Unsolicited skin care advice, got to love it...

[Seshat]

California, the southern portion, at least, is mostly desert, actually. With a lot of coast. I suspect the coastal sections are actually quite similar, but the inland areas are almost decidedly drier.

You don't know much about Queensland, do you? It's the northern half of the eastern third of Australia, and as soon as you get past the Great Dividing Range, there are almost no permanent rivers or water sources. More than a third of the state is desert, and a large chunk of the rest is semi-arid savannah.

Australia becomes semi-arid or arid as soon as you get past the coast.

Note: If it's overcast, you need sunscreen more than when it's clear. The moisture in the clouds blocks the part of sunlight that provides visible light and heat. So you don't feel it as much while you're sunburning.

My parents made sure I knew that before I was 10.

[Bluenomi]

There's one of mine noone's going to see but my husband and my dermatologist!

But I'll compare the rest with you, sure.

Fair enough then Mine is on my upper arm so it makes me look all big and tough

[Andara Bledin]

Queensland ranges from tropical to subtropical, and from what I understand of California, has a similar climate. You're welcome to share in our skin cancer/cancer prevention scar contest.

California, the southern portion, at least, is mostly desert, actually. With a lot of coast. I suspect the coastal sections are actually quite similar, but the inland areas are almost decidedly drier.

Note: If it's overcast, you need sunscreen more than when it's clear. The moisture in the clouds blocks the part of sunlight that provides visible light and heat. So you don't feel it as much while you're sunburning.

^-.-^

[Seshat]

I'm Irish and live in California. I have to wear sunscreen religiously or suffer the painful consequences.

Queensland ranges from tropical to subtropical, and from what I understand of California, has a similar climate. You're welcome to share in our skin cancer/cancer prevention scar contest.

[Shabo]

Yeah, that's what I found too, Broomjockey. So it looks like it's no longer a requirement that products get tested on animals. /cheer

[TruthHurts]

I'm Irish and live in California. I have to wear sunscreen religiously or suffer the painful consequences.

[Seshat]

Not really But we could compare cool scars

There's one of mine noone's going to see but my husband and my dermatologist!

But I'll compare the rest with you, sure.

[Broomjockey]

I really feel sorry for all you people with the tiny veins. I've got pretty notable blood vessels in my inner elbows that pop up after three seconds and never take more than a single needle stick.

^-.-^

Oh no, I don't have tiny veins. They're large, and quite visible. They just...don't have any blood in them. Confuses the hell out of nurses. I've been repeatedly told "Oh, you've got great veins, right on the surface! This will be easy!" usually right before "sorry, lemme just try that again...it's right thereum...maybe over here?" Finally I went to the same place enough times that they believe me when I say "back of the hand, please."

[Andara Bledin]

I really feel sorry for all you people with the tiny veins. I've got pretty notable blood vessels in my inner elbows that pop up after three seconds and never take more than a single needle stick. Though my right arm is far superior to my left for anything like that. To the degree that if they take my blood pressure on my left arm, it hurts, and the reading comes out wrong due to the stress of it hurting.

^-.-^

[Broomjockey]

At the Doc's office newer nurses always have trouble and they have to have a head nurse or someone with lots of experience draw my blood. They usually end up drawing it from the back of my hand because they can't get it anywhere else. (OUCH!)

I've never tried to give blood (tell ya why in a sec), but at the doctors, I always get it in the back of my hand. Which confuses nurses and techs something fierce, until I tell them this: right from the first time they tried to draw my blood when I was like 4 years old, they could stick me 4 or 5 times and get nothing, even after digging around. And it's not like my veins are hidden. They're quite visible. Just...not really there, or something. And I learned this not only from when I was 4, but from the two stays I had in the hospital during elementary, and the first time I went in for a diabetes test. And every time but the first, they had to get it from my hand.

So, for donating blood? Thanks, but no thanks, I'm not getting a pint taken out through my hand. It hurts enough long enough to make my hand useless just taking a vial or two.

[ArenaBoy]

I'm probably one of the more tanner people on here ( I run year round) but seeing as winter is coming around and the sun hasn't been around my tan is starting to fade.

As for the OP, I would've told her to jump off a cliff. No one has any right to make a comment on appearances, employee or customer. A while ago I posted about an employee who told me (Wrote on a bag actually) to get a haircut. I never shopped in that store again because of that asshat.

[ThePhoneGoddess]

My paleness causes me the most pain at the doctor's office, when they want to draw blood. My skin is so light that my veins are very visible, especially in the inside of my elbow. They always think it will be so easy...and then it's not. One time it took 2 people 4 tries to get blood from me.

I suffer from the same problem---I've tried giving blood at blood drives at least 4 times and each time they send me away after 4 or 5 people try sticking me with needles. At the Doc's office newer nurses always have trouble and they have to have a head nurse or someone with lots of experience draw my blood. They usually end up drawing it from the back of my hand because they can't get it anywhere else. (OUCH!)

I'm willing to bet that i am the only person whose doctor has recommended to get sunburned.

Nah, I had a friend in college who used to do the same thing, for the same reason. When the psoriasis on her belly got really bad she'd go out on the dorm roof and get a slight sunburn on it to make it go away. She told me her Doctor told her to do that.

[Broomjockey]

Technically, every commercial product is animal tested. It's mandated by law.

For example, in Canada, Health and Welfare Canada's Drugs Directorate requires that manufacturers provide safety evidence which could involve animal testing in the case of new chemicals and chemical combinations.

In the US, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act does not require that cosmetic manufacturers test their products for safety. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that it "strongly urges cosmetic manufacturers to conduct toxicological or other tests necessary to substantiate the safety of a particular cosmetic product." Until alternative, reliable and scientifically acceptable alternatives are developed, these tests may require the use of animals.

From here with some back up (sorta) here. Second one seems slightly biased, and the first is mostly a policy of a company explained, but I don't really feel like delving GoC's website.

And I shall withhold my own opinions on the subject.

[Bluenomi]

Me too. Fair skin, formerly fair hair (still light brown), lots of moles, family history of skin cancer, grew up in Queensland. We could have a contest! Of course, a 'who's had more bits of skin cut out for fear of cancer' contest never has a winner.

Not really But we could compare cool scars

[XCashier]

I love most of the natural skin colours - especially the extremes. Pale, pale white skin that's almost translucent, or that gorgeous almost-blue-black dark skin some people have.

Healthy natural skin is beautiful, in any shade.

Been there, hollered back "You're too uptight! Get a vibrator!"

Oh, that took some major chutzpah to say that!