Sun-kissed or 'fair and lovely' skin - what's your preference?

While some spend hours in the Sun for that perfect tan, others go at great lengths to avoid it.

Currently the face-kini is trending on Chinese beaches; a bathing ware for the face, let’s say.

Yellow, pink, or blue faces happily mingle with the original white, but the dark-skinned face is outcast. The whiter, the better.

It takes a while to comprehend for those who are learning about the concept for the first time. After all, attempting to expose as much of the body to the sun as is appropriate at that point of time and place, it is not the white but the tanned skin that is aimed for in some parts of the world.

In the UAE we have it all. And there is no better place to observe the outcome of different cultural perceptions than in Dubai, where all are represented and constantly exposed to the sun.

For many western expats tanning is the leisure activity of the weekend. “I spend hours and days next to the pool,” admits Anna, a Polish woman in her 30s. “We do not have much Sun in my country, and here I have the chance to be tanned all year long.”

Looking good seems to be the objective. In fact, a recent survey carried out by a US travel-dating site points out that the sun-kissed skin of a woman ranks third in the Top 10 Summer Aphrodisiacs for Men. “A tanned body just looks better than a bleak one,” agrees Anna.

But the tanned skin will not lead to any successes when mingling with the Asian crowd, as in many countries east of Dubai being ‘fair’ is what it is all about. “Look at any matrimonial ad, and you will find that ‘a fair skin’ is on top of the list of required features of a prospective bride!” tells Fayaz, an Indian. “In India everybody is looking for fair brides.”

In Dubai we do not only have it all, but we can also get it all. Tubes of fairness cream are stacked up next to the tanning cream, make-up artists respond to all demands and both tanning machine and skin-whitening treatment have made their way to the beauty avenue.

“We have a minimum of five customers a day,” tells Olpha Fahem, skin and beauty adviser at Kaya Clinic Dubai, “both male and female! But most of these customers come for skin lightening treatment.”

According to her, there is a difference between skin lightening and tanning. “Lightening the skin is a cosmetic procedure. After a treatment the skin becomes two shades lighter. Tanning is something people can do by themselves,” she points out.

While the light-skinned are trying to get darker and the dark-skinned lighter, there is little understanding for either side of the spectrum. On an online forum for expats in Dubai a woman expresses displeasure with the ads for skin whitening in public areas where kids can see them.

“The concept has socio-economic implications. It is perceived that somebody with dark skin is of lower status than somebody with a light skin. These ads only reinforce these perceptions,” supports a forum member.

But another lady wonders: “Why are skin whitening products advertising any different to tanning products advertising?”

(Home page image courtesy Shutterstock)

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