Applying a special formula of chemicals to the skin to get the effect of a traditional suntan, without any exposure to sun or UV light, is known as sunless tanning. Self tanning and airbrush tanning is a rapidly expanding area in cosmetic sales.
Self tans can come in a variety of application types. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is used in the product which reacts with amino acids on the skin surface to give the change in color. So there is no skin pigmentation or exposure to UV light.
They can be used at home and should be applied to clean, dry skin. It is recommended to avoid bathing or swimming until the product has had time to fully absorb into the skin, which can take anything between 1-6 hours. First time users should always do a skin test before use. This involves applying to a small patch of skin, then waiting 24 hours in case of any allergic reactions, before applying to the rest of the body.
An airbrush tan is also a sunless tan product but is usually applied by professional technicians using specialized airbrushing equipment, made especially for applying fake tan formula.
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.
The tan did not become fashionable until the twenties when a high profile designer, who had been on cruise holiday returned with a tan. Also the more revealing clothes of the Jazz Era exposed the body even more, giving people more of an excuse to be tanned.
The first self tan came as a brown or cream dye in the fifties. The older self tan products were not as advanced and natural looking as many are today. The originals used to give a very orange color and patchy finish but new ingredient combinations have helped this.
Many people feel better with bronzed skin, as they feel it gives the impression of good health and general well-being. But in the sixties, health experts established that excess exposure to sunlight and UV light (which is used in tanning beds) could put your skin at risk and cause skin cancer. This did not stop people form wanting the tanned appearance, but did encourage the concept of sunless tanning.
Health experts do recommend the use of self tan as an alternative to a regular tan as there are not any known risks to the skin form using sunless tanning methods. Users should always consider that most self tans provide very low protection against UV, and remember this if leaving skin exposed.
More recently, we are once again starting to see paler faces in our fashion and screen icons, so after decades of popularity, the tan may finally be starting to fade.
Self tans can come in a variety of application types. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is used in the product which reacts with amino acids on the skin surface to give the change in color. So there is no skin pigmentation or exposure to UV light.
They can be used at home and should be applied to clean, dry skin. It is recommended to avoid bathing or swimming until the product has had time to fully absorb into the skin, which can take anything between 1-6 hours. First time users should always do a skin test before use. This involves applying to a small patch of skin, then waiting 24 hours in case of any allergic reactions, before applying to the rest of the body.
An airbrush tan is also a sunless tan product but is usually applied by professional technicians using specialized airbrushing equipment, made especially for applying fake tan formula.
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.
The tan did not become fashionable until the twenties when a high profile designer, who had been on cruise holiday returned with a tan. Also the more revealing clothes of the Jazz Era exposed the body even more, giving people more of an excuse to be tanned.
The first self tan came as a brown or cream dye in the fifties. The older self tan products were not as advanced and natural looking as many are today. The originals used to give a very orange color and patchy finish but new ingredient combinations have helped this.
Many people feel better with bronzed skin, as they feel it gives the impression of good health and general well-being. But in the sixties, health experts established that excess exposure to sunlight and UV light (which is used in tanning beds) could put your skin at risk and cause skin cancer. This did not stop people form wanting the tanned appearance, but did encourage the concept of sunless tanning.
Health experts do recommend the use of self tan as an alternative to a regular tan as there are not any known risks to the skin form using sunless tanning methods. Users should always consider that most self tans provide very low protection against UV, and remember this if leaving skin exposed.
More recently, we are once again starting to see paler faces in our fashion and screen icons, so after decades of popularity, the tan may finally be starting to fade.
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Get that summer glow all year round with self tanning and airbrush tanning! Get the low down now in our guide to all you need to know about Sun Laboratories Dark Sunsation .
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