“You foreigners sure are funny” – this is how Chinese media, like   Sina News,  have described the latest trend that has taken over Facebook and Instagram under the hashtag of #sunburnart.

Trending on Sina Weibo this week was the topic “Suntan Lotion Body Art” (#防晒霜身体作画#), a trend amongst foreigners that is about creatively painting the body with sunscreen. When they go into the sunshine afterward, the pattern they painted will be visible on the skin.

Although health experts have denounced the trend, saying it causes a potential risk for skin cancer, many people do not seem to care and would rather have a ‘free tattoo’ than skin that is protected against sunlight.

“In China, we would never do such a thing,” one netizen says about the suntan tattoo. “Those foreigners come up with the funniest things,” another Weibo user comments.

The fad is unfathomable to many Chinese, especially women, who do everything they can in order not to be burnt by the sun. This is why the so-called ‘facekini‘ has become increasingly popular in China over the last few years.

By Manya Koetse
Follow @WhatsOnWeibo

[box] This is Weiblog: the What’s on Weibo short-blog section. Brief daily updates on our blog and what is currently trending on China’s biggest social media.[/box]

©2015 Whatsonweibo. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission – you can contact us at info@whatsonweibo.com.