Tanning has been a “hot” topic for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid no one ever thought that a sunburn or dark tan was a bad thing. I guess the stinging skin and hot and cold chills after a day at the beach with no sun screen went over our heads.
There was a time when having the darkest tan you could get was the only way to go. I can remember heading to the beach with friends and we’d cover ourselves with baby oil and a little iodine. We fried like eggs in our competition to be the darkest. Tanorexia much?
I’ve used sun lamps, QT that turned my skin orange, and even tried a couple of stints at a tanning salon in the 80’s. Sure I looked great but sun damage sneaks up on a person. The lines and spots that I now have on my face were preventable. But who knew it then?
Today I think everyone agrees that the sun is stronger so people have become hyper-phobic about applying sun block. I think the protection numbers go up to 50 now meaning you can spend an entire day in the sun and still have alabaster skin at night fall.
Even those who like getting a natural tan just don’t have time to lie in the sun for hours any more. I have found a good alternative that’s worked well for me for the past three years. It’s Coppertone Gradual Sunless Tanning Cream. I tried quite a few other brands of sunless tanning creams before finding this one - and it’s a keeper. By applying every day your skin will tan slowly like it would on a long vacation – with no sun required.
I don’t want people to be able to tell that I’m from New England by my white legs!