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 There is no doubt having a tan makes you feel thinner,
sexier and healthier. However, these days baking in the sun is
becoming increasingly unpopular as more women realize the sun's UV
rays age skin faster than anything (not to mention increase your
chance of developing the deadliest form of skin cancer,
melanoma).
When most people
think of our body's organs, we think, "heart",
"liver", "kidneys" - the truth is your body's
largest, most active organ is your skin. It's a complex organ made up
of the epidermis, (outer layer) and the dermis (the inner layer). The
dermis is where the roots of your body hair follicles start, as well
as your sweat glands and nerve endings.
More and more, we hear studies against sun exposure. Recent increases
in the statistics of skin cancer have people being very cautious when
it comes to exposing their skin to the sun. However, direct sunlight
can be beneficial for the human body in many ways -and sticking with
the age-old mantra: "everything is okay in moderation" - is
a good way of thinking about the effects of sun to our skin.
When you start to
notice your skin tanning or burning, what is actually happening is a
natural reaction. The melanin in your melanocytes is stimulated by
the Ultraviolet, or UV rays in the sun beams.
The reason this happens is because the melanin is serving as
protector for the rest of your cells. Melanin actually absorbs
harmful UV radiation to prevent it from affecting other cells in your
body. In Caucasian skin, the production of melanin takes a
significant amount of time. Melanin levels typically don't reach the
protective level until exposure for 4-7 days. In some other races,
the melanin levels are far higher, and pigment is present in the skin
all the time. This is why the instances of skin cancer are far lower
in certain races than in others.
Your melanin and melanocyte production is controlled by the release
of MSH - Melanocyte Stimulation Hormone. MSH release is triggered by
the Pituitary gland in your brain. When your brain recognizes an
increase in natural sunlight MSH is released to produce melanocytes
in the skin, which in turn, recognize the presence of UV radiation,
and produce melanin to absorb the rays.
The Ultraviolet
radiation in sunlight can be broken down into three parts:
- UVA
(also called 'blacklight' - responsible for a tan)
- UVB
(the harmful portion of UV rays - responsible for burning)
- UVC
(filtered out by atmosphere and never reaches us)
90% of the UV radiation we are exposed to is UVA. The
other 10% is the UVB which contains the harmful agents known to cause
burning, skin wrinkles, and cancer.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Tanning
The perpetual question of which tanning method is
safest lingers, although there remains no clear cut answer. Strong
arguments are presented on both sides, however....
In indoor tanning, most salons put a limit on how long you may stay
in a bed or booth, thus reducing the likeliness of a burn. Many
salons also prohibit patronizing the facilities in 2 consecutive
days. Moreover, many beds now boast of UVA only bulbs. As you will
remember, UVB's are the rays primarily responsible for the burn
reaction in one's skin. By eliminating UVB rays, salons will say
their beds are safer.
In outdoor tanning, the light you are receiving is natural - not
produced by artificial means. Sunlight also one of the only sources
of Vitamin D - an essential Vitamin needed to sustain life. Tanning
salons do not.
Ultimately, while tanning, like almost anything, in moderation is
not necessarily bad, it's your responsibility to protect your body.
Limit your time in the sun. Remember, the best looking and most even
tans are results of short but regular periods of sun exposure. And
you should always wear some sort of protective lotion, clothing or
eyewear to protect yourself.
Sometimes, your efforts to attain a beautiful glowing
look do not coincide with nature's seasonal tendencies. There are
many events in our lives for which we want to look tan, healthy and
beautiful...and they're not always in the summer. When the beaches
are closed, you'll need other tanning options to achieve this look.
Recently, there has been a wave of new tanning trends. Airbrushed
tans, professionally applied lotion tans and others of the sort are
being offered at salons everywhere. For those worried about negative
effects from UV ray exposure, these options are great alternatives.
If you're ready to skip laying out but don't want to
give up glowing skin, self-tanners are a great bet. Self-tanners can
darken skin for up to a week thanks to dihydroxyacetone, or DHA.
There are so many different self tanners on the market, it's hard to
know which to choose from. Many sites and magazines will offer their
opinion of "the best" or "the top ten"- but since
every skin type is so different from one another, to find the best,
you must test several products.
The good
news: your options are virtually endless. There
are lotions, creams, aerosol sprays, soaks, towel, etc. The most
popular sunless tanning products are general the lotions and the
sprays.
Lotions work
the same way as body lotions. You put a little into the palm of your
hand and massage it evenly right into your skin Do this over your
entire body.
Sprays are
basically self explanatory - spray a little up the front of your leg,
and evenly rub in the tint. Repeat this all over your body, making
sure not to miss any important spots.
An important thing to keep in mind: some lotions that are meant
for your body are not meant to be applied to your face! Be sure to
check all labels before you purchase something. If you cannot find a
sunless tanning product that you can apply to both your face and body
(so they're not different colors!) be very careful about matching
your facial tanner and your body tanner. Test the facial tanner on a
hidden spot on your body to check the accuracy of the color match.
And ALWAYS
ALWAYS ALWAYS wash your hands when you're done applying the product
or you will have discolored hands!
5 Tips for self-tanning your face and body:
Tip 1: Salon tans are your best bet
If you want a flawless, professional application and
can afford the price, head to a spa or salon. For upward of $20, you
can get one of many options: Full body exfoliation and professional
application of self-tanner, airbrush bronzing (where an aesthetician
sprays a fine mist of tanner over your entire body), or your least
expensive option: spray tanning. You can step into a booth and get
sprayed on all sides for about $20 a session or more.
Tip 2: How to use self-tanner on your face
This is a four-step process. Pull hair up in a
ponytail before you start so you don't miss any parts. According to
InStyle's May 2007 issue, makeup artist Scott Barnes once missed a
spot on Jennifer Lopez's ear because he forgot to pull her hair
up.
First, prep skin by gently cleansing and exfoliating. Skip
moisturiser, which may interfere with the tanner.
Step two: Apply under-eye
cream. According to Barnes in InStyle, you want the colour of your
skin to be lighter under the eyes, it makes you look younger.
Step three: Blend a few drops
of self-tanner and equal parts moisturiser in the palm of your hand
then apply over face and neck. You only want to go one shade darker
than your natural colour.
Step four: Let colour develop
for three hours then follow up with a sweep of bronzer on forehead,
cheeks and nose: areas where the sun naturally shines.
Don't
forget: Smooth remaining tanner over earlobes and upper ears. Wash
hands thoroughly. Don't skip the sunscreen.
Tip 3: How to self-tan your body
For this three-step process, start by exfoliating skin
with a body scrub in the shower paying special attention to rough
areas including knees and elbows (dry skin absorbs higher
concentrations of tanner). Shave before you tan. InStyle suggests
using a body oil, instead of shaving cream, when shaving.
Barnes suggests rubbing Vaseline on cuticles and
nails. This protects your manicure and keeps fingertips and nails
from staining.
Apply tanner limb by limb, starting with your legs.
Apply over the shin and calf of a leg, sweeping tanner down over your
ankle, foot and toes. Then apply tanner to your thigh from front to
back, using the excess to cover your knee. Repeat on your other leg.
For the final step, apply tanner to your hips, stomach and torso,
following with your shoulders and arms. Wait 10 minutes to dry before
dressing and avoid any excessive activity that will make you sweat
for at least a few hours. If your tan hasn't set, sweat could cause
streaking.
Bonus tips:
To remove tanner from palms, without washing off product from the
tops of your hands, rub palms along a wet washcloth, making sure to
get in between fingers.
Give arms, legs and décolletage a subtle glow with a
body shimmer.
Tip 4: Pick the right tanner
There are several types of tanners: Tanners created
just for the face, airbrush tanners, cream tans, bronzing gel, tinted
tans and tan enhancers. There's body shimmer and bronzing powder. You
can layer tanners as colours fade. How? Apply a lotion then follow
with bronzing powder or shimmer. Just be careful not to go too dark.
Tip 5: So you messed up, uh-oh!
If you end up with a streaky tan, you can fix with an
astringent toner or even toothpaste. Exfoliate to even out a patchy
application. Not dark enough? Repeat the procedure. Just make sure
you gave the tan enough time to develop.
Sources:
www.tanningsalon.com
www.beauty.about.com
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