Applying a special formula of chemicals to the skin to get the effect of a traditional suntan, without any exposure to sun or UV light, is known as sunless tanning. Self tanning and airbrush tanning is a rapidly expanding area in cosmetic sales.
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.
Not all sunless forms can be done at home. An airbrush tan is usually performed by qualified professionals, using special designed equipment made for the application of self tan.
In history, paler skin was preferred by a lot of people, as it represented a higher social standing. People in the upper classes would not allow themselves to be exposed to sun, so a tan was something only seen on the lower classes who would spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun due to work. This was the case in Victorian and Elizabethans societies, as well as Rome and Greece where people were known to whiten their faces with chalk. However, in the past century, the tan began to be linked with attractiveness and well being.
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.
The first self tan came as a brown or cream dye in the fifties. The older self tan products were not as advanced and natural looking as many are today. The originals used to give a very orange color and patchy finish but new ingredient combinations have helped this.
Many people feel better with bronzed skin, as they feel it gives the impression of good health and general well-being. But in the sixties, health experts established that excess exposure to sunlight and UV light (which is used in tanning beds) could put your skin at risk and cause skin cancer. This did not stop people form wanting the tanned appearance, but did encourage the concept of sunless tanning.
Health experts do recommend the use of self tan as an alternative to a regular tan as there are not any known risks to the skin form using sunless tanning methods. Users should always consider that most self tans provide very low protection against UV, and remember this if leaving skin exposed.
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.
Not all sunless forms can be done at home. An airbrush tan is usually performed by qualified professionals, using special designed equipment made for the application of self tan.
In history, paler skin was preferred by a lot of people, as it represented a higher social standing. People in the upper classes would not allow themselves to be exposed to sun, so a tan was something only seen on the lower classes who would spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun due to work. This was the case in Victorian and Elizabethans societies, as well as Rome and Greece where people were known to whiten their faces with chalk. However, in the past century, the tan began to be linked with attractiveness and well being.
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.
The first self tan came as a brown or cream dye in the fifties. The older self tan products were not as advanced and natural looking as many are today. The originals used to give a very orange color and patchy finish but new ingredient combinations have helped this.
Many people feel better with bronzed skin, as they feel it gives the impression of good health and general well-being. But in the sixties, health experts established that excess exposure to sunlight and UV light (which is used in tanning beds) could put your skin at risk and cause skin cancer. This did not stop people form wanting the tanned appearance, but did encourage the concept of sunless tanning.
Health experts do recommend the use of self tan as an alternative to a regular tan as there are not any known risks to the skin form using sunless tanning methods. Users should always consider that most self tans provide very low protection against UV, and remember this if leaving skin exposed.
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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