Is beauty skin deep?

Ah tis the season and I’m not talking about Christmas. No tis the season for fake tan! Although living in England it’s not really seasonal anymore: people actually depend on it more than the sun. I can understand why, it’s a convenient way to get a glow without the effort of actually sun bathing. I should also mention that this is England; and we’re not known for our beaches or hot weather. There’s also this nasty thing called a recession going on, which means that most people aren’t planning to jet off to their favourite tropical destinations anytime soon.

So what do the pasty race do? Fake it of course! Because by God, by the time I’m done using this fake tan product no one will ever actually know that I haven’t been to Antigua, or that I actually don’t own a passport! Sad but true; not for me though: being half Thai means I’m naturally tanned already. So I guess this makes it hard for me to relate. It doesn’t however make it hard for me to bitch about the obsession behind fake tan. Because let’s face it, there is a problem; maybe not so much in the rest of the world, but here in the UK the rise of tannorexia is more than a little worrying.

The funny part is that in Asia the consensus is that women should be as pale as possible. I’m not really sure why although I can give you an educated guess; pale skin connotes a wealthy upbringing. It suggests that you don’t need to slave away in the rice fields to earn a living, thus making you seem more important and more desirable; which I find ridiculous. The whole trend, both here and there is laughable. I understand the need to look glowing, clean and healthy but I think people forget that it’s a quality that blossoms from the inside.

Eating well, exercising, being in love, laughing, being happy, having sex or being clever (and subtle) with makeup. They are all things that give you that wonderful glow from within; it’s the magic that makes you look full of life and attractive to others. Fake tan, I find tends to make people look muddy, patchy and a little discoloured.

The rise of the Tango clones

So why do people insist on using crazy methods to get that glow? Take sun beds for example, you’re voluntarily exposing your body to harmful UV rays without protection, for what? So you can feel better about yourself cosmetically? I’m not saying its wrong: everyone has the right to feel confident and attractive. I just don’t think its right either. UV rays are aging. Yes you may look glowing now but when you’re older and wrinklier than you ought to be, you’ll wonder what you did wrong. So if you’re going to get natural rays then remember to be vigilant with the sun protection; re apply every 30 minutes, use a high factor and stay out of the sun during the peak times. Always use a SPF of at least 15 for your everyday moisturizer. It may not look sunny out but trust me the harmful UV rays are still there.

I know this is going to fall on deaf ears but it’s sad that the amount of skin cancer patients has risen. It’s a real danger, and although fake tan is a great way to minimize the danger, it’s still very real. Check your body for new/strange moles regularly and go to your GP if you notice anything strange; even if you think it’s minor. As for my Asian sisters, why are you trying to artificially bleach your skin? It’s equally dangerous and ridiculous. So many people want to have that golden skin tone! You should be flaunting it! Buying these stupid creams that brighten and bleach your skin is just tragic…

Are you so unhappy that you feel the need to risk your health and/or waste your money in-order to make yourself feel more beautiful? What happens if you become dependent on this? What does that really say about your self-esteem? I know a lot of products are now getting better at delivering that “natural glow” but I think people forget that there’s nothing natural about being fake.