"Safe tanning" an oxymoron or is it?

Summer is here, which means fun in the sun and tanning for most people. Growing up in Texas, our summer ritual involved slathering baby oil over our bodies and spending hours in the sun. Sometimes we would use reflective surfaces like a car sun visor or the pool to get more of the sun's rays. We would lie out on the roof to get "closer" to the sun. LOL! Rarely did we use any sun protection. In fact, our idea of sun protection was to use the Hawaiian Tropic oil with SPF 2, which was only used when we were already sunburned. My friends would get a dark tan and I would fry like egg whites on a griddle. Tan was rarely an adjective used to describe me. Red, then splotchy peeling, and back to white again was closer to my color palette. It didn’t help that most of my friends had a “base tan” and were naturally darker from their ethnic heritage. I wanted to be golden-brown too. In college I considered moving to Japan, where my ivory skin would fit right in. In many Asian countries the porcelain doll look is not only accepted, it is coveted. The look of “Casper The Friendly Ghost” has not always been well received in a culture that values the bronzed-goddess look.
Being an esthetician (skin care professional), I know the dangers of sun bathing.

Ultra violet radiation from the sun or tanning beds damages the skin and changes the DNA in our body’s cells.

Because of the harmful UV rays, there is no such thing as a safe tan in these conditions. I’m not here to discuss sunscreen (I’ll save that for another blog). Nor can I promote my slogan "Pale is the new tan" (it's catchy, but a worthless cause). Rather, I can tell you about my new obsession—sunless tanning! Self tanners take time and maintenance similar to getting and keeping a traditional (UV) tan. However, you can look good and your skin will be healthier. First, before you apply any self tanner you must make sure you exfoliate all of the dry patches and dead cell from your skin. If you use a scrub it should not contain any oils, since the oil will keep the tanner from penetrating evenly into the skin. It’s best to rub vigorously with a wash cloth or hand mitt. Next, use a non-tanning lotion lightly on your knees, elbows, feet, and any place that tanner can build up. This lotion will act as a barrier cream to protect over saturating these areas. It is wise to wear latex or non-latex gloves when applying self tanning lotions. This keeps your hand from turning orange, which is a fake tan give away. If you don’t have any gloves just put extra thick lotion on your hands as a barrier before you apply the self tanning lotion and after apply self-tanner wash them quickly. Some people like sprays, some like tan towelettes, and others like lotions & gels. My personal favorite sunless self tanner is Decleor’s Hydrating tinted self-tanning gel-cream SPF 10 ($36).
Even though I am familiar with many of the Decleor products I had not tried the sunless tanner until, Gia (the Harpo Spa Director of Oprah’s private spa for her employees) introduced me to it. Now I love it (thanks Gia)! For a somewhat equal department store self tanner try Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel.
Drug stores have the best bargain, with L’Oreal’s sublime bronze. I prefer tanning gels because they dry faster, allowing you to get on with your day. Use a tanner that has a bronzer, to give you a color guide, ensuring even application. Some men do not like the shimmer that is in some of the bronzers. The newest innovation in sunless self tanners is a water-activated mousse called Diana B. 60 Second Instant Miracle Tan. The mousse is to be applied in the shower after cleansing with the application gloves (included). The foam is rinsed off after 60 seconds. The product, which works with the pH of your body, is said to be streak-free, aloe vera based and chocolate scented. If you’re still worried about streaking or mess-ups try the over-the- counter-gradual tanners, like Jergen’s Natural Glow. Just apply every day or every other day for a subtle tan. It’s a slower process, but almost goof proof.

Happy SAFE tanning!