Articles

by Holly Clegg

When it comes to tanning, it’s not often that the trend veers towards the healthy option, but that is exactly what is happening now as bronzers and sunless tanners come to replace harmful sunbathing or salon tanning beds.  It may not be good news for tanning salons, but it is a smarter and quicker way to get the perfect tanned look; it is also much safer than the conventional beauty and spa salon methods and does not leave you with prematurely-aged skin and skin cancers.

Unlike artificial salon tanning or beach tanning, the tanning products are flexible enough to use as you would want - available as cosmetic washable bronzers or as sunless tanners that leave a lasting stain on your skin. Remember though that as the skin cells mature and are replaced by new ones, the tan will begin to fade unless you reapply.  
If you want a tanned look that you can simply wash off afterwards, opt for a cosmetic bronzer that you can apply to the exposed parts of your body like face, arms and legs. This will give you a beautiful tanned look that you can later wash off, like regular make up. When compared to the tanning techniques of a salon, bronzers are much safer and can be used daily without any side effects.

Seattle-based make-up artist Christine Egashira is a fan. A wash-off cosmetic bronzer may come in different versions - powders, gels, sprays and sticks. Egashira found the bronzing powders the most gentle and easy to use. She personally recommends Fresh's Marbella Gold face bronzer for fair skin and NARS Laguna bronzing powder for deeper complexions, saying it adds a luminous highlight to their face.

Many people will tell you that bronzing gels are not as good as powders because they tend to leave back an undesirable orange tinge. However, if you prefer gels, Egashira also recommends Benefit's Talk to the Tan.

You might find bronzing sprays are easier to use and are quickly spread on the face, neck and other body areas. Egashira finds Dior Bronze Sun Powder Spray a preferable option since it can be used over makeup to add a mild effect to all sorts of skin tones.

If you want instant color effects, you could use a stick bronzer and roll it on along your limbs like a deodorant stick. Egashira suggests using a concealer with a stick bronzer to cover scars, spider veins, and other flaws on the legs. If you want the tanning effect of something like Michael Kors' Leg Shine to last, for instance, put a layer of translucent powder over the bronzer.

In contrast to wash off bronzers, sunless tanners provide a lasting color similar to what you would get from health spas. A sunless bronzer contains the sugar Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that mingles with the proteins in the skin epidermis and produces a fake tan. If you found your skin sensitive to salon tanning products, it is better to try a patch test first to find out if you are allergic to its ingredients.

Sunless tanners also come in various forms, such as lotions, gels, sprays, and mousse. Egashira suggests lotions because of their smooth application and gels because of their quick-drying nature. By contrast, sprays are difficult to apply while low moisture-containing mousses are best for oily skins.

Aside from the obvious health benefits, the basic advantage of sunless tanners over beauty and spa salon tanners is that they help you to tan gradually and fade evenly. If you want a faster tan, you can always opt for a bronzer for an instant yet harmless tan.        

You can learn more about the proper application techniques of various tanning products in http://hbconnection.com

This article expires on August 12, 2014