The spring fashions are already in stores, and summer’s just around the corner – and that means legs and arms are back on show.
But before you ditch the tights and trousers, there are two important beauty rules you must abide by – exfoliate and moisturise.
“Body exfoliation should be a part of your beauty ritual for smooth,
soft, touch-me skin,” says Sarah Stacey, author of The 21st Century
Beauty Bible
Kyle Cathie, £14.99].
“Exfoliation is essential before fake tanning, to smooth away the dead
surface cells that self-tanners love to cling to, resulting in
tell-tale darker patches around elbows, knees and ankles.”
And unless you want rough sandpapery skin, make sure you slather on a rich cream after the scrubbing.
EXFOLIATING TIPS
Susan Harmsworth, founder of ESPA, says that you should exfoliate as you see fit.
“The drier the skin, the more often you can exfoliate,” she explains.
She admits to owning dry legs and says she exfoliates three times a
week.
And she recommends using salt scrubs or other body exfoliants on damp
skin, except on areas of thicker skins like knees, elbows and feet,
where they can be used dry.
Sugar and salt scrubs are great because they are gentle enough to
slough the skin and get your blood flow going, while the oil in the
formulation will add much-needed nourishment and hydration.
And if you can, try to stick to products that use natural ingredients
as they’ll get absorbed into your body when you scrub. You could even
make your own salt or sugar scrub at home.
SCRUB AWAY
Harvest the sea’s natural benefits into your beauty routine with a mineral-rich salt scrub.
Try ESPA’s Detoxifying Salt Scrub, £25.50 (01252 352
230/www.espaonline.com), Philosophy’s Grace Hot Salt Scrub, £24 (0870
990 8452), Origins’ Dead Sea Salt Scrub, £20 (0800 731 4039), Lush’s
Ocean Salt, £9.75, or Crabtree & Evelyn’s La Source Sea Salt Body
Polishing Scrub, £21 (020 7361 0499).
Or for a mouth-watering treat without the guilt, try a sugar scrub such
as Champneys Citrus Glow Sugar Scrub, £8.50 from Sainsbury’s, The
Sanctuary’s Hot Sugar Body Polish, £9.95 from Boots, or Garnier
Bodytonic Sugar Scrub, £5.49.
You can’t beat products with natural ingredients such as Bobbi Brown’s
Sand Bar, £10 (01730 232 566), made with sand particles, Dermalogica’s
Exfoliating Body Scrub with olive and fig fruit powders, £20.80 (0800
591 818) Korres’ Grape Seeds Body Scrub, £9 (020 7581 6455), or
Inecto’s Moisture Miracle Leg and Body Scrub with coconut oil, £2.99
(from Savers and SemiChem, or call 01273 202 525).
Estee Lauder’s Body Performance Exfoliating Body Polish, £24, and No7
Brightening Body Buffer, £5.50 from Boots, both help to detoxify skin,
while Clinique’s Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream, £16.50, has a
blue shimmer to leave a glimmery sheen.
TIME FOR THE SMOOTH
After exfoliating, replace lost moisture with a rich body cream.
“Ignore oft-repeated advice about applying moisturising lotion to
still-damp skin,” Sarah advises. “The moisture on your skin actually
dilutes the cream, so what you’re doing is applying a lighter film of
moisturiser, rather than the rich dose skin really needs.”
For cheap and cheerful buys, try supermarkets. Tesco’s Skin Wisdom’s
range includes the new Silky Touch Body Lotion with red sandalwood and
almond butter, £2.97, and Asda’s Essential Care Body Lotion comes in
Firming or Shimmering, £2.98.
Alternatively, try Johnson’s Lightoil Mist, £3.39, Boots’ Botanics Skin
Softening Body Butter, £4.99, Vaseline Intensive Care Essential
Moisture lotion, £1.99, Cyclax Rich Moisturiser, £2.99 (01685 843 384),
or Dove body creams, from £3.59.
Dry skins would benefit from Dermalogica’s Ultra Rich Body Cream,
£30.70, Clinique’s Water Therapy Whipped Body Cream, £20, or Elemis’
Vitamin Rich Body Lotion, £19.50 (01278 727 830).
Or for a real treat, slather yourself with Cake Beauty’s Creme De La
Creme Supreme Body Mousse, £16 from www.hqhair.com, BeneFit Bathina
Body So Fine body balm, £22, or Pulbrook & Gould’s Skin Quench,
£14.95 (020 7730 0030).
BEAUTY SPOT 1
The glitz and glamour of Vegas will be coming to Selfridges, with the
Beauty Halls aglow with neon lights and beauty treats at the Vegas
Supernova extravaganza. From April 25 until May 14, there are limited
edition services and products in stores. Women can be pampered with
SK-II’s Viva-Vegas facial, £40 (redeemable against two products), while
Bobbi Brown is offering customers exclusive products – Eye Pearls, £15,
and Shimmer Chalk Kit, £30. There are also chances to win Origins
goodie bags, with MAC also offering makeovers. For more details, call
0870 837 7377.
BEAUTY SPOT 2
If you’re a redhead, you’ll understand how difficult it can be to find
the perfect foundation for your fair complexion. But now there’s a
specially created new range of loose and pressed powders from T
LeClerc. There are four natural hues – Camelia, Chair Rosee, Rose The,
Abricot – and two extra shades for the summer when the skin has more
colour, Bronze and Cuivre. Made from finely ground rice, they’re
suitable for sensitive skins and cost £26 each – call 020 7629 9161 for
mail order.
BEAUTY SPOT 3
Tired of mascaras that clump and don’t do their job? Try Revlon’s new
Fabulash, used by Kate Bosworth, which doesn’t clump yet gives your
lashes more fullness. The rich formula nourishes lashes to keep them
soft and the special brush, with a mixture of long and short bristles,
help distribute the colour evenly. Available now in Blackest Black and
Blackened Brown, priced at £8.49.
UPCOMING
April 29: BEAUTY Candy: Pastel and delicious candy shades for eyes,
lips and cheeks are en vogue this spring – and these latest products
will make your mouth water.
May 6: BEAUTY Cheap & Chic: Tired of spending your month’s pay on
expensive beauty products? We find the best budget bargains that won’t
break the bank.
May 13: BEAUTY Fake Tan: Ensure you don’t walk out of the house with
tell-tale streaks if you’re bronzing DIY-style. We find the best ways
to fake it.
· The Tanning Store Launches Innovative Jet Air Airbrush and Spray Tanning Equipment
The Tanning Store is pleased to announce the launch of a groundbreaking
new line of airbrush tanning equipment under the Jet Air label. The
centerpiece of the Jet Air line is a new airbrush tanning spray gun
that can operate with nearly all airbrush compressors on the market -
producing results equivalent to high end spray tanning systems. Similar
products from competitors require larger compressors to operate
properly.
The sunless spray tan phenomenon has experienced booming growth for
several years, but has lacked an efficient application method that
achieves consistent results. According to Larry Eades, President of The
Tanning Store, “Sunless UV-free spray booths can handle high salon
traffic but are expensive and produce inconsistent results. Airbrush
equipment is inexpensive and can produce a better spray tan because it
gives the technician precise control. But, the airbrush is slower,
limiting the customers that can be scheduled for a given day. The Jet
Air spray guns along with our HVLP equipment alleviate this issue .”
Eades adds, “The Jet Air launch completes our product line, making it
the most comprehensive in the industry. For the salon owner that
desires a flexible compressor system, we have the economical Jet Air
guns joining our existing offerings - the more expensive Iwata G6 and
Paasche Quick application spray guns. For the salon that wants a
dedicated, high traffic spray tan system, we have quality HVLP (High
Volume Low Pressure) tanning systems that are the quietist in their
class.”
The Tanning Store backs its spray tanning equipment line with sunless
tanning solutions from a number of companies. “Choice is at the core of
our approach”, Eades states. “By offering a choice of vendors, our
clients know that we can customize our recommendations to their
objectives.” Solutions are available with a wide array of formulations
and color – DHA only solutions, DHA and Erythrulose solutions, and
quick develop solutions. The Tanning Store also offers a number of
exfoliants, moisturizers, and tan extenders for the crucial pre-tan and
post-tan steps.
To further add value to its airbrush tanning systems, The Tanning Store
is also introducing a line of airbrush makeup equipment and products
and a line of airbrush tattoo stencils and paints. These products will
be bundled in complete turnkey kits and as add-on modules for existing
spray tan kits. Eades explains, “We continue to add value to the salon
owner by expanding the array of products and services they can offer
and maximizing their initial investment.”
The Tanning Store is a comprehensive provider for the tanning industry.
In addition to products that appeal to the spray tanner, sunless
tanning lotions and aerosols are also offered for the self tanner. And
for the tanning bed enthusiast, a large selection of indoor tanning
lotions and tanning bed lotions are available. These offerings are
further complimented with teeth whitening systems and a new, innovative
mineral make up line from Pure Colors.
For more information, please contact The Tanning Store at 540-772-3876
or by visiting the web site. With hundreds of tanning products, every
season is tanning season at The Tanning Store!
About The Tanning Store:
The Tanning Store is a wholly owned subsidiary of E-Commerce Ventures,
Inc., a full service E-Commerce software and services provider.
E-Commerce Ventures provides turnkey E-Commerce sites built on the
advanced Asp.Net platform from Microsoft.
Health
groups and the tanning salon industry are going toe to toe in a fight
reminiscent of the battle over tobacco. The Middlesex-London board of
health gets an update tonight from a survey that shows 9.6 per cent of
adults in London and Middlesex use tanning equipment, even though many
health organizations advise against it.
The highest rate is 28.5 per cent among women 18 to 34.
"What we're seeing here is not different from tobacco in the 1960s,"
said Craig Sinclair, director of cancer education at the Cancer Council
of Victoria in Australia. He was in London this month to speak to a
health coalition aiming to prevent skin cancer.
But on the industry side, Maurice Shpur of Uvalux, a Woodstock supplier
to tanning salons, said he's been in the business for 25 years and
"I've been fighting negative information for all of that time."
Kaylene McKinnon, a public health nurse who chairs the Skin Cancer
Prevention Coalition, said the health unit got involved four years ago
after complaints about a tanning salon offering discount coupons to
young teens.
The tanning industry bases its argument on reports that vitamin D from
sunlight and other sources can lower the risk of breast, ovarian and
colon cancers, heart attacks and osteoporosis.
Shpur said the campaign to prevent skin cancer has "triggered what I
call the law of unintended consequences. . . . We have totally shut
down our vitamin D factory."
Sinclair agrees vitamin D can prevent some diseases, but not cancers.
"The evidence around (cancer prevention) is very, very weak and is not
found in peer-reviewed scientific literature."
He said in London, day-to-day activities from spring until fall provide
enough vitamin D from sunlight. For winter, the body stores vitamin D
up to 60 days and gleans more from certain foods.
A third of the survey respondents say they use artificial tanning to
get a base tan. The industry says tanning sessions activate the body's
"natural sun-protection mechanism" to prevent sunburns.
But McKinnon said any tan is a sign of skin damage.
Shpur said health organizations are bit by bit retracting their advice
on sun exposure, including a March statement from Australia. "They came
to a remarkable agreement that they are going to advise Australians to
get more sun without sunscreen," he said.
But Sinclair said he wrote the paper and disputes Shpur's
interpretation. "What it says is people can get a normal vitamin D
level by receiving some limited sun exposure."
A bill attempting to restrict and regulate tanning in commercial
tanning beds is working its way through the New York State Senate and
House of Representatives.
One piece of legislation, in the form of two identical bills, aimed at
protecting the public from ultraviolet rays, is ready to be voted on in
the state Senate today, and has quickly been moving through committees
in the House.
Bill A05733 in the House and its mate in the Senate, S02602, seek to
prohibit youth younger than 14 from tanning, require parental consent
for teens between 14 and 18, and require adult tanners to sign a notice
acknowledging potential health risks in connection with ultraviolet
rays.
The House bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenburg, of Nassau
County, drafted the legislation and sought its match in the Senate.
Weisenburg, a former lifeguard, feels passionately about protecting people from the sun's (and sun lamp's) damaging rays.
"Ten thousand people are dying of Melanoma every year," Weisenburg
said. "Kids are going into booths and exposing themselves to
ultra-violet rays with no oversight. This is a major health issue."
Along with family history, skin tone, presence of moles and other risk
factors, tanning, both in natural sun light and tanning booths,
increases the risk of developing skin cancer. According to the American
Cancer Society, people are most likely to be affected and harmed by UV
rays from adolescence through their early 20s, precisely the age of
those statistics show are tanning the most.
One study, published in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute"
last year, reported that fair-skinned women who tan as little as once a
month increase their risk of developing skin cancer by 55 percent.
"Some people think tanning beds are safer because they are not real
sunlight," said a ACS spokesman. "But the UV rays and the damage done
to skin is the same."
While artificial tanning can be potentially harmful, so is tanning in real sunlight.
"The harm is in the UV rays," the ACS spokesman said. "Whether those rays are coming from the sun or the booth."
He said the same amount of damage can be done to skin by being in the
sun for an extended period of time to tan or by going to a tanning
booth for a shorter time to tan.
Thus, in addition to restricting and regulating artificial tanning,
Weisenburg wants to see safety measures put in place throughout society.
"I'm in favor of educating people on the risks of sun exposure," he
said. "I'd like to see proper attire and sunblock provided to those who
work outside. I'd like to see sunblock available to kids in school for
when they go outside to the playground."
For now, though, Weisenburg is content to fight for a stricter tanning booth law.
Under his proposed legislation, which quickly passed through the House
health committee and now sits in the codes committee, children 13 and
younger will not be allowed to tan in commercial tanning booths,
period. Teens 14 to 18 will need parental consent. To ensure that
consent is valid, a parent or guardian would be required to sign a
notification of consent at the tanning salon, in front of the owner or
an employee. That "permission slip" would then be valid for one year.
Adults wishing to tan would need to sign a form stating they have read
and understand the health warnings regarding UV rays. This form will
also be valid for one year.
In addition, tanning salons would be required to provide eye protection to all patrons to wear while in the booths.
Another aspect of the bill is to better enforce the existing law
governing commercial tanning bed facilities which requires owners to be
licensed by the Department of Health, to visibly display signs approved
by the DOH warning of potential health effects, and to provide
informational material advising patrons of factors making tanning
exceptionally hazardous, such as immune suppression.
"The bill makes a lot of good points about risks related to tanning
beds," said local Assemblyman Marc Butler. "But I'm lukewarm about the
concept. I continue to be concerned with government's stepping in and
running people's lives and over regulating. It seems we come up with a
rule or law for every stage of life. I believe in personal choice. You
just cannot make a society risk free."
As the House's codes committee talks over the bill, the state Senate
has already passed the bill through committees and is ready to vote on
it today, said Duncan Davy, aide to Sen. James Seward. Davy said Seward
(as of Friday) had not had a chance to look over the bill in detail and
would be open to comments by tanning facility owners and patrons.
Local tanners are not thrilled with the proposed legislation.
"People should be able to go tanning whenever they want," said Jill
Condon, a 23-year-old Frankfort native who tans a few times a month.
Condon said she knows the health warnings against tanning but feels it
should be each person's choice whether or not to tan, free of
governmental restrictions.
"Getting a tan from a tanning bed is no worse than getting the same tan from the sun," she said. "It should be our choice."
· The 'miracle pill' that makes your body tan itself
The sun is about to set on the tanning industry of northern Europe.
Scientists have developed a "self-browning" implant which threatens to
leave the sunbed and the spray-on tan in the shade.
The revolutionary product, Melanotan, has already been shown to darken
skin colour and reduce sun damage. Now the manufacturer, Epitan, is
pressing for full clinical trials.
Melanotan works by mimicking the hormone that increases the production
of melanin, the pigment which naturally darkens the skin as it protects
against the sun.
Volunteers who took part in an earlier, mid-stage trial reported that
their skin had turned brown. Other studies have reported increased sex
drive, leading to its depiction as a "paradise pill".
But Epitan is likely to play down any such side-effects to conform with strict drug licensing rules.
The company, which is listed on London's Alternative Investment Market,
claims its product is medical, not cosmetic, but it is preparing to
destroy the sunbed industry. "We tolerate it in the same way that we
tolerate cigarettes, but you are twice as likely to get skin cancer
from the tanning salons than the beach," said its chief executive, Iain
Kirkwood. "We can drive the tanning salons out of business."
Epitan is in the process of raising £15m for the trials. If they go
well, the implants could be on the market in this country in 2007.
The struggle to darken pasty Anglo-Saxon skin has become part of the
British condition. One NHS survey found that nearly 7 per cent of
eight- to 11-year-olds had used sunbeds in the past year, despite
recommendations by Cancer Research UK that nobody under 16 should ever
use a sunbed.
In a recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, 17
per cent of sunbed users admitted having more than 100 sessions a year
- an addiction that led professionals to coin a new term, "tanorexia".
It is a dangerous trend. Every year 1,600 people in Britain die because
of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The British
Medical Association says that sunbed users are 20 per cent more likely
to develop skin cancer for every decade of regular use before the age
of 56.
The World Health Organisation published a report last month calling on
governments to introduce new legislation banning under-18s from tanning
salons. There are 8,000 solariums in the UK.
The WHO also said the number of salons should be regulated and that
workers should receive training to recognise vulnerable groups - such
as people with large numbers of moles or who freckle easily.
There are more than 100,000 cases of skin cancer reported in Britain each year, and about 2,000 deaths linked to the disease.
Even the Prime Minister is not immune. When Tony Blair appeared at a
press conference last week looking suspiciously golden, he insisted he
had caught the sun while working hard in his garden. But experts
accused him of using fake tan.
Lisa Fulton, a tanning expert at a favoured celebrity fake tan company,
Fake Bake, praised the premier's youthful vigour, saying, "Well done
for being a modern man!"
But the Opposition jumped on the news. "It looks like his tan is as
phoney as his promises," remarked a Conservative Party spokesman.
Many girls have already bought their dress, made their hair
appointments and are ready for prom. While some girls are still on the
hunt for that perfect dress, they’re also looking for that perfect tan.
However, the World Health Organization says tanning beds could be responsible for an epidemic of skin cancer in the future.
Most tanning salons use bulbs in their tanning beds that emit a
significant amount of ultraviolet radiation, which is associated with
the development of skin cancer and premature aging.
This year, more than 1 million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed
in the United States exceeding all other cancers combined.
Tanning Salon owners say there is a new option that teens can turn to that they say is UV free, its called Airbrush Tanning.
Airbrush tanning is a tanning solution sprayed on by a certified tan technician. It uses no UV light.
Salon owners say so far there have been no signs of long-term effects of the product.
· Under 18s should not use tanning equipment warns WHO
Enforcement Officers from the City Council's Environmental Health team
would like to inform consumers that the World Health Organization (WHO)
has issued advice recommending that no person under the age of 18
should use ultraviolet tanning equipment.
There are an estimated 132,000 cases of malignant melanoma (the most
dangerous form of skin cancer) annually, and an estimated 66,000 deaths
from malignant melanoma and other skin cancers.
During health and safety inspections of premises with UV tanning
equipment, an assessment is made by the officer in relation to the
procedures in place within the premises to manage the risk to both
consumers and employees associated with the use of any UV equipment.
This would include viewing records detailing client use of the
facilities, requesting information regarding any in house procedures to
ensure clients cannot overuse the facilities and questioning both
management and staff to ascertain their awareness of the associated
risks.
Growth in the use of UV tanning equipment, including both sunbeds and
stand up tan units, combined with the desire and fashion to have a tan,
are considered to be the prime reasons behind the fast growth in skin
cancers.
Dr Kerstin Leitner, WHO Assistant Director-General responsible for
environmental health said: "There has been mounting concern over the
past several years that people and in particular, teenagers are using
sunbeds excessively to acquire tans which are seen as socially
desirable. However, the consequence of this sunbed usage has been a
precipitous rise in the number of skin cancer cases."
UV tanning equipment can have the capacity to emit levels of
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation many times stronger than the mid day sun.
Some of the main consequences of UV exposure include skin cancers, eye
damage and premature skin ageing.
The City Councils Environmental Health Service is responsible for
health and safety enforcement in the majority of premises offering a UV
tanning service e.g. tanning salons, leisure clubs.
Dr Leitner states: " In all of our actions, we are clear, avoid excess
exposure to UV and, when you have to be in the sun, protect your skin.
Malignant melanomas, other cancers and conditions are the consequence
of not taking the proper precautions"
Photographs
that reveal hidden skin damage from ultraviolet exposure from the sun,
combined with information on sunless tanning alternatives, was
effective in encouraging sun protection behaviors.
Photographs that reveal hidden skin damage from ultraviolet (UV)
exposure from the sun, combined with information on sunless tanning
alternatives, was effective in encouraging sun protection behaviors in
a small group of college students, according to an article in the March
issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Although most cases could be prevented, the incidence of new skin
cancer, including the most deadly form, melanoma, is increasing more
rapidly than that of any other type of cancer, according to background
information in the article.
Heike I. M. Mahler, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Diego,
and colleagues tested an intervention designed to address individuals’
concerns about appearance in a small group of college students.
The intervention group (95 students) had two photos taken of their
faces, one under normal light and one with a UV filter. Underlying skin
damage caused by chronic UV that can result in wrinkles and age spots
is visible in the UV photographs but not in the ordinary photos.
One group received information on the aging effects of the sun as well
as the other risks of UV exposure. Half of the intervention group was
given a sample of a sunless tanning lotion.
Thirty-seven percent of those who received the sunless tanner reported
using it. Sixty one percent of the participants told at least one
friend or family member about what they had learned from the study
about UV damage and sun protection, while those in the intervention
group talked to significantly more friends and family about what they
had learned.
Ultraviolet instant cameras are readily available, relatively
inexpensive, and simple to operate. In addition, it is likely that the
endorsement by a physician or nurse of sunless tanning lotion as a safe
and effective alternative to UV exposure would induce more individuals
to try it. Based on the trends observed in this experiment with the
small percentage of participants who tried the sunless tanning lotion,
this might lead to additional sun protection behaviors.
prom season
right around the corner, tanning salons around the metro are seeing a
lot of high schoolers. Most often it's young girls that uses these beds
to get a golden brown tan.
But some state governments would like to put a stop to that. California
already has a law that makes it illegal kids under 14 to use tanning
beds.
Some doctors would like to see regulations. Dr. Ken Cheyne, a
pediatrician thinks laws won't completely solve the problem. "There's
all kinds of movie ratings and yet somehow kids get into those mature
audience or NC-17 ratings." Dr. Cheyne thinks better education about
the affects of tanning could do more than a law.
Currently about 1-million people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year.
Some 30-million Americans use indoor tanning parlors. Despite warnings
that ultraviolet rays may carry risks of premature wrinkling and could
cause skin cancer. In our Consumer Watch Report, we check out a new
alternative: Spray-on tans. They promise a natural-looking tan without
using any radiation. Here's what we found out.
Consumer Reports asked Jamie Kopf and five other employees to try
spray-on tanning. Inside a small booth, you're sprayed head-to-toe for
up to a minute. After you towel off, you have to wait several hours for
your skin color to change. Jamie says the process was easy.
Jamie Kopf-Consumer Reports: "The spray was a good temperature, not too cold. And really it was over before I knew it."
Consumer Reports says the spray-on tans all use the same active ingredient, something called Dihydroxyacetone or DHA.
Sarah Goralski-Consumer Reports: "DHA is the same coloring agent that's
been used in sunless tanning lotions since the 1960s. It just
penetrates the outer layer of skin."
The next day testers found all the volunteers' skin had gotten at least a little darker.
Maxine Siegel-Tester: "So this is her natural skin tone. This is where
the patch was. Look at the contrast between the tan and her natural
skin."
Sarah Goralski-Consumer Reports: "Most people got a very good tan. Some
people didn't get such a good tan. And you definitely want to try it
out before you actually use it for a wedding or any kind of special
event."
For example panelist Erin Gudeux found her hands, particularly her knuckles, got an unnatural stain.
Erin Gudeux-Tester: "It looks like I haven't washed my hands in a month."
If you're considering getting a spray-on tan, Consumer Reports found they last three to seven days.
DHA, the chemical used in spray-on tans, has been approved by the Food
and Drug Administration for external use. The FDA advises against
inhaling the mist or getting it into the eyes nose, ears or other
openings. Our experts recommend bringing along ear and nose plugs, as
well as goggles if the salon doesn't provide them.
The
federal Competition Bureau wants an indoor tanning company to stop
making what it calls false representations about helping to prevent
cancer.
The bureau has applied for an order against Calgary-based Fabutan,
under the deceptive marketing practices provisions of the Competition
Act.
It says Fabutan has implied moderate indoor tanning prevents or reduces
the risk of cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis. The bureau also
said Fabutan is telling people tanning stimulates the metabolism and is
a treatment for vitamin D deficiency and seasonal affective disorder.
Fabutan president Doug McNabb says he simply shares newspaper articles
and various studies that tout the health benefits of indoor tanning
with his customers.
"I welcome the opportunity to tell our side of the story and say,
'look, we just want a right to share that information and let consumers
decide for themselves,'" McNabb said.
However, Don Mercer, the federal agency's deputy assistant
commissioner, said there's no evidence indoor tanning is good for you.
"Our concern is, is tanning safe? And the evidence we have is that it's
not," he said. "Secondly, are the representations about the benefits of
tanning proven?
"We want the misrepresentations to cease as to the benefits of tanning,
whether they be for heart problems or osteoporosis, and as well as the
idea that tanning is safe."
Jim Smith, who has been indoor tanning for four years, says he thinks the practice is safe.
"IF they were forced to stop promoting it, I'd still continue tanning inside. I just find it's better for me," he said.
Fabutan has 30 days to respond to the order, and McNabb says he will fight the bureau in court if he has to.
If Fabutan is found in the wrong, it could be fined.
New Tan Inc. and sister company California Tan Inc. said Friday they
have jointly filed a lawsuit against Mystic Tan seeking a declaration
that New Tan's tanning booth does not infringe on a Mystic Tan patent.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles Federal District Court, follows a suit
filed Monday by Farmer's Branch-based Mystic Tan in U.S. District Court
for the Eastern District of Texas.
Mystic Tan's suit alleges that a tanning booth used by Los
Angeles-based New Tan and California Tan infringe on its patented
technology.
"After seeking legal counsel, both in Europe and North America
throughout this process, we are confident that the California Tan
Sunless Autobronzer Spray Tanning Towers do not infringe on patents
held by others in the sunless tanning industry, including Mystic Tan,"
said Christa Cole, general counsel for California Tan and New Tan.
Mystic Tan did not immediately return a call to comment Friday.
"We are confident that Mystic Tan's claims are motivated by its concern
for healthy competition rather than a correct interpretation of its
legal position," said New Tan President Richard Galvin in a statement
released Friday.
With the prom approaching, 16-year-old Whitney Weyant isn't worried about a dress or a date.
Her skin is another story.
The Central Dauphin High School junior wants to be a few shades darker,
but has neither the time nor desire to shiver in the sun on 40-degree
days. So she's lately been spending three nights a week under the
ultraviolet lamps of a tanning bed at Next To Bronze Inc.
"It's relaxing," Whitney said moments before entering one of the
tanning rooms for a 10-minute exposure to the lights. "I want to get
ready for summer and the prom."
Under a proposal in the Pennsylvania Legislature, Whitney and anyone
else under 18 would have to get parental permission before using a
tanning bed. Other states have similar proposals or have already
enacted laws that place restrictions on tanning salons.
Not that an age limit would affect Whitney or the owners of Next To Bronze.
"My mom knows I tan," she said. "My mom used to tan."
Next To Bronze requires children 15 and under to have their parents or
guardians sign consent forms before tanning. Co-owner Louise Sandvig
said she would not object to requiring 16- and 17-year-olds to obtain
parental consent if the bill becomes law.
"We haven't had a problem with a parent signing," Sandvig said.
At Executive Tans on Jonestown Road, most customers are over 18, and
the few who are under 18 are required to obtain parental consent,
co-owner Deborah Crawford said. Every customer is required to sign a
waiver.
"Everyone that comes in signs a release, advising them to the danger to their eyes," said Crawford.
The House bill would require even more from salons, including the
posting of signs at each tanning bed with the warning "Danger:
Ultraviolet radiation."
In the United States, more than half the states regulate indoor-tanning
businesses. According to Looking Fit magazine, a tanning-salon trade
publication, the most common violations include uncertified operators,
improperly maintained records and inadequate consent forms.
Tanning is safe if done in moderation and with proper precautions,
including the use of eye protection, said Julie Sullivan, a 47-year-old
tanning specialist -- and a regular indoor tanner -- at Next To Bronze.
"It's not a good idea to do a full 15 minutes to start," Sullivan said.
"Depending on skin type, we'll usually start them at five minutes for
the first session." Nor should customers tan every day, she warned.
First-time customers are given a questionnaire to help determine skin
type and give them an idea of how long they can expose their skin to UV
rays. Extremely light-skinned people are urged not to spend any time in
a tanning booth.
Dermatologists and cancer specialists say any amount of unprotected
exposure to ultraviolet rays -- whether generated by the sun or lamps
-- is potentially dangerous and should be avoided.
"Tanning booths and sunlamps are not a safe alternative to natural
sun," the American Cancer Society posted on its Web site. "Encourage
your children to appreciate the beauty of their natural skin tone."
Stephanie Diamond, a Susquehanna Twp. dermatologist, said she has seen
an increasing number of patients with skin cancer, including melanoma,
its most deadly form.
"There's no such thing as a safe tan," Diamond said. "A tan is what
occurs when your body makes pigment, and is trying to protect your skin
and the rest of your body from the sun. We dermatologists prefer no
tanning at all."
The UV rays emitted by tanning beds penetrate deeper into the skin than
the sun's UV rays and can cause damage that, years later, results in
"wrinkles and premature aging of the skin" and ultimately skin cancer,
Diamond said.
Cheryl Simpson, co-owner of Studio 7 hair salon in Upper Allen Twp.,
quit offering tanning sessions to customers more than three years ago,
despite their popularity.
"We'd have people tan in our place, then go to other places on their
off days to tan," said Simpson. "They'd come back a lot darker than
when they left. We offer skin-care services, and we just saw the
tanning beds as a contradiction to what we do.
When customers ask about tanning beds, Simpson and her employees suggest spray tanning as a safer alternative.
Fourteen-year-old Ariel Fratello, whose uncle, Donald, co-owns Next To
Bronze, said she uses a tanning bed once a week. She said it helped
clear up her "acne issues."
Diamond said UV rays "can improve some skin conditions," including
acne, eczema and psoriasis. "But you do so at the risk of increasing
your risk of skin cancer in the future," she said.
It's a risk some are willing to take.
Rachael Mills, 15, of Susquehanna Twp., had her first tanning session
at Next To Bronze last week, and intends to go every other day through
the end of April.
"I'm just going to get ready for the prom," she said.
Once a week, 16-year-old Marsha walks from school to a tanning salon
across the street. She used to like sunning at the beach, but stopped
when her dad got skin cancer.
"When I found out that my dad had cancer it made a huge impact on me whether or not to tan or not in the sun," said Marsha.
Skin cancer can be caused by years of UV damage from the sun. But
indoor tanning beds are even more dangerous. "Those energy values are
10 to 15 times higher than the noon-day sun," said dermatologist
Kenneth Miller.
In fact, Scandinavian researchers say they have the strongest evidence
yet that salon tanning beds are dangerous. They found that tanning beds
increase the risk of skin cancer in young women by about 150 percent
over eight years.
Despite the danger, a separate study in the Archives of Pediatrics
& Adolescent Medicine recently concluded that indoor UV bed tanning
is still very popular among American teens. Researchers from Case
Western Reserve University analyzed data from a poll of 6,903 teenagers
and found that 47 percent of Caucasian girls aged 18 and 19 have used
indoor tanning at least three times in their lives.
But, if these teens are just looking for a darker skin complexion,
there's a new, safer alternative to the UV tanning bed. Marsha uses it.
It's called the spray tan. "This is just so much easier, and so much
better," said Marsha.
There are a few different equipment manufacturers, but all the spray
tan machines work about the same. Nozzles inside the booth spray a
sugar-based agent called DHA that has a chemical reaction with the skin
and colors it for about a week. DHA is approved by the FDA for external
use, and has been for years.
"Spray tans are absolutely fine if you are not irritated by them, or
allergic to them," says dermatologist Kenneth Miller. Still, there is
one warning. Since DHA is only approved for external use, it should
never get inside the eyes, nose or mouth.
Related Information
Tanning beds are an easy way to get a tan, but they also can be very
harmful. While the process helps to give a tan without the burn, it may
concentrate cancer-causing radiation on the skin. The American Academy
of Dermatology advises against using tanning beds due to concerns about
skin cancer and premature skin aging. Also, the ultraviolet light from
tanning beds may:
Cause eye burns if protective eyewear is not used.
Worsen some chronic conditions such as lupus and diabetes.
Interact with some common medicines, such as naproxen, that can cause
increased sensitivity to light. This may cause a severe sunburn-like
reaction or, in extreme cases, death.
If the beds are not cleaned well between users, tanning beds also may
help spread diseases, such as genital warts. In addition, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention report an estimated 700 emergency
room visits per year related to tanning salon exposure.
What Parents Need to Know
Many people still relate suntanned skin with healthiness, but recent studies have shown otherwise.
With the thinning of the ozone layer and increased ultraviolet light,
exposure to the sun can be dangerous without proper protection.
Ultraviolet rays damage skin cells, causing freckles, wrinkles, sunburn
and even skin cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United
States.
UVA rays, a type of ultraviolet light, penetrate the skin deeply and
are primarily responsible for premature wrinkling, while UVB rays are
responsible for sunburn and skin cancer.
Sunburns received during childhood greatly increase the risk of
developing melanoma, the most serious kind of skin cancer, according to
the American Melanoma Foundation. Approximately 80 percent of this
harmful exposure is received before age 20, although much of this
damage doesn't show up until 20 or 30 years after the sun exposure.
Here are some tips to help protect your child from damaging rays:
Use sunscreen – Make sure your child wears a minimum SPF 15 sunscreen
whenever he/she is outside. It takes as little as 15 minutes of sun
exposure to harm the skin, so keep a bottle of sunscreen by the door so
he/she will remember to reapply whenever he/she goes out. Use
waterproof sunscreen if he/she is at the pool or beach.
Cover up – Make sure your child wears protective clothing and hats when
he/she is out in the sun. Choose light colors, which don't absorb heat
as much as dark colors, and loose-fitting clothing made from tightly
woven fabric.
Seek shade – When the sun's really glaring, especially between the
hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., try to limit your child's sun exposure.
Suggest a fun indoor activity, like making lemonade, or invite your
child and his/her friends to come inside the house.
Protect the eyes – Wrap around sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA
and UVB light are best. Avoid mirrored sunglasses since they intensify
the sun's rays.
Protect the lips – Lips can never tan, but they easily burn. Encourage
your child to use protective lip balm every day and reapply it often.
Ban the tan – There's no such thing as a safe tan. Never allow your
child to use tanning beds. If they would like the look of a tan, buy
sunless tanning lotion. Or, if they want a rosy glow on their face,
dust it with bronzing powder.
Watch out – If you notice any freckles, moles or other skin spots that
grow larger than a pencil eraser or change shape or color, take your
child to a dermatologist. Potentially dangerous skin problems usually
can be treated successfully if caught early enough.
Let's face it - sunshine can be scarce around these parts, especially this time of year.
Thankfully for those concerned about their complexion, options for
bronzing are plentiful these days, from self-applying lotions to the
old stand-by tanning beds.
The newest way to brown is spray tanning. In Aberdeen, you can find
this method at Sun-Kissed Tan, where it's called "Magic Tan."
Magic Tan looks like a large shower, and that's how it works, really - the tanning solution mists out at the body.
It takes only a few minutes and lasts 5-7 days, said Darla Nehlich, who
owns Sun-Kissed Tan along with her sister Lori Hoffman and her husband
Jon and her brother Shawn Nehlich and his wife Tricia..
Many people have seen the "Friends" episode where Ross has a traumatic
experience with a spray tanner, turning half of his body bright red.
But Sun-Kissed owners assure the Magic Tan is not even remotely as complicated as what Ross was using.
"Its almost impossible to do that," said Lori Hoffman, laughing. "It's easy."
Four stances
When inside Magic Tan, a person moves through four different stances to
assure they get every part of their body, Darla Nehlich said. There are
three different levels that provide three different shades of tan.
Customers are asked to remove all makeup and to exfoliate prior to using Magic Tan. Among the other dos and don'ts are these:
• Don't shower for 9-12 hours after using Magic Tan.
• Don't go swimming or sit in a hot tub for seven days.
• Don't exercise hard until the second day.
Sun-Kissed Tan opened last May in Aberdeen. Along with Magic Tan, the business offers traditional tanning beds.
And while the spray tanning has been popular, so has the the Ultrabronz
tanning bed. Besides taking less sessions to obtain and maintain a tan
and making it difficult to burn, this bed also offers users a massage.
Sun-Kissed also sells self-tanning lotion.
With all of the sun-free methods to tan out there, what to do?
Depends on goal
Sun-Kissed owners, as well as other local and tanning salon
representatives, say which method you choose kind of depends on your
goal.
Typically regular tanners like to stick to the traditional tanning
beds, Hoffman said. And those who just want a quick tan for a special
event usually go for the Magic Tan, she said.
Keith Starks, owner of Beach Front Tan in Aberdeen, said if someone has
had a problem with skin cancer, the spray method would be a "viable
option."
If it's strictly for cosmetic purposes, it's fine. However, "it's not
going to afford them any protection as far as increased exposure to
sun," Starks said. Plus you're not getting the added benefit of vitamin
D from ultraviolet light.
Melanie Fischer, manager of Aberdeen's Jamaican Sun Tanning Studio,
agreed that the only potential problem with spray tanning is that it
"doesn't help protect you out in the sun at all. It's just color."
Traditional beds
Both of those establishments offer traditional tanning beds.
And as far as safety, using tanning beds is like most other things - the key is not doing too much.
"Basically what it all comes down to is . . . moderation," said Starks,
who said with his former position as regional community coordinator for
the Aberdeen chapter of the American Cancer Society, he did a lot of
research to make sure he was comfortable entering the tanning field.
Tanning once a day isn't a problem, Starks said. But if "they're going
to come in for 20 minutes and then go somewhere else for 20 minutes,
then they're overdoing it."
And compared to outside, where you don't know the amount of ultra
violet light you're getting, "you're getting a specific metered dose of
(UV) light," he said.
Beach Front Tan is a member of the Association of Responsible Tanning Salons, Starks said.
"Here, the most you can go is 20 minutes." For people starting out,
Starks said they recommend no more than 5-7 minutes and then See TANS,
Page
Tans
Safe to get, but moderation urged
building up. People who are extremely fair-skinned should probably go even less, he said.
Darla Nehlich at Sun-Kissed agrees.
Moderation urged
"I never tell anybody (tanning is) safe, but as long as you do it in
moderation," it's OK, said Nehlich, who is Smart Tan certified along
with two other employees.
This is a controlled environment, Lori Hoffman said. "You do the most damage by burning" out in the sun.
Monica Larson, who works at Webster Beauty Salon & Tanning, says
tanning beds are safe, though there are precautions to follow -
removing contact lenses, not doing too much too soon.
And it's actually good to do a little tanning before a trip, Larson
said - so you don't burn so easily. It's better to do it in a more
controlled environment versus facing the raging sun all day.
There are also benefits to tanning.
Some clients come in to Beach Front specifically to combat seasonal
affect disorder, Starks said. And some say when it gets cold out they
need a warm nap.
He tells them, "That's why we're here."
Fischer said it's a real boost this time of year when people are craving warm weather.
"I myself get spring fever really bad," Fischer said. "It just seems to
help my mood. It helps my stress level. I can just completely relax."
The
Utah County tanning industry felt the heat from the Board of Health on
Monday as they passed regulations tightening the health code for
tanning salons.
The new code will require the installation of remote timers, additional
thermometers and floor mats. Salons may need to get new beds altogether
— if existing ones are deemed an “eminent health risk” by inspectors.
The program manager of Infectious Disease Control, Ron Tobler, was
instrumental in the creation of the regulation. He presented it to the
Utah County Board of Health in a near empty public meeting. The board
passed the proposal unanimously with no opposition from the public.
“I have actually been involved in cases where people sat down on a
cracked tanning bed, breaking through the acrylic and onto the bulbs,
which exploded under pressure,” Tobler said. “Then you really get to
find out how good your friends are because of the glass you need picked
from your body.”
The new regulation covers more than just cleaning and maintenance of
tanning salons. In specific circumstances, it regulates who may use the
salons.
Pregnant women will no longer be able to use tanning beds unless given permission by their doctor.
Tobler explained the destructive power UV rays have against folic acid
in the body, and the particular danger of low folic acid in pregnant
women. He presented a study done in Europe that showed three children
born with spina bifida because of a reduction in folic acid from heavy
use of tanning beds during pregnancy.
Tanning is so unsafe that the FDA legally forbids the use of the terms
safe, healthy, safer than the sun, etc. in conjunction with tanning.
The board also discussed a future amendment that would prohibit tanning
for minors, or at least minors without parent permission. Board members
mentioned that there are already other cities and states across the
nation that regulate tanning for minors.
According to an article published in the Deseret Morning News, a New
York legislator plans to propose that a parent must accompany anyone 16
and younger to the salon, and anyone 17 or 18 would have to have
parental consent.
However, board only made an amendment restricting pregnant woman. The
board said they may discuss an age requirement in the future.
Cathy Habing, the owner of Club Tan in Provo, said her salon already follows the new regulations.
“If you’re running a tanning salon the way it should be run, then what
they’re changing is not that big of a deal,” she said. “It’s just that
they’ve been trying to get salon owners to do a few things, and they
haven’t complied so the board of health is adding an amendment.”
The regulation applies not only to businesses, but to some private
tanning bed owners as well. Previously, owners who had beds in their
own homes could open them up to the public, so long as they weren’t
charging for the use of the bed. But according to the new edict, that
is now illegal. The use of a private tanning bed must be kept private.
The
federal Competition Bureau wants an indoor tanning company to stop
making what it calls false representations about helping to prevent
cancer.
The bureau has applied for an order against Calgary-based Fabutan,
under the deceptive marketing practices provisions of the Competition
Act.
It says Fabutan has implied moderate indoor tanning prevents or reduces
the risk of cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis. The bureau also
said Fabutan is telling people tanning stimulates the metabolism and is
a treatment for vitamin D deficiency and seasonal affective disorder.
Fabutan president Doug McNabb says he simply shares newspaper articles
and various studies that tout the health benefits of indoor tanning
with his customers.
"I welcome the opportunity to tell our side of the story and say,
'look, we just want a right to share that information and let consumers
decide for themselves,'" McNabb said.
However, Don Mercer, the federal agency's deputy assistant
commissioner, said there's no evidence indoor tanning is good for you.
"Our concern is, is tanning safe? And the evidence we have is that it's
not," he said. "Secondly, are the representations about the benefits of
tanning proven?
"We want the misrepresentations to cease as to the benefits of tanning,
whether they be for heart problems or osteoporosis, and as well as the
idea that tanning is safe."
Jim Smith, who has been indoor tanning for four years, says he thinks the practice is safe.
"IF they were forced to stop promoting it, I'd still continue tanning inside. I just find it's better for me," he said.
Fabutan has 30 days to respond to the order, and McNabb says he will fight the bureau in court if he has to.
If Fabutan is found in the wrong, it could be fined.
She says, "You go days without sunshine and you can come here and
get a little sunshine and I really think it does help your whole
attitude, your whole mood. I feel better."
Better because tanning beds provide artificial sunlight that fight Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.
It also provides Vitamin D.
It's tough to get it through diet and the vitamin can help fight osteoporosis, certain types of cancer and diabetes.
But you must follow the golden rule of tanning...moderation.
To ensure that their customers don't abuse their beds, Star Tan starts each client at around five minutes.
After five tans at five minutes, each tan goes up one minute until they hit 12 minutes.
Twelve minutes is the longest they can go."
The Owner of Star Tan, Marla Acklin, tells KIMT NewsChannel 3,
"You never want to burn your skin, that's what leads to risks of
cancer."
Any time you expose yourself to UV rays you put yourself at risk.
If you're willing to take that risk...be smart.
Wear protective eyewear, use lotion with an SPF of 15 or higher
and check if sunlight will have any effect on medications you're taking.
After you've had a tanning session, you should not tan again for at least another 24 hours.
· Focus: Here comes the sun... so should we run for cover?
Yes, say experts, stay in the shade! No, say experts, get out there!
What's a red-headed, fair-skinned girl to do? As a child Katy Guest's
mother put her on sunbeds to toughen her up. Today she reaches for the
Factor 15 and considers the latest evidence
27 March 2005
Go on, get out there. Get your kit off, lay down in the sun for as long
as possible, in the hottest part of the day. Don't bother with
suncream, just let those friendly, cosy ultraviolet rays work their
warming magic. It's okay, the experts say soaking up the rays is good
for boosting levels of vitamin D needed for healthy bones, muscles and
immune systems. The advice is clear. Oh, hang on though, they also say
you musn't get burnt. And what about all those campaigns telling us the
sun should be avoided at all costs, because skin cancer rates are
rising fast and there's no such thing as a safe tan?
Actually, the advice is as clear as a pair of shades smothered in sunblock.
Sunburn is basically radiation sickness: ultraviolet rays damaging the
skin and its DNA. We do like to rush out and flash fry ourselves at the
first sign of warm, which is why Cancer Research UK is cranking up its
annual SunSmart campaign now. Every year 1,600 people in Britain die
because of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. That
is 600 more than Australia, one of the sunniest countries in the world.
Rates have trebled in the last 30 years, and if we don't start behaving
more sensibly they will treble again in the next 30. The advice is stay
out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, but if you must go out then wear a
hat, slap on cream with a factor of at least 15, half an hour before
you leave the house. And above all keep your children out of the sun,
because we get 80 per cent of our exposure of it before we are 21 and
that is when the damage that causes skin cancer later in life is most
likely to be done.
All of which advice seemed perfectly straightforward until last week,
when even the campaigners started to admit they might have gone over
the top. Other scientists say staying in the shade can lead to a
serious deficiency of Vitamin D, a condition which has been linked with
heart disease, schizophrenia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and cancers
of trhe colon, breast, ovary and prostate. Our stores of D run low in
the winter and start to build up again when the sun comes out.
Last year the Health Research Forum advised that a white-skinned person
in Britain needed at least three 20-minute sessions of bathing in
bright noonday sun every week to enable their body to produce the
maximum Vitamin D. Oliver Gillie, of the Forum, said campaigns based on
the belief that no sun tan is safe make "no concessions to the health
benefits of sunlight" and "continuing with government recommendations
can only increase vitamin D deficiency in the population and so lead to
an increase in ill-health and premature death".
Even the Cancer Council of Australia, which is now seeing dramatically
decreased rates after a campaign lasting two decades, admitted "a
balance is required between avoiding an increase in the risk of skin
cancer and achieving enough ultraviolet radiation exposure to ensure
adequate vitamin D levels".
In the old days, of course, a tan meant you worked in the fields.
Eighteenth century ladies powdered their faces to look white - and
poisoned themselves with the lead in the chalk. Coco Chanel is supposed
to have invented the tan. What she actually did was over expose herself
while riding the Duke of Wellington's yacht in 1923. The inventor of
the little black dress was always so closely watched that she turned up
in the south of France with a teak face the fashion world it as an
order. Vogue advertised its first sun lamp the same year. Coco's
enthusiams coincided with new medical theories about fresh air, loose
limbs and the benefits of sunshine, which led to the building of
glorious lidos all over Britain. Here anybody, rich or poor, could bask
beside a glittering expanse of water. Or freeze to death in the British
summer, not yet tropicalised by global warming.
My generation, now around 30 years old, is the first to grow up with
regular trips to the sun, thanks to the package holiday boom of the
Seventies. We also went backpacking - and no matter how wasted you were
on that beach in Goa, a tan made you look healthy, we thought. We are
reaping the whirlwind.
Sunbeds are sometimes thought to be the safer option. They only account
for eight per cent of melanoma cases, but do cause 100 deaths a year.
Cancer Research UK would like to see all children aged under 16 banned
from using them.
I was 11 when I first got into one, an enormous, humming, ultraviolet
alien of a machine. We were going on holiday to Majorca, and my mum
wanted to toughen up my skin in advance. I had suffered hallucinatory
sunstroke on our first holiday abroad: mum had to talk me down as I
ranted about the little men trying to make me straighten out all the
air.
I have always been fair-skinned, whereas my parents tan easily - apart
from their honeymoon, when a comedy Greek advised Dad to smear himself
in olive oil. He fried like a falafel. I vividly remember standing on
the beach grimacing as I was scoured with sand in a handful of greasy
sun cream. I remember crying all the way home from the beach, wincing
as each step pulled at the burnt skin on the backs of my legs.
I am a lot more careful now, but do worship the sun. I wear Factor 15
always, and top up that faint natural glow by practically bathing in
fake tan, but it's not the colour I want - it's the uniquely decadent
feeling of lying in the garden, just drinking in the sun along with the
scent of sweet peas. I love the way skin smells when it is beginning to
turn pink: like pepper and musk and the fat on the top of proper gravy.
It feels like I am soaking up warmth through my pores, and then walking
around for the rest of the evening with sunlight still seeping out of
me.
I understand the dangers of what I'm doing. But I deeply resent it when
someone comes and casts a shadow over me and tells me off for damaging
my skin. I'm infuriatingly healthy in most other ways, I check my moles
religiously and I suspect that in my case the damage has already been
done. Anyway, why is it always smokers and exercise-phobics who have a
go at me about the danger to my health? Are they topping up their
vitamin D with their fags and burgers? I really don't think so.
· The future is bright, but steer clear of orange...
SPRING is in the air, and with it blue skies, milder days, and the temptation to discard cosy woollens and flash some flesh.
But skin that’s been kept under wraps for months won’t necessarily be
at its best. Who really makes time to exfoliate and moisturise daily
when there are parties to attend?
Even if you have taken care of your dermis during the winter, your skin
probably won’t be as soft and silky as you would like. You’ll also be
pasty-looking, but resist the urge to slap on layers of fake tan.
Orange streaks are so passé. Aim to capture the naturally radiant, English rose look which has wowed the catwalks.
The main thing to avoid when making the cosmetic transition from winter
into spring is suddenly going from pale to tanned. Do it gradually and
no-one will suspect that you’ve been faking it.
For any tan to look even, skin must be polished and supple. The first
thing to do is exfoliate and moisturise. For a luxurious scrub try
Shiseido Body Thermal Spa Exfoliating Gel (£23, Jenners and Frasers) or
Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator (£12.50, department stores).
Boots Soltan Pre Self Tan Exfoliator is also ideal (150ml, £3.49) and
more affordable.
To moisturise, Kiehl’s classic Crème de Corps (£14, Space.NK, George
Street, and Harvey Nichols) is lovely, as is Dove Cream Silk (£4.48,
Boots and supermarkets).
After that, choose your tan. If you’re feeling flush, head for a salon,
where you can try St Tropez or Fantasy Tan, done by a professional.
But if DIY will have to do, there are plenty of good products which work well as long as you are careful and patient.
Never buy a "dark" product to get a more dramatic look; you will, but
not in a good way. It’s far better to begin with one layer of a paler
product and build up. Be warned: lighter blends can sometimes be more
orangey. It can be trial and error.
Simple Body Self-Tan Lotion is one to consider (£7.95, Boots and
supermarkets), as is Garnier’s trusty Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer
Self-Tanning Spray (£8.99). Or there’s L’Oreal’s Sublime Bronze
Self-Tanning Gel (£9.99).
BEFORE you begin, apply body lotion all over. This will provide a
barrier, to give the subtlest colour. You could also blend the tan with
a little moisturiser, for a less dramatic colour, especially on paler
areas, like inner arms and neck.
If you do get streaks, don’t try to cover them up with more product.
Use fake-tan remover wipes instead. Try Boots Soltan Corrector Wipes,
99p.
There are separate products for faces which are worth investing in, as
they will be formulated to cope better with subtle areas of light and
shade. They will also be gentler and many also contain an SPF.
Dermalogica Protective Self Tan for Face is a top-end product (£20.90,
available at several salons, including Chi Limited, George Street,
0131-226 4040 and Edinburgh Floatarium, North West Circus Place,
0131-225 3350), but it does work. Simple Self Tanning Face Cream is
another good buy (50ml, £7.75, Boots).
Helena Rubenstein Golden Beauty Natural Tan Face-Body (£18, Jenners)
claims to work for both areas. Work from hairline to collarbone, as you
would when applying foundation, to avoid an obvious tan line. To
prevent unintentional ginger eyebrows and foreheads, use Vaseline
(£1.39, Boots) as a barrier and only use one layer of tan on your face
- it’s more natural. You can always accentuate the places where the sun
would hit - cheekbones, forehead, nose and chin - with a shimmering or
bronzing product.
To go for the glow, try either a skin-brightener or shimmering powder
which will create an even smoother look. NARS Body Glow (£42, Space.NK)
is good, as is Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel (£2.99, Boots) on bare legs and
arms. For soft, peachy skin, powder is best. BeneFit Kitten is nice
(£19.50, Frasers, Debenhams, Harvey Nichols and Boots), as is Lancôme
Star Bronzer Powder (£26, department stores). BeneFit’s new Glamazon
Lip and Cheek Jewels in Gimme an Outside Vine (£14.50, as before) is a
multi-use liquid glow, while Clinique Rub Allover Lustre in Sheer
Radiance (£14.50, department stores) does exactly what it says.
If the delicate, English rose look appeals, go for Becca’s Shimmering
Skin Perfector (£27, Space.NK), which not only protects skin with an
SPF20, but also transforms it from dull to radiant instantly.
Clinique’s All Over Face Glow in Pink Glow (£18.50) is nice swept over
cheeks or, if you like cream blushes, try MAC Blushcreme in Ladyblush
(£13, Harvey Nichols) for a flirty flush.
With a little bit of effort this season, the transition from drab to diva will be easy. Go on, put a spring in your step!
