Use Self Tanning And Airbrush Tanning Techniques To Get That Year Round Radiance
Sunless tanning refers to the use of chemicals on the skin to create a result similar in appearance to a conventional suntan, but without any sunlight. It is a completely cosmetic practice, with self tanning and airbrush tanning becoming the fastest growing sector in the cosmetics market.
Self tan can be applied in a number of ways, and can come in the form of sprays and lotions, amongst others. The change in skin color is not a result of sun or UV exposure, but rather a result of a reaction between amino acids on the surface of the skin, and Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which is the active ingredient in the formula.
Most self tans are designed for home use, with the best results when used on clean, dry skin. If you have not used self tan products before than you should always carry out a skin test first to ensure you do not have an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients. Please allow 24 hours after testing a small patch of skin, before putting on the rest of the body and allow it to completely dry into the skin before getting the skin wet.
Another sunless form is an airbrush tan, which is applied using special equipment operated by trained specialists.
In history, paler skin was preferred by a lot of people, as it represented a higher social standing. People in the upper classes would not allow themselves to be exposed to sun, so a tan was something only seen on the lower classes who would spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun due to work. This was the case in Victorian and Elizabethans societies, as well as Rome and Greece where people were known to whiten their faces with chalk. However, in the past century, the tan began to be linked with attractiveness and well being.
In was not until the twenties, when a famous designer returned from a cruise vacation with a tan that it became fashionable. The tan no longer represented a life of outside labor, but a life of leisure and luxury. Also at this time, the looser fashions inspired by the Jazz age meant that women were no longer wearing clothes that completely covered their bodies, which gave even more reason to tan.
When self tan first became available in the fifties, it came in the form of a brown or creamy dye that was applied to skin to give the appearance of a tan. The first self tan products gave an orange and patchy result which did not look natural but now technologies have developed and new ingredient combinations have improved the finished effect.
A lot of people believe that beauty, health and wellness are associated with tanned skin, so therefore feel better with a tan themselves. Health authorities then found a link between sun or UV exposure and skin cancer, which did not completely deter people from wanting a tan, but did support the idea of sunless ways.
Sunless methods are not known to cause any serious damage to the skin, which is why they are supported by health authorities and is also part of the reason the product has become so successful. One concern, however, is that most self tan products will contain very little UV protection, so users should always remember that when exposing their skin to harmful light.
It appears that the tan may soon begin to fade, as once again, pale skinned bodies are starting to emerge across catwalks and on screen.
Get that summer glow all year round with self tanning and airbrush tanning! Get the exclusive low down now in our guide to all you need to know about Sun Laboratories Dark Sunsation .
