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| Exploring Your Sunless Tanning Options |
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| It's no secret that a sun-kissed glow is a must-have accessory for most women during the summertime. And it's also no secret that UV rays are damaging to your skin — and increasingly harmful as your skin thins and ages. What may not be so well-known is how easy it is today to get a smooth, even and radiant tan using sunless tanning options. (Good riddance to the days of blotching, streaking and smearing!) From salon treatments to spray-tanning booths to creams and lotions, we'll tell you how to get a gorgeous summer glow.
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Spray-Tanning Booths
Many tanning salons today offer spray-tanning booths. For a reasonable price and little effort, you can walk in almost any time of day, spend about 30 minutes total, and walk out with the beginning of a tan. This method coats your body evenly and dries quickly. You'll see full results within a few hours.
How it works
Spray-tanning booths work by delivering an even coating of the chemical DHA (dihydroxyacetone) to your skin using spraying machines located inside enclosed booths. DHA works by interacting with dead cells on the surface of your skin to darken skin color, simulating a tan.
Are there risks?
DHA is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic application, but it is approved only for external use. DHA is not approved for eye and lip areas, and should not be inhaled or ingested. Before using a spray-tanning booth, the FDA advises asking if your eyes and lips will be protected, and whether you will be protected from inhaling or ingesting the spray. If the answer is no, you should look for another salon.
How long does it last?
Your tan usually lasts for several days.
Before you arrive ...
Take a shower and exfoliate your skin with a cotton washcloth. Don't apply moisturizer or lotion.
Salon Airbrush Tanning
Some salons offer a foolproof sunless tanning option — airbrush tanning. Using an airbrush, a professional sprays your body with the same tanning product you'd get in a spray-tan booth (DHA). This method is more expensive, but the benefits are an even tan and the peace of mind of knowing a trained professional is in charge of perfecting your tan.
How it works
During an airbrush tan, a salon technician covers your eyes and lips and sprays a coat of DHA onto your skin using a spray compressor. A natural-looking tan will appear within a few hours and usually lasts for a few days.
Are there risks?
The benefit of airbrushing is that it results in an even tan, while reducing the risk of inhalation and eye and lip exposure.
How long does it last?
Your tan usually lasts for a few days.
Before you arrive ...
The cost of an airbrush tan usually includes a salon skin-exfoliation treatment to prepare the skin. So unlike spray-booth tanning, you don't need to exfoliate before you go.
Self-Tanning Products
Today's self-tanning options include lotions, foams, sprays and creams. From designer to drug-store brands, today's self-tanning products make it easy to get a tan in the comfort of your own home — for a lot less money than a professional salon. As with spray-booth tanning and airbrush tanning, you will get more even results if you exfoliate your skin with a scrub brush or loofah before the tanner is applied. Simply apply the product evenly over your skin. You may want to try Olay® Touch of Sun Body Lotion for lasting moisturization with a touch of self-tanner for a sun-kissed glow.
How it works
Like spray-booth and airbrush tanning, self-tanners contain DHA.
Are there risks?
Self-tanners are theoretically safer than spray tans since the risks of inhalation are dramatically reduced.
How long does it last?
The results will appear within a few hours, and will last several days.
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