So, that gorgeous Hollywood (definitely not real) glow that almost every woman is craving for. That bronzed goddess that supermodels like Gisele seems to naturally be, although here at :::Haute Talk::: I know better. This is the one area where I actually have bona fide expertise. You see, my day job is at a tanning salon.
First of all, how this whole messy process works. As you probably know, UVA and UVB rays are contained in the sun’s natural light. These rays are basically what get you tan. UVB rays are longer, more penetrative rays, that ramp up melanin production in your skin. UVA rays are shorter rays which turn that melanin a gorgeous bronze color. So, when tanning, look for the bed with the optimum amount of UVA rays after a base tan is established for really building that glow.
Tanning is a sticky subject, based in fact, on the society wide epidemic of skin cancer. This is not something to be taken lightly, and honestly, up until recently I myself refused to tan. Nevertheless, I took a job at a salon and received an impressive amount of tanning education. Anyways, there is “relatively safe” tanning, and there is just plain idiocy. I see both on a daily basis.
First off, you are tanning to get that golden color. You are not tanning as a medical regime, to give your skin a workout, or any other such nonsense. You do not need to spend 20 minutes a day in a Level 1 bed. That is just stupid, upgrade your bed. The less time under the lamps the better off for you skin. In my case, I tan 6-8 minutes a few times a week in a Level 1 bed, and occasionally in the top-of-the-line bed for a color boost. I consider this to be downright healthy. Time in indoor beds is for color only, and 6-8 minutes equates to less than an hour outside in direct sunlight. I think every person needs at least an hour outside a day. Sunlight, by the way, is the source of all life on this planet.
Let’s talk aging, and other icky stuff. There is a proper way to condition yourself to achieve good color. Think of your tanning membership like a gym membership. Everything you do away from the salon will affect the result you achieve in the salon. This means, shave and exfoliate every day…Especially before you tan. Always use a good salon approved indoor tanning lotion. If you do not, you will lose 70% of your tan in the first 24 hours. This is a waste of your time, and of your skin. CT7 by California Tans is the #1, top shelf tanning lotion on the market. California Tans teamed up with Estee Lauder and Lancome to bring this to you. It is the only tanning lotion on the market with all 7 (hence, the name) ingredients required for optimal tanning. I would personally rate the #2 lotions out there as a tie between Designer Skin’s Whisper and Spellbound. These are both amazing, and smell divine. Whisper contains shea butter, and Spellbound smells like Ralph Lauren Romance (which I often wear). All of the above lotions have quadruple bronzers, which continue to produce pigment for up to 24 hours after tanning through DHA… This means more color, less exposure.
Furthermore, when not in an indoor tanning bed, always wear a good sunscreen. Wear it all day, every day. I wear SPF 40 on my face, and SPF 20 on my body. This might be slightly overkill, but as an indoor tanner, it is worth the extra precaution to avoid incidental sun exposure.
Also, invest in a good indoor tanning lotion for your face. This area needs extra hydration and there are a ton of great products on the market, such as Designer Skin’s Amazing Face.
Next, keeping in mind that your tanning results are not solely affected by the half hour you spend in the salon, invest in a quality after tan moisturizer. Use this as your daily moisturizer as tanning strips vitamins and nutrients out of your skin. I am addicted to Hempz. It is simply the best.
Finally, all of the products mentioned above are not just personal faves, but generally the products personally used by almost every girl I work with. These are proven to work, and this is what we choose.
Now get glowing lovelies!
