TANNING: sunless vs. real thing vs. fake-n-bake

[Ms.Tarantula]

ok so I am really pale. I Always have been, but would like to add a bit of color to my skin for summer. :)

I USED to to go the tanning salon two years ago but I know that it's really bad for your body. Apparently every single time you use it your chances of major problems increases, especially if you are under 30.

I would most prefer to just be in the sun with sunscreen and gradually get a tan but between work and school it seems like there's no time..

Sunless tanners? Anyone use them? Suggestions on brand?

I don't want to end up orange!

Discuss!

[esoter1c]

Sun always wins.

Hey punk, resize your pic. heesh.

K...

As far as safety goes.....

Sunless is best. You can pump up a tan in 20 minutes, you don't have to worry about a burn, and you don't need to worry about break outs or dry skin.

But you have to be pretty much an expert at the shit to get it on evenly and streakless. It is also beneficial to do a full body exfoilating treatment prior to the actual application, otherwise the tan will not penetrate the skin, and it will wash off in the shower. You have to be extremely even when applying it, as you will get streaks otherwise, and they are hard to even out, even with additional applications.

Products will stain your hands, clothing, pretty much anything it touches. So be ready. Also, I find that most of the product STINKS. I have returned some because they have made me so ill. I can't handle them, at all. My faves are...

Jergen's Face and Jergen's Leg Bronzer. - these two products are extremely hard to screw up. But alas, they are for very specific parts of the body. I use the face as my daily moisturizer. It isn't greasy, and it gives a nice color.

Biotherm - stuff is expensive, but it smells nice and isn't oily. Some sunless tanners are REALLY oily, which makes them difficult to work with. It helps with even application.

Tanning beds and tanning naturally....

It is safer and healthier to tan naturally. By naturally, I don't mean lying on the beach all day soaking up the rays. But through normal activity in the sunshine.

UVA rays are 5x more present in a tanning bed than in the sunshine.

My recommendation is if you are fair-skinned, freckled, or have pre-disposed conditions like cancer, then don't sit in the sun for an extended period of time.

Always make sure to wear at least an SPF 15 and re-apply on a regular basis.

[robyn]

avana, isn't there somewhere i can go and pay someone to exfoliate me and then spray me with fake tan?

[esoter1c]

Originally Posted by Avana

Tanning beds and tanning naturally....

It is safer and healthier to tan naturally. By naturally, I don't mean lying on the beach all day soaking up the rays. But through normal activity in the sunshine.

UVA rays are 5x more present in a tanning bed than in the sunshine.

My recommendation is if you are fair-skinned, freckled, or have pre-disposed conditions like cancer, then don't sit in the sun for an extended period of time.

Always make sure to wear at least an SPF 15 and re-apply on a regular basis.

Yes Mom.

Originally Posted by robyn

avana, isn't there somewhere i can go and pay someone to exfoliate me and then spray me with fake tan?

pretty much at any spa and I know that tan de soliel does it at their surrey store.

but you are paying just as much for that as you are for minutes.

this melanoma melanie doesn't care and would rather fake and bake.

[Ms.Tarantula]

yeah, I don't like the idea of tanning beds.

I just can't fathom laying under light bulbs that were created with the intention to BAKE your skin. It's like paying to lay in a human-toaster.

[Ms.Tarantula]

I have asked a salon about the spray tan as well. It only lasts a few days though. Not really worth the price IMO.

It will last longer than a few days....I believe it is a few weeks. It also depends on how much you scrub your skin.

But I agree, it isn't worth the money.

Although, I do agree that the exfoiliating part is. That is one of my fave spa treatments.

Here is a link to my favorite tanning place.

If you choose beds, you don't have to make an appointment, but they also offer the mystic tan.

Tan de Soleil

[Kandyapple]

Originally Posted by robyn

avana, isn't there somewhere i can go and pay someone to exfoliate me and then spray me with fake tan?

Hey Robyn, try calling the Eccotique spa on 1st just off Burrard. I remember going in there to get some sunless tanner, and they mentioned they can do the application for you.

That was a year or so ago now but I'm sure they would still do it.

[robyn]

^ok i've decided on this place based on the fact that they call their brazilians 'beaver cleaners'!

or the west coast wildfire.

which makes it hard as when you go in for one, they ask you which one you want by name.

[anewlife]

Originally Posted by Ms.Tarantula

I don't want to end up orange!

haha, that just made me laugh :)

[robyn]

i want the YVR: a perfect landing strip

Originally Posted by robyn

i want the YVR: a perfect landing strip

we should go before the first wreck day.

[tiedye]

Considering how bad the Greenhouse Effect is getting, you're no worse off inside a tanning booth than you are out in the sun. Or at least that will be the case in the near future.

[FeelGood]

lols at most of the replies in the thread

[Courtney]

im just gonna wait for the real sunshine
its coming soon

[Courtney]

plus..it gives me freckles
i like freckles

be really careful courtney.
having freckles and tanning is dangerous, it could lead to cancer.
no dying.

[-evil-duerr-]

I recommend using shoe polish, burnt cork or greasepaint.

[galaxie]

Spray tans should last about a week.
Escape Tanning in Richmond I think costs $30.

As for tanning indoors vs. outdoors it's pretty much the same deal. The difference is that indoors is a controlled environment meaning that you are always getting a consistent amount of rays each time you tan, rather than outdoors where the UV index can be higher or lower depending on the day.

I've been tanning indoors since I was 15 - my dermatologist recommended it for my eczema. It's bascially safe as long as you don't burn, pretty much the same deal as tanning outdoors. The sun is GOOD for your skin (Vitamin D!!!) in moderation. Burning is a huge no-no and is what ultimately damages your skin the most and can cause skin cancer.

To get the most out of indoor tanning ALWAYS use an indoor tanning lotion. Don't buy the drugstore crap. Spend the $80 and buy a GOOD bottle of Designer Skin lotion with triple or quadruple bronzers (my favourites are Veritas and Revival). Designer Skin lotions are actually made by a subsidiary of a vitamin company and they use the same chemist as Lancome. They have a variety of special features like silicone and anti-aging properties. Look for lotions that include natural bronzers such as black walnut extract, copper, coffee, panthenol and carotene. DHA (dihydroxyacetone) is the self tanner found in most tanning lotions labelled "bronzers". Basically, DHA tans your skin by causing a chemical reaction with the dead skin cells on your body. Don't shower for 3 hours (though 8+ is best) after tanning, especially if you are using a lotion that contains DHA because you'll just be washing it down the drain. Also look for unipertan, melanin, hexapeptide-1, tyrosine, caffiene - these are the ingredients that speed up the natural tanning process of the skin.

If you have any other questions let me know. I'm basically a tanning expert, having worked at 3 different tanning salons and being a 7 year tanner myself!

[galaxie]

Also, beware of spray tans.
Some of the ingredients are not FDA approved as the long-term effects on the skin are unknown. As well, be sure that you absolutely do not inhale the fumes for the same reason.