- April 24, 2024
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When bronze comes in a bottle, why risk your skin for some sun?
“I hate you.”
My friend Haylie had no problem expressing her true feelings when I revealed my slightly darker skin at Bethune Beach this past Saturday. Haylie, who is Honduran, was paler than me and obviously peeved about it.
In retaliation to my tan, she slathered on some lotion with what I’m assuming had a negative SPF and she swore by the time she was finished, she would be darker than me.
I’ve had this conversation with my girlfriends over a dozen times this past week. There’s something so fiercely competitive about bronzed skin that us ladies will do nearly anything and everything to get it.
When I was in high school, I used to go to the tanning beds with a few of my friends when classes were let out. Not only was it a quick 15 minute nap to Tan-Land, but I could keep my color all year round. My chemistry teacher noticed the obviously unnatural (and most likely orange) glow of my group and soon gave a terrifying “stop tanning or you’ll die” lecture. The very graphically gross skin cancer photos she showed us inspired me to quick the UV rays. It was the first time a PowerPoint presentation ever made me scream.
Still I didn’t learn my lesson. All throughout high school and college I jumped at any opportunity to get some sun when the temperature was right. I’d lay out in my backyard after school or spend over six hours at the beach getting what I thought was supposed to be the appropriate amount of skin color for the season.
Thankfully, my intentional tanning days ended due to boredom and not skin cancer. I realized there are better ways I could be spending my time than just lazily reading the same issue of Glamour magazine by my pool. Plus, I was sweaty. I hate being sweaty.
Eventually I found my way to the self-tanner aisle at my local Walgreens, where dozens of bottles promise summer skin without dangerous risks. Fate led me to my soulmate (a.k.a. Jergens Natural Glow) and I haven’t looked back.
Though I’m no longer out searching for a “real tan,” I do spend some time outside. While it may make me smell like a tourist at Disney, I try to remember that sun screen is my very best friend. And when I do forget, like I did this past Saturday, I get a friendly reminder through my red and burning shoulders to bring it next time.
So while you’ll be spending many of your summer days on the beautiful beaches we have so close home, remember to rub on a little SPF. If you need some motivation, I’d can always get my high school chemistry teacher to send you some nasty skin cancer photos. Trust me, it works.
