by Bruce W. Coffman

Created on: October 06, 2008

The snow white look was big in the 80s as a status symbol. It was often said that the lack of a tan showed the world at a glance that you did not have to labor outdoors. It was snobby chic at its best and was the bane of the tanning industry for quite some time.

The look has come back in a big way, but for different reasons. Now, instead of snob appeal, there are actually practical health concerns involved. Having healthy skin these days means no tan since we now all know the aging and damaging effects of UV rays on our most vital organ. Skin cancer and wrinkles are not attractive. A nice palour is.

There are, of course, spray tans and self tanning lotions, but these rarely look anywhere close to natural, and even if they do they send the message that you're not taking care of yourself. Walking around with what used to be considered a healthy bronze glow now just makes you look like you either don't care about yourself or you're not intelligent enough to know the dangers of sun exposure.

Healthy looking skin has always been a must-have accessory. The look now is just milky white instead of sun kissed. There are many ways to maximize the impact of the pale look, including keeping your skin clean and properly hydrated to maintain a healthy glow. Another way to make the most of this look is to make a few adjustments in your wardrobe. You'll need to find colors that compliment your natural skin tone, which may be completely different than what looked good on you when you had a tan.

Play around with color palettes that flatter. Choose a color family that compliments the undertones of your skin. White is not your skin tone. Most people have either olive, pink or rose undertones. There are different colors and shades that compliment each of those different undertones best.

Most skin care products have already jumped on the pale skin bandwagon and even basic moisturizes and cosmetics have added sunscreen with various levels of UV protection. Taking good care of your skin has never been easier than it is now and everyone should take full advantage of the various products available to do so. Of course, limiting sun exposure goes a long way, but when you have to be exposed to the sun for extended periods of time make sure you slather on the protection. Not only will you be saving your skin from possible damage but you will also be preserving that milky white complexion.

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