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Sunless
Tanning: A Personal Revelation & a Skin Savior
There are
approximately 1.3M new cases of skin cancer diagnosed yearly. Ultraviolet (UV)
radiation is damaging, there is no mistaking it. Am I some innocent,
lifelong, pasty sun-hater? Heck no! I have participated in my share
of indoor tanning and beach basking (with the exception of my face). The
only reason I stopped was because I went on a physician skincare regimen for
about 9 months and couldn't go out in the sun. What! I can't tan???
But tan fat looks better that white fat!! Ack!!! Alas, I experimented with
sunless, or self, tanners. Not only for my benefit
but for the benefit of others to prevent mass blindness with my stark-white
body.
I had a filming in New York and was
ghastly white. I needed a tan--fast! We decided to choose a leader
in self tanners/bronzers, Jan Tana. We spoke with the company and ordered
their video, tanner with bronzer and moisturizer. I exfoliated from head
to toe with a sugar and oil rub, washed myself off and after drying I applied
the moisturizing lotion designed to help with even, lasting color. I then
applied the tanning lotion as directed and saw that I was immediately darker
from the bronzing agent. This made it possible for me to see where and
what I was doing, without streaks. I waited until I was pretty dry and
prepared myself for the waiting game. Well, the next morning I woke
up and my partner exclaimed! "#$@&! you're dark!". I ran to
the mirror and yes I was! WOO HOO!! Overnight!
I fully expected to
wake up looking like a carrot. Remember the orange tanners of yesteryear - the
orange tan from the orange Neutrogena bottle? Or how about the Coppertone
Pumpkin look of the early 90's? Well I was not orange at all! Just like my
own tan would look, and I am olive-skinned so it was very flattering. I
was pleasantly surprised.
Why
Is a Sunless Tan Better?
The number one reason and most
obvious is NO SUN DAMAGE. NO risk of skin cancers from tanning
lotions as opposed to lying in tanning "beds" or in the natural sun
for hours. Even
color, rain or shine, summer or winter, in Florida or Iceland. Convenient,
fast color when you need it, on demand. Have a last minute photo shoot
tomorrow but are pale as a ghost - sunless tan tonight.
Is
Sunless "Tanning" Right For You?
Are you pale? Naturally
burn and/or don't wish to damage your skin to attain a bronze look. Need to supplement
your existing tan? Don't have time to get a real tan or fake bake but still need color? If the above fits you and you
do not have any abnormal skin lesions, anomalies or conditions (with the
exception of psoriasis) - you may
consider sunless tanning to achieve a deep, dark tan - easily.
Besides, real
tanning isn't god for you, stick to sunless!
How A
Sunless Tan Works
Most sunless tanning lotions contain
an active ingredient known as dihydroxyacetone, or simply DHA. DHA is a
colorless sugar that reacts with the protein in the outer (horny, or "dead) layer of the skin
to stain it a
darker bronze color. As the outer layer natural exfoliates, you lose your
tan. No magic here.
What To Expect
From Your Sunless Tanning Product
Use well-known, high quality
products to increase your chances of receiving the intended tan without
problems. You should expect even, bronze color within 24 hours, with no
itching or any kind of irritation. The lotion is supposed to tan your skin
for an average of 4 to 7 days. From the 48 hour period start expecting your tan to fade slowly. You may see patchy areas if you haven't
exfoliated well beforehand.
Determine if there
are money-back guarantees and speak with other people who have used the products
before you have to verify success. This could be your friends, any tanned person you see walking around if you are gutsy enough, the YTF!
Beauty Report Message Board, or elsewhere. Body builders most often
use self tanners, as do bikini models. Don't be shy, ask around!
A
Review of Some Popular Self Tanning Products
Here are some reviews of some
well known products. I personally use Jan Tana regularly.
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Jan Tana Deep Moisturizer:
Loved it! it smells great, is non-greasy, moisturizing, leaves your skin feeling silky and is great to help fix
uneven application of Jan Tana bronzer/tanners.
The company advises, "Ultra
nourishing Collagen and Panthenol help preserve the skin's vital
moisture balance and prevents premature aging. Antioxidant Vitamins A, C
and E penetrate quickly, to protect your skin from damaging free
radicals and environmental stresses."
Costs about $15. to $20. US |
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Jan Tana Fast Tan: This stuff
works! NO kidding! It has a bronzer in it so you get immediate color and
so that you can see if it goes on evenly. I was pale as a ghost and used
this twice before a studio taping and I looked as if I had a dark tan. Remember I was ghostly white as I had been on Retin-A
5 months and
out of the sun for over a year. This stuff rocks!
It lasted longer than 3-4 days though.
And I didn't even use the Deep Moisturizer like I should have post
"tan". In fact 5 days later I was still "tan".
I didn't have the Jan Tana Pre Tan Scrub to try but I used a body oil
and granulated white sugar scrub I made the day before application. I
guess it really exfoliated me well.
The company says, "Every Tanner's Dream!
A mistake proof, fabulous tan. FAST TAN is an instant bronzer and
sunless tanner in one. Takes all the guess work out of tanning.
FAST TAN'S instant color lets you see exactly where you are tanning to
insure a smooth, even application and a flawless natural-looking tan
every time!" "Fast Tan's streak-free lotion applies
easily, dries quickly and lasts 3-4 days. Has a pleasant apricot
scent. Achieving the Perfect Sunless Tan has never been
easier!"
Costs about: $35. US |
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Au Courant |
What
About "Tanning Pills"?
Just say NO! Not
only do they not work, they aren't safe. The FDA won't allow them to be
marketed here unless they are supplements and we all know that a lot
of supplements are usually BS, and not worth the time and money. No, I am not
talking about vitamins, I am talking about tanning pills, breast enhancement
pills, penis enlargement pills, and more. Nonsense.
Besides Tanning pills cannot
selectively make only one part of your body darker - the desired part being your
skin. So what else DOES get dark? Everything, from your palms to your
urine to your sclera (whites of the eyes). You will look like you have jaundice
or something. Even worse, that orangey-yellow jaundice look can stay with
you for months. I could go on forever but it is as simple as one, two,
three...
- they aren't good for you
- they don't work
- they turn you orange
Do you really want all that? I once took some supplements
that came with an indoor tanning accelerator - it didn't do anything but turn my
urine orange. I still to this day have NO idea what was in them. In fact
they are still sitting in my medicine cabinet.
Preparing
For Your Application
Exfoliate, exfoliate,
exfoliate. Having excess dead skin can leave you blotchy and splotchy.
Make sure you exfoliate well but not enough to cause irritation. Some people
use exfoliating scrubs, creams, loofahs or exfoliating mitts. It all
depends upon what works best for you. I use a soft, natural bristled
brush to exfoliate. I use a washcloth for exfoliating my face. I
make sure to get the knees, hands, arms, feet and elbows really well with the
brush. Sometimes I even use bath gel and sugar to really exfoliate
well. Make sure all soaps and oils are rinsed off of your body thoroughly.
Also, be sure to shave the day before you apply instead of right
before. If you shave right before, it causes the tanner to darken the hair
follicles/pores and also can cause irritation.
After you get out dry off well and apply some Lubriderm or other regular
lotion to your elbows, all over your feet to the ankles, to your knees and your
hands down to the wrist. Take a facial moisturizer and apply this to your
face. Now you are ready to begin.
Application
How To & Tips
Some people swear by all kinds of cotton balls, Q-tips, sponges and other
applicators. Honestly, I have never used more than a pair of latex gloves
and a round sponge supplied to me by Jan Tana and have never had a
problem. However, use what is best for you.
Automatic
Sunless Tan Machines: Pure Bliss
Tired of the application
hassle, can't reach your back, don't have time deal with messy lotions - but
still want even color application. Think something like that is a
dream? Try Mystic Tan™. This $30,000 machine uses "MagnaTan"
technology and sprays a fine mist of sunless tanner (DHA) with bronzer into the air of
the enclosed 8' x 7' room. Your tan is customized by your skin type and
desired darkness.
Extending
the Life of Your Sunless Tan
Moisturize, Moisturize,
Moisturize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sunless tans don't last, but if you lose
it irregularly you are going to look like an orange lizard peeling some of his
scales off. if you don't exfoliate and moisturize before, you will have uneven
darkening. Drier skin will pick up more tanner, making you look dirty.
Risks
& Complications Sunless Tans
Oddly, DHA DOES provide some sort of protection from UVA radiation BUT not
enough to forgo your sun screen.
The Least You Need To Know
About Sunless Tans
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What: sunless, or
self, tanners
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Why: Because
many of us are blindingly white.
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When:
before photo shoots, filmings engagements or any time the mood
strikes you.
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Who: me,
you and anyone who is not allergic to self tanners, DHA, have skin
problems (except for psoriasis) who want some color
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Risks:
Please
see above
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Duration: application
takes anywhere from 60 seconds to 30 minutes on a good
day. Tan lasts about 4 to 7 days, depending.
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Activity: If
you go work out, sweat profusely or bathe (swimming too) before the
4 to 6 hour mark, you risk interfering with the results.
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Sun
exposure: Sunless
tans do not provide any significant protection from the sun - always
use sunblock!
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End
result: a deep, light to medium tan for some brands, darker
results for others - immediate color for those products which contain
a "bronzing" ingredient.
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Longevity:
"Tan"
lasts about 4 to 7 days, depending.
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Special
Notes: If
you are allergic to many products or have had allergic reactions
before to tanning products, perform a patch/spot test. if you
have asthma, you should not use misting tanning machines. If
you are pregnant, ask your OBGYN if it is safe for you to use self
tanners.
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The
average prices for: Sunless tanning lotions can range from
$10. US for brands available at your pharmacy, to $25. for high end
formulations. For tanning services on average from
$15 for spray on misting systems - to $75. US for full
body application by high end, ridiculously expensive aestheticians.
Related
Links
Jan
Tana - Sunless Tanning Specialists
SunlessTan.com - Truly Amazing
The
Tan Shop! for all your lotion and accelerating needs
MysticTan.com -
You have to see it to believe it
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This page was last updated: 04/03/2006
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