Sunless tanning refers to the use of chemicals on the skin to create a result similar in appearance to a conventional suntan, but without any sunlight. It is a completely cosmetic practice, with self tanning and airbrush tanning becoming the fastest growing sector in the cosmetics market.
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.
It is made for home use, although anyone that has not used self tan previously is advised to do a skin test before use. This can be done by applying a small amount to a little area of skin, then wait a day to make sure you are not allergic to the ingredients, before applying to the rest of the body. For the best result, apply to clean, dry skin and allow to fully absorb into the skin before bathing or getting wet.
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.
Most people tend to associate a tan with beauty and a health, but throughout history, many favored white skin. The Romans and Greeks were both known to use white chalk to lighten their skin and Elizabethans even painted faint blue lines on their faces to appear paler. In Victorian society, tanned people were mainly seen in the lower classes and were people who were regularly exposed to sun whilst working outdoors. In comparison, the upper classes would not allow themselves to be exposed to the sun, with many women seen carrying parasols to shade them.
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.
When self tan first became available in the fifties, it came in the form of a brown or creamy dye that was applied to skin to give the appearance of a tan. The first self tan products gave an orange and patchy result which did not look natural but now technologies have developed and new ingredient combinations have improved the finished effect.
A lot of people believe that beauty, health and wellness are associated with tanned skin, so therefore feel better with a tan themselves. Health authorities then found a link between sun or UV exposure and skin cancer, which did not completely deter people from wanting a tan, but did support the idea of sunless ways.
Sunless methods are not known to cause any serious damage to the skin, which is why they are supported by health authorities and is also part of the reason the product has become so successful. One concern, however, is that most self tan products will contain very little UV protection, so users should always remember that when exposing their skin to harmful light.
Despite the popularity of the tan through the past decades, it may be finally starting to fade as recent fashion icons are once again gracing the catwalks and screens with paler skin on show.
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.
It is made for home use, although anyone that has not used self tan previously is advised to do a skin test before use. This can be done by applying a small amount to a little area of skin, then wait a day to make sure you are not allergic to the ingredients, before applying to the rest of the body. For the best result, apply to clean, dry skin and allow to fully absorb into the skin before bathing or getting wet.
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.
Most people tend to associate a tan with beauty and a health, but throughout history, many favored white skin. The Romans and Greeks were both known to use white chalk to lighten their skin and Elizabethans even painted faint blue lines on their faces to appear paler. In Victorian society, tanned people were mainly seen in the lower classes and were people who were regularly exposed to sun whilst working outdoors. In comparison, the upper classes would not allow themselves to be exposed to the sun, with many women seen carrying parasols to shade them.
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.
When self tan first became available in the fifties, it came in the form of a brown or creamy dye that was applied to skin to give the appearance of a tan. The first self tan products gave an orange and patchy result which did not look natural but now technologies have developed and new ingredient combinations have improved the finished effect.
A lot of people believe that beauty, health and wellness are associated with tanned skin, so therefore feel better with a tan themselves. Health authorities then found a link between sun or UV exposure and skin cancer, which did not completely deter people from wanting a tan, but did support the idea of sunless ways.
Sunless methods are not known to cause any serious damage to the skin, which is why they are supported by health authorities and is also part of the reason the product has become so successful. One concern, however, is that most self tan products will contain very little UV protection, so users should always remember that when exposing their skin to harmful light.
Despite the popularity of the tan through the past decades, it may be finally starting to fade as recent fashion icons are once again gracing the catwalks and screens with paler skin on show.
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Sun Laboratories offers some of the finest sun self tan products on the market today. To read our helpful Sun Labs self tanner tips, click this link now.
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