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I am very pale with dark hair and eyes and on the advice of my dermatologist simply do not try to "get a little sun" anymore. I just burn too easily. My skin has thanked me profusely for this and I just refused to spray on tan or do anything about my "glow in the dark white skin" except wear costume colors that flatter it! The only color that really isn't very flattering on me is straight jet black - just too harsh against my pale midriff. Over the years I've had many comments - some from Middle Eastern musicians who complained, "Nisima, you need to go lie in the sun you are too pale". I just nod and smile vaguely; of course I had no intention then or now about "getting some healthy color". My dermatologist told me over and over "there is no such thing as a healthy tan, you are cooking your skin to a nice leathery bronze".
Having said all that, a month ago I was at an outdoor festival in a navel baring beledi dress on a hazy day and forgot sunblock. My face makeup is SPF15 so didn't burn but ohmigod after 3 hours my belly had a huge red circle with the unburned navel in the center of it, navel ring sparkling away. and my chest above bra line was all burned, except around where my Hamsa pendant necklace was. And the next day the burn got darker and swollen, and itched and burned. Ouch. And a week later right when I was scheduled to perform at a restaurant, I started peeling, how unattractive...............is that? So, I opted to perform in a full coverage opaque beledi dress, couldn't even stand my Assuit dress next to my itching, peeling icky looking middle and I wore a ginormous looped necklace to cover the bizarre sunburned pattern above bra line. So then audience said, "loved your dancing, your costume was really different from the other dancers". Yeah, well, I was fried like a filet o'fish ....... but all I did was smile and nod and say "thank you".
People will always find something to comment on! I do what is best for my skin, period and even though bright stage lights do wash me out, I compensate with eye makeup and flattering bright lipstick. It's enough to cope with all the costuming, makeup and hair without having to use spray on fake tans.
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