I'm sitting here in my underwear, waiting for my fake tan to take, smelling like cookie-dough and being careful only to use my fingertips.

I've realised that I never feel as naked as when I'm applying fake tan.

It's not the innocent nakedness of being in bed, swarthed in sheets and lost in a dream. It's not the blind nakedness of the first lustful skin-on-skin contact with a new lover. It's not the workmanlike nakedness of the daily shower, when your body becomes part of the hot water, soap lather and steam...

It's the nakedness of having to observe every crevice of your body. Every flaw and imperfection; from an ingrowing hair bump on your thigh, to the bruise on your elbow that you don't remember receiving. The odd silvery stretch mark, like a battle scar from a time when you fought loneliness with being overly self-content.

And I'm sat here, smiling. Smiling at the ridiculousness of wanting to be slightly orange, for nobody's benefit but for my own vanity.

The snow is an inch thick outside my window. Tomorrow I will look like a canned peach, atop of a bowl of vanilla ice cream, as I huff & puff my way through the crowded streets of Christmas shoppers.

Fellow caucasians - embrace your inner glow. Let the sun shine outwards this Winter.

x x x

It's weird, the Scottish in me means that I can get pretty light without the sun but the East Indian in me means I can go freaking dark when I tan.

I seldom use fake tanner, not that I don't like it but tanning and getting those UV rays just makes me feel better.

I honestly think most people in the UK look better pale. Pale skin is beautiful!

A milky white, smooth completion can actually very fresh and have a 'glow' to it. Sheryl Fen often had very pale skin in her movies, and she was beautiful with it.



For me personally, being mixed-Asian, I obviously look best when my skin is sun-kissed. Else, the yellowish tint to Asian skin makes me look a bit sickly. I wish more Thai people here would realize that applying that weird 'skin whitening' cream they are addicted to here works against their tan skin and not with it.


I'd be willing to be your skin probably looks very natural pale, and it might work for you--even if you don't care for it.

Imago said:

I'm like Erin; naturally very pale but I don't burn in the sun, I tan quite easily.

I only whapped the fake tan on tonight, because I'm going out with my workmates tomorrow. Pale and interesting works in the hazy Winter daylight; but not when you're under the glare of a dozen camera flashes, surrounded by a group of bitches the hue of Donnatella Versace.

Just showered it all off after an hour - but God that smell lingers. I already look slightly flushed. I'm hoping I'll wake-up glowing tomorrow.

Imago said:

she was alabaster, almost slightly bluish!!

I don't care enough about how I look anymore to go to all that effort.

But I like your writing!

Ace said:

I can get very meditative - when I can't touch anything but the keyboard.

I tan very easily, but tend to stay out of the sun these days because I've sunbathed so much in the past.

I like my skin colour as it is, although some people look really hot with fake tans,
but mostly I find that people look orange and it looks silly,
that's probably why i wouldn't get it; it would look stupid on me and I'd be too embarrassed to be naked in front of a complete stranger with a spray can

I don't tan. I freckle and burn and then it fades right back to pale.

I burn at the drop of a hat, too. I was thinking of taking a trip to Bali and learning how to surf and then I realized I'm gonna have to be covered head to toe while I'm there. I simply can't spend much time outside in the sun that close to the equator.

it was always funny watching the fake bakers come out and the convos after

This is going to turn into a photo thread right?

You write like a fiction columnist from a women's magazine I like it

thekidsgirl said:

p.s. I'm a lovely glowing sand colour this morning. It's really subtle. I only left the stuff on for an hour before washing it off. I guess it gets under your skin - there's still a faint whiff of... I dunno. It smells a bit like burning hair.

Time to get in the shower again and leave for work. Ugh.

CarrieMpls said:

Ditto...

GirlBrother said:

That's a big difference from 'cookie dough'

I'm seriously contemplating doing it again. It only lasted about three days.

CarrieMpls said:

I am the same way.