body/pale-skin.php I haven't had a chance to try it out, so I'm not sure if it would work or not.

So what other options are out there? Anyone have any useful links or such that have worked for them?

I use Manic Panic's lightest natural tone for foundation, then use their white powder (well, I have to use the white powder because their lightest is still too dark for me). Another thing is to wear long sleeve clothes, even in the summer--I live in the South so I can do it as well.

Oy! I got a tan this summer despite my best efforts to prevent that from happening. I think I'm going to try one of those recipes you posted, Lolita. I've attempted to use lightening cream in the past, but I couldn't stand the heavy perfume smell. I know there's been some debate as to the safety of bleaching/lightening creams containing hydroquinone, but the research I've done into it has shown that the stuff is quite safe. But it smells funny anyway. LOL

Derma E makes a skin lightening cream that is all natural, but it will take a while to work. Hm...I think I'm going to try it out.

Become anemic? [/sarcasm]

But that aside, I know that lemon juice was used to bleach out skin during the Victorian era. I'm not sure how well it works, but it may be worth trying. I've also heard of using hydrogen peroxide for skin whitening.

Dont ask me! I only have to see the sun in the sky to go brown. Already got white bead marks on my arms I'm a very bad goth

^^ I hear ya, Mrs. D. I'm mostly Italian; I tan *very* easily, despite sunscreen! I freckle a little too. I've stopped trying to fight it.

I'm Scotch-Irish (with a generous helping of both Polish and Cherokee Indian) so I burn without there being a sun present. I had a friend who once said she could tell who had Indigenous American ancestry in them--they are the palest people around.

Mrs. D.: I love that you laugh a lot!

Mrs. D. and Ginger: I also love hearing about people's ancestry. I just think it's really cool.

I use sunscreen on my face every day too. Summer is a pain in the butt b/c when I tan, the olive tones come out as well. It looks a little weird on a redhead. :/ I've tried dyeing my hair darker to increase the contrast between my skin and my hair, but then it brings out every shadow in my face and I look like an old Italian lady. Not an improvement, lol.

Im Brazilian!!!! haha and I am paler than all my friends.
Well actually there are a lot of "white" people in Brazil

I am also Russian too!...but mostly Brazilian.

I like looking pale, but not ghost white/translucent because like Red said: you can look like an "old Italian lady "

I always contour and highlight with a little blush for more of a "porcelain doll look" than Crypt keeper (although I love him!)


Being one shade of white might actually look really bad on some people, especially if your hair is Jet black.

I always dye my hair natural black bc the blue black makes me look sick

I also use sunscreen everyday

I use porcelain ivory Maybelline liquid mousse foundation and Bloody Mary White Heat white setting powder.

I live in Texas so I have the sweat off/sunburn double whammy.

Speak of ancestry, my dad's German (grandpa spoke English as a second language) and my naturally redheaded mother is Irish. Dad jokes that I come from the two greatest drinking cultures on earth.

But I digress.

One thing you may want to look into is changing your sunscreen. Most sunscreens rub on invisibly because they contain chemical barriers to the sun's rays. Some sunscreens, however, contain physical barriers.

Surely you've seen the token beach d-bag in a movie decked out like this-



That's zinc oxide. Titanium something-or-other is also a physical barrier. They're a lot less popular these days because they can leave white streaks on your face. I find that they do double duty- protecting me from the sun and paling me down a bit. You can find them at health food stores and the like. Then you can minimize the shiny by dusting on some white powder (Larenim is awesome but pricey) which sticks pretty well once you've slathered your face down with the sunscreen.

^^^I love Zinc Oxide. I use it all the time. You can get Zinc Oxide in a less thick form that goes on like sunscreen.

My bf's dad is a dermatologist and he hooks me up with all sorts of heavy duty skin protecting chemicals.

Reading this thread makes me want to go out and buy crates of lemons, gallons of milk,
and maybe a few Snickers to snack on while I soak in my lemon/milk bath for a week or so.

The worst thing for me is driving in the day, and you get that weird car tan on you're hands and arms. So after driving with one arm behind my back, or smashed up oddly against the door in a game I like to call "Run from the Sun" (donno why I call it that), I finally wised up and always carry a hoodie
in my hearse to save my arms. (Although July's sun already got me. Only my arms, but I feel like the tannest person ever! -.-) I try to remember to wear gloves while driving too, but that never happens.

^^I enjoy being pale. I don't care about many people tell me to tan. I refuse. But if I'm out at a concert and I'm stuck in the sun I don't mind as long as I can get out of it as soon as possible.

Since I have been putting a layer of sea salt on my face, I have noticed that it lightens my skin.

Well I can never be pale, my Dad has Spanish blood and my Mother is pure Welsh - even in the depths of Winter I look tanned and now I just look as brown as a berry, possibly because I'm in my garden whenever I can be. I never did believe in fitting into stereotypes anyway. Goths with darker skin tones can get away with bolder make up

^^

I'm either pale or I'm red. If I get any sort of "tan" it is usually because I had to go through pain like bloody hell with horrible sunburn. So it's not that I'm trying to stay white, it just kinda works out that way.

I wish I could embrace my tanness, but its just not me. However, I went to the china market the other day looking for guava soap (it is suppose to have natural skin lightening ingredient). I wasn't able to get the guava soap, but I did find a new product called Lux White Glamor shower gel.

" ...formulated with three parts... AHA, Rose Oil ad White Tea Anti-Oxidant are known to gently wash away dark skin cells to reveal lighter skin naturally. "

and my personal favorite, "...you will feel empowered to unleash and enjoy your feminine spirit."

I don't know how my feminine spirit feels about my soap, but it smells great. I only used it twice, so don't know how it will work in the long run.

I dont lighten my skin, but I know hydroquinone is a chemical to look for.

So has anyone tried the lemon/yoghurt/oats treatment? Does it work? I'm thinking of starting a skin lightening regimen. I also might look into Ginger's sea salt.