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A gorgeous tan: How to go for the bronze – safely!
Get browned without getting burned
by Judy Johnson
The invitations have gone out, most of the seemingly endless list of details has been covered off, Aunt Edna’s hotel arrangements have been made, and suddenly you notice that your skin is looking whiter than your wedding gown. Come to think of it, the groom-to-be isn’t exactly radiating that golden aura that he used to have either.
There isn’t time for a trip to Hawaii and even if there were, the budget has reached orange light status.
To tan or not to tan, that is your question. Remember that some people simply cannot tan naturally and those people should avoid the sun and tanning beds too, according to the skin cancer experts. Risk is greatest for those with fair skin, blonde, red or light hair and blue, green or gray eyes.
A whiter shade of pale
(Tanned) beauty is in the eye of the beholder. At one time tanned skin was avoided at all costs, hence all those charming vignettes of ladies with parasols. Pale skin belonged to the rich upper classes and dark skin indicated you were a labourer
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In the 1920s French designer Coco Chanel made the modern tan fashionable. She accidentally got a tan on a trip to the French Riviera and put an advantageous spin on it. Suddenly the tan became a symbol of wealth and leisure time.
Whether you are a veteran sun-tanner or a novice looking for fake and bake solutions, you have lots of options if you are among those who go for the bronze. Here’s a sampling.
UV-free tanning Booths
This is the new kid on the tanning block.
It’s the thoroughbred in terms of time spent getting a tan. A first-timer’s session will take about ten minutes, but after that it’s in and out in less than five.
Staff advises that to get the best tan possible you exfoliate and then moisturize with a water-based moisturizer before you come in to the salon. First customers see an instructional video. Then staff repeats instructions at the large misting booth.
First you apply barrier cream on areas you don’t want colour, and cover your hair. Best to start with light tan, according to the experts, until you see how your skin reacts to the misting. You can go up to medium or dark later. Then it’s into the booth where numerous nozzles mist you up and down for a few seconds. Then they shut off for a few seconds while you turn around so they can repeat the up and down misting.
Towel off and you’re done. You can’t shower for at least four hours after misting so that it “takes”. The tan lasts about 6 to 7 days. The whole thing is so fast that often the bride and her attendants go together to watch the video and then take turns getting misted.
Early research shows it’s very important to prevent breathing in the mist. So hold your breath and take care not to get the mist into eyes, ears, mouth or any other body openings.
Price: About $30 for one session, $100 for four.
Tanning towels
This is another quite recent arrival on the scene. Boxes of ten to twenty disposable towelettes come in individually heat-sealed packets. The towelettes are impregnated with the self-tanning formula.
They are easy to use and basically streak-free, allowing for an even, consistent tan. Start by using a folded towelette on your feet, first across and then up and down them. Work your way up your body as you unfold the towel to use a moist section. It will probably take more than one towelette to cover your body. In a matter of about twenty minutes the tanner will have dried and in about two hours after you’ve put it on, you’ll see the results. Touch up any missed spots.
Better start with the light tan towelette until you see how your skin reacts to this self-tanning method. You can always move up to a deeper tan later. The tan lasts five to seven days.
Price: About $20 for a box of 10
Tanning beds
Tanning beds range from regular through super cocoon-like beds through stand up beds (there’s an oxymoron!). The beds are often in private, air-conditioned rooms with CD stereos to keep patrons entertained during what normally runs from eight- to thirty-minute sessions. The beds can be set at various mixes of time and UVA and UVB rays.
Eyewear and beds should be thoroughly sanitized after each use.
If you use a tanning bed take some common sense precautions. Steve Gilroy, Director of Smart Tan Canada, the Winnipeg-based chapter of an international organization that aims to increase the professionalism of anyone who owns a tanning bed, warns there currently are no Health Canada regulations on tanning salon operators and that is a very big concern. “You wouldn’t trust having your hair dyed by someone that had no professional training. You should use the same caution when it comes to your skin.”
Steve’s advice: “When you go into a tanning facility, look for a certificate showing that the operators have been trained in the operation and control of the tanning equipment. And remember, the key is moderation. Don’t ever sunburn.”
In the same way that a Florida tan differs from a Maui tan, so will a tanning bed tan. The colour of a tan depends on the mix of UVA and UVB rays. Most tanning beds now rely on high UVA and low UVB rays, in response to health concerns about the danger of UVB rays, but even though UVA rays aren’t as likely to create sunburn, dermatologists warn that UVA rays penetrate more deeply into the skin than UVB and also contribute to wrinkling, premature aging and skin cancers.
Price: About $10 for a 20-minute session. About $70 for a series of ten.
Tanning lotions, creams, gels and mists
They’ve been around for a long, long time and keep improving. Maybe you have heard horror stories from your grandmother about how sometimes creams used to turn your skin orange!
This method isn’t overly costly and can be used in the privacy of your own home whenever you want.
The basic way they work is to tint the skin. The Canadian Dermatology Association considers self-tanning creams safe but notes that usually they don’t protect from sun damage so also use sun protection.
Careful application is the key here or else there will be visible streaking and unevenness. Select a product with immediately visible colour so you can see where you have put it on your skin.
You won’t want to sit on a white couch or put on your best clothes immediately after applying or you’ll tan more than your skin.
Price: Range $10-20 but go much higher for designer brands.
Among the variations on this theme are the self-tanning misters. No, that doesn’t mean it comes with a gorgeous hunk of male to spread it on…
Some are a two-step process. First you put on an instant bronzer that allows you to see exactly where you are applying it. Then you put tanning solution into an airbrush tool, which you use to spray a fine mist from a distance of four to six inches from your skin. The mist will dry in less than ten minutes and your tan will appear in three to four hours.
Don’t forget to stand on a dark towel or newspapers so you don’t accidentally mist-tan the carpet or tile.
Price: About $70.
The sun
Scientists date the sun at about 4.5 billion years through moon rocks, making this by far the oldest sun tanning method available. The good news is that tanning au naturel is cheap and plentiful; the bad news is that it doesn’t come risk-free.
Avoid a burn at all costs and wear wraparound or large sunglasses that block UV rays to protect not only your eyes but also the sensitive skin around them.
Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, one that blocks UVA and UVB rays and reapply at least every two hours. Your drug store has a wide selection of sunscreens to suit not only your skin type but also your activities. Look for gel, spray, cream, lotion and even stick sunscreens.
Check the UV index on the radio, TV or on The Weather Network or Environment Canada web sites. There are many variables including haze, how close you are to the equator, altitude and even medications, like antibiotics and acne meds that increase your risk of sunburn and skin damage. Birth control pills combined with the sun can produce a dark “pregnancy mask” on cheeks and forehead.
Avoid the sun between about 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the UV index is highest. Keep careful track of how long you spend in the sun. Moisturize thoroughly and often after being outdoors.
The sun’s UV rays are responsible for the majority of skin cancers, and also result in leathery, wrinkled, and early-aging skin according to The Skin Cancer Foundation. So proceed with caution.
Price: Free.
Whatever your choice, peachy glow or bronzed splendour, tanned or not tanned, as you walk down the aisle on your wedding day you will be sure to hear from all sides, “doesn’t she make a beautiful bride…”
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