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 tan can come in the form of gels, creams and sprays to name a few. It can be applied various ways too, but the process does not use any sun or UV light to give the tanned look, nor does it involve skin pigmentation. It is a reaction between amino acids on the skin surface and the ingredient Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that colors the skin.
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.
Another sunless form is an airbrush tan, which is applied using special equipment operated by trained specialists.
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.
It was in the twenties that the tan started to become fashionable, after a well known designer returned with a tan after a holiday cruise. The tan began to reflect the laid back, luxurious life, not the sign of a life of labor that it once was. It was also at this time that women began to dress more freely, influenced by the Jazz Age. The fact that clothes no longer covered the whole body only gave the tan more appeal.
Recent self tan products give a much more natural finish compared to those that first become available. The cream or brown dyes used in the fifties often gave a patchy and orange look but new technologies and ingredients changed this.
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 tan can come in the form of gels, creams and sprays to name a few. It can be applied various ways too, but the process does not use any sun or UV light to give the tanned look, nor does it involve skin pigmentation. It is a reaction between amino acids on the skin surface and the ingredient Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that colors the skin.
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.
Another sunless form is an airbrush tan, which is applied using special equipment operated by trained specialists.
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.
It was in the twenties that the tan started to become fashionable, after a well known designer returned with a tan after a holiday cruise. The tan began to reflect the laid back, luxurious life, not the sign of a life of labor that it once was. It was also at this time that women began to dress more freely, influenced by the Jazz Age. The fact that clothes no longer covered the whole body only gave the tan more appeal.
Recent self tan products give a much more natural finish compared to those that first become available. The cream or brown dyes used in the fifties often gave a patchy and orange look but new technologies and ingredients changed this.
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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