Yesterday, something happened that occurred last summer. I thought it was a fluke, a little amusing anecdote that I could use at a party to make man creatures swoon (or not).
Last summer:
I’m in a Meijers, trying to find some Ocean Potion Baby Block (I burn in about two minutes). As I’m staring at the shelves, someone walks up to me and helpfully tells me, “Oh, the sunless tanners are on the other side of the aisle!”
Yesterday:
I’m in a K-Mart, checking out the new Banana Boat sunblock/daily moisturiser and calculating if I can afford it. Someone walks up to me and helpfully tells me, “The neutrogena bronzers work REALLY well!”
::: sigh :::
Yes, I know I’m quite pale. I don’t mind this; in fact, a tan does not look good on me (any natural colour I attain is a yellow, leading to a more jaundiced look as opposed to sun-kissed), and a bronze glow on me would be the most obvious fake tan, since everyone knows I cannot tan.
I’m used to the fact that no foundation is light enough. I’m used to the fact that sunblock is an absolute necessity just about year-round for me. But why do people automatically assume that I’m dying to get a fake tanning kit?
It’s so nice to meet other fair-skinned folks. I am just plain old WHITE, no two ways about it. I don’t tan even if I spend all my time in the sun. I burn, it goes away, and I’m white again.
But overall, I’m satisfied. I don’t have wrinkles, my skin is soft and smooth, and when I’m 50, I will still (I think, anyway) look young for my age.
At least that’s the plan.
~karol
I’m so pale I look like I should be clear. I don’t tan at all, ever, and I burn horribly, so I avoid the sun.
We just went to Maui, and I wore #50 sunblock the entire time. I returned the exact same color as when I left - and like bodypoet I bask in the fact that I’ll look good in 20 years.
That’s what I did when I went to St. Thomas (in June, of all times to go) one year. My husband and I went with another couple; I wore SPF 48 the whole time and barely got a tan. The woman in the other couple wasn’t very vigilant about sunscreen and didn’t bring a decent SPF; she spent a couple days of our week vacation inside with a second degree burn.
I spend very little time in the sun myself, because I work nights and sleep during the day. People generally underestimate my age by ten years, and I’m often complimented on how smooth and soft my skin is. An unusual compliment (and not unmixed) for a guy to get, but I’ll take all the ones I can get!
Mind you, I do have to be very careful if I am out and about for any length of time during the day - the last time I drove down to Key West (in the morning) my left arm and the left side of my face were burned moderately badly (the sun was to my left for most of the drive, right through the driver’s side window).
When people tell me I look too pale, I tell them I’m only active at night and grin toothily at them, while staring at their necks. They never mention it again.
I’m a memember of the “fair” club. And you’re right - there is no foundation that is light enough. I don’t mind being fair. I spend a bit of time in the sun with my horse, but I’m not a sunbather, because I burn too easily. I do wear sunblock when I thiink about it. Strangely, I do wish my legs were just a little darker (say, the colour of my arms) because I feel like I look odd when I wear skirts or shorts withour nylons.
I need to wear spf 50 almost constantly. And I still burn. I also have tiny bright red spots, either scabs or bursting capillaries, just from showing skin to the sun (yes, even when I wear sunblock); I wish I could afford to see a dermatologist about that.
I have nothing against people using fake tanners at all, but it still baffles me why people assume I’m looking for one just because I’m pale.
I have met exactly one person in my life that was paler than me. However, I’m always good for a laugh whenever other people complain about how pale they are. I just roll up my sleeve and - voila! - they feel MUCH better about themselves.
I’m pretty darn pale myself, but I actually do tan. Alarmingly quickly, too. I can’t STAND the way tans look (can you say “toasted people skin”?) and I don’t want to look any older than I am… so I always wear sunscreen or just stay indoors also.
I’ve already commented on how beautiful fair skin is, but my own only tans in 2 (and kinda a third) places. My arms (ony the top), the back of my neck, and I get a lot of freckles on my face and occasionally shoulders
I also have tiny bright red spots, either scabs or bursting capillaries, just from showing skin to the sun (yes, even when I wear sunblock); I wish I could afford to see a dermatologist about that.