Mosaic Life

Owning my paleness

June 13, 2007 on 8:37 am | In Uncategorized |

So I’ve decided to boycott tanning this summer. Which is kind of difficult. The peer pressure to tan is strong, but I must resist. The bad just outweighs the good.

(Bonus! A picture of me at a recent wedding reception owning my paleness with zeal. And looking a little dreamy-eyed.)

The good:

• Tanned skin just looks better than pale skin. Darker skin hides blemishes and imperfections. And let’s face it. Cellulite (which - knock on laminated wood - I do not yet have) just looks better when it isn’t covered with bright white skin.
• Tanning is in style. Unfortunately, we do not live in the nineteenth century, when being pale was a sign of high social status and wealth (because, you know, pale people didn’t have to work in the fields). Now being pale just means that you do not have leisure time to spend at the beach or in the sun, you can’t afford the tanning bed, or you are boycotting tanning. Like me. Go me.

The bad:

• Skin cancer. Not hot. I’d rather not have chunks of skin removed for biopsies. And I’m at rather high risk for it - I burn easily and have difficulty tanning, I have green eyes, I freckle (not much - just a sprinkle of freckles across my cheeks and nose, but still), and I have naturally light brown hair.
• Skin that ages quickly and resembles a leather bag. Plus, sunspots. Also not hot.

But there is an option for sunless tanning - the spray-on tan, which still hasn’t been perfected. It has a tendency to streak or turn your skin orange. And it stinks. There is definitely a distinct smell about it. Plus, it stains your elbows and knees. You could avoid applying it to those areas, but it looks strange to be dark and have white elbows and knees.

So anyway. I’ve decided to stay out of the sun, own my paleness, accept the fact that I am a whitey. Bring on the 45 SPF.