Taking Care of Your Skin and Giving Up Tanning

I am well aware that I am not a good writer, but I have started this blog with the modest intention that even if it impacts the choices of just 1 person, it would make it worthwhile. And that's what I'd like to do today. If you're a big fan of sun tanning and tanning beds, I'd like to convince you to give up on that completely.. or at least almost completely.

I was 9 years old when I went on my first school trip to the Black Sea. After two weeks of fun I came home with burnt shoulders and cheeks. I couldn't sleep. My skin looked completely raw. Looking back, the only thing I can say is that my family was uneducated with respect to tanning. We'd have this 7 oz. tube of lotion for an entire family of five that would last us for three summers. Really? Two to three years later I have already started buying moisturizers and sun spot fading creams to get rid of the sun damage, and I'm glad I "woke up" early on in my life. 

50% of the clients I see come from Florida and have always lived in Florida. Whenever I see someone with good, glowing skin in their 60s and 70s, I ask them about their skincare routine and the first thing they say is that they apply sunscreen every single day. And then there are the ones that have very, very dark skin even though naturally they'd be a version of Snow White. I can't tell them their skin looks bad. I can't tell them that I fear they've already developed skin cancer. I feel like I care more about them than they do. 

A year ago I was sharing my views about photoaging to a friend who is roughly 67 years old. After hearing me, she looked down and said with tears in her eyes that she wished she thought like I did years ago. She loved to tan and sit in the sun and developed skin cancer at an early age. It was an eye opener for her and her husband, but thankfully she is still here with us and uses SPF every single day. (Yay!) I say better later than never, but to this day it is hard to convince her to take a picture with you. She always says: "Look at my wrinkly face from all this sun. I don't need to be reminded of it with pictures." 

But then you may think, "I look thinner, more attractive with a tan." Who says that? Learn to embrace your body as it is. And at the end of the day, there are thousands of good quality self tanning lotions at every price point you can imagine if you really like looking darker every now and then. 

This past December I attended a permanent makeup seminar. It was Sunday night and I was signing some forms and getting ready to leave when the guy across the room who was a CEO for a pigment company said something along the lines of: "I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I just wanted to say that you have gorgeous pale skin and I respect you for that. Many women just burn themselves on the beach every single day in this area." Now don't say he was flirting. He went on speaking about his wife and daughter afterwards, and I highly appreciated this compliment which came from a Miami native. 

I've asked one of my dear clients if I could take a couple of pictures of her skin. You can see clearly how underneath her neck the skin looks better, whereas on her shoulders it's dry and flaky from all the sun damage. By the way, she straight up told me how she looves tanning, going to the beach, pool etc. That is fine, but wear sunscreen! 

From the U.S. market I personally prefer the Hawaiian Tropic range. It's affordable, non-greasy and smells good. What else can you ask for? From Europe La Roche-Posay's Anthelios range is the bomb: in many studies they come up No.1 when it comes to longevity of protection etc. 

Pick a daily face moisturizer that has an SPF of at least 15. Wear hats and sunglasses to protect your hair and eye area especially when you know you'll be in the sun for a long period of time. Keep some travel sized sunscreen in your car and apply it on your hands before your start driving. Going out with a shorter dress and don't wanna rock some pale pasty legs? Use a mix of 50% Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs & 50% of your favorite body moisturizer, and your legs will look as good as they can get. Victoria's Secret also sells these dark pigmented shimmering lotions that smell good and are also great to add some color for a night out. And finally, just love yourself. Pale, dark.. who cares? Love and respect your body and you'll age beautifully.

Solutions for those who haven't done it till now? There are plenty. Peels, masks, lasers, resurfacing options, microneedling, anything you wish. It is never too late to start loving your skin.

Take care



P.S.Watch this one and a half minute video from a well known Manhattan dermatologist that explains what a tan actually is.