The experts tell you to slather on a healthy dose of SPF every morning – and be sure to reapply often, since it wears off during the day.
But tell me – in the middle of February, when you’re staring out the window at five feet of snow pummeling your house, are you thinking about sunscreen? And what about in the summer, when you’re trying to soak up a few rays at lunch just to see what the outside world looks like between the hours of eight and six, all while cursing those carefree kids who have the whole day to lounge at the beach? Are you thinking about sunscreen then?
And what if you purposefully get a tan once in a while when poolside? *Gasp* Does that mean you’re going to shrivel up like a prune the day you hit 40?
My guess is no.
There has to be a middle ground between shielding yourself from every single sun ray until your skin acquires a pallor rivaling Edward Cullen‘s, and from basting in baby oil with a foil sun reflector until you’re as brown as a turkey (or Magda from There’s Something About Mary).
Personally, I think I’ve struck a healthy balance. During the winter months, I stay out of the sun and am pretty much as pale as possible. Except when we’re going on a special getaway to the tropics. And in the summer, I wear sunscreen, but I still lay out at the beach on weekends when I get the chance.
Even my husband – who could care less about his appearance – goes to a tanning salon with me several times before tropical vacations. After all, who wants to spend the first few days in paradise in a paralytic state, applying aloe vera to every crevice until your lobster-hued skin finally heals?
Who knows? Some will say I’m dancing with the devil. But at least I’ll look back later and think it was a hell of a tango.
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