How to Cover Knees Darker Than Your Legs
I am European looking, so I have olive skin and for some reason knees and elbows that are way darker than anywhere else on my body. I easily found a way to gain self-confidence back with this issue, and it did not involve dropping hundreds of dollars at my dermatologist’s office.
Even if you do not have legs that suffer from hyperpigmentation, this hack can work to give you evenly toned limbs. (Photo: Quora)
I did not know why my knees were way darker. Was it because I played on my knees too much as a child? Or because I was a clumsy kid and always fell down, so the bruises never went away? Basically, what I found out is that hyperpigmentation happens to all skin types, for one reason or another, but that in olive skin it will turn out darker.
Whenever I had events where I knew full-length body photos would be taken of me, I always went to a tanning bed so my legs could all be one pretty, smooth, Brazilian brown. It is a process though with lying in the tanning bed and not something that could be a quick-fix situation for an outing.
I now have this issue under control because I found something that works for me. I started using body tanners, but with my own hack. Because most home body tanners do not show up until 12 hours, what would the point be if I had to wait 12 hours for at-home results?
One of my self-tanners uses skin darkening color to make application easier. Once you have seen where you have applied it, you are then supposed to wash it off and the actual color will appear in about 12 hours. Well, if you do not wash this color match off, it ends up looking great on your legs for about 5 hours. Essentially it is like a baking, bronzer cream that I apply to my thighs and legs, but not my knees since they are already darker. Once I am done, my legs look one solid, smooth, glowy brown color, and I will have done this all within 10 minutes.
I make sure to wash my hands after and to not wear white of course, since this will rub off. But, if you are wearing a print dress or not going to be sitting on your bare butt, then it is totally fine and it works. If this is what it takes to feel and look great, I will take that any day over those scary, expensive bleaching creams that I am not a fan of.
Below is the product I use, and another I recommend:
Skinny Tan 7 Day Tanner shows you where you have applied the product by appearing like a dark brown tint on your legs.
(Photo: Skinny Tan)
Skinny Tan 7-Day Tanner: This is the tanner that has the mistake-proof application so you can see where you are applying it, but also keep it on for an evening of beautiful, one shade of golden brown limbs.
Vita Liberata Body Blur Instant HD Skin Finish works instantly and can be used on your face or body to give you a photo-ready look. (Photo: Vita Liberata)
Vita Liberata Body Blur Instant HD Skin Finish is designed to do exactly what I use the above product for. It is an instant color that works to make your face or body look blemish free, give it an instant color tan and reflects light for a photo-ready set of limbs. Colors come in latte or mocha.
Born and raised in the DMV, Emma Blancovich has a big appreciation for discovering things to do around town, such as new restaurants to try and supporting the local music scene by attending live shows. During the week she is an editor for trade associations, but on the weekends you can find her hiking up trails with the latest fitness gadgets then getting ready for a night out using the latest beauty and health products.
