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| Is one shade more attractive? |
I was told that before the 1950s, people took measures not to tan. To stay pale, they used hats, shawls and parasols. If you were tan, it was a sign that you had to work out in the fields and were not of the leisure class.
As city life replaced farms and people acquired office jobs, getting a tan meant you could afford to travel ... taking your family on a nice sunny vacation. So thereafter, a tan meant you had the money to enjoy leisure time.
Now we know the golden glow of a tan is actually skin damage. In producing a tan, the skin is trying to shield itself from the sun's ultraviolet light (i.e. radiation). Far from being healthy, years of tanning in the sun can lead to skin cancer, not to mention wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin.
So you might think, well that's reason enough to turn to sunless tanners. And yes, it's better than baking in the sun, but now that we know how unwise tanning is, why is a tan still a standard of beauty?
Lately I don't think it is. Plus, the fewer chemicals I have to slather on my body, the better. If I don't need a sunless tanner, I'm not using it. Time and money saved! Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all? Is it ... me??? Well baby, I was born this way.
Are you a fan of self tanners?
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| These cartoon sunbathers are setting a bad example. :) |
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This is definitely a post after my own heart. As a redhead w/ivory skin, I learned early on that tanning was not for me. I was never the blonde, beachy California girl type. So, while my classmates baked in the sun, I avoided it. As a result, my skin is in much better condition than those golden girls who made fun of my pale skin. Who has the last laugh now???
ReplyDeleteCheer, M-T
Marie-Therese, as someone with chestnut brown hair, I can identify with you. The chemicals which cause chestnut hair are eumelanin (brown) and pheomelanin (red). We don't tan much either, so I too avoided sunbathing. And years later, I'm so glad I did!
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