Most people agree that they look and feel healthy and radiant with a suntan, but the truth is that, unless it’s a sunless one, there is no such thing as a safe tan. Any natural skin darkening is an indication of sun damage and that the UV rays have made the skin’s normal defensive components kick in, creating more melanin to protect the skin from additional harm. So, what should you do if you love a golden glow but don’t want the risks? Hit the bottle, of course! The easiest and safest way to get a fake glow all over without harming your skin or putting your health at risk is to use a sunless self-tanner, and they have plenty of other benefits, too. Here are just five of them:
It’s Safer
According to the FDA, “Evidence suggests that tanning greatly increases your risk of developing skin cancer. And, contrary to popular belief, getting a tan will not protect your skin from sunburn or other skin damage. The extra melanin in tanned skin provides a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of about 2 to 4; far below the minimum recommended SPF of 15” And furthermore, most of the more than one million skin cancers diagnosed each year in the U.S. are considered sun-related. This alone makes us want to avoid the sun’s harmful rays and use Sienna X Gradual Rose Water Self Tan Mist instead.
It Offers Skincare Benefits
If you’re using a self-tan, you might find it tricky to use other skincare products at the same time without affecting application. However, there are tanning products out there which not only give you a golden glow but also offer skincare benefits, too. St.Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water Body Mist is a lightweight and easy-to-use clear self tanner which is infused with 95% natural skincare ingredients, hydrating hyaluronic acid, refreshing green mandarin water and Vitamin C and D boosters to mimic the effects of the sun, without the damage.
It Doesn’t Accelerate Ageing
It’s a well-known fact that the sun is the number one cause of skin ageing and that UV exposure seems to be responsible for 80% of visible facial ageing signs. This means that if you want to remain looking youthful but still have a glow, self-tan is the way to go. Better still, using self-tanners such as Sienna X Self Tan Q10 Tinted Mist, which contains the anti-ageing ingredient Q10, actually visibly firms the skin and reduces the signs of ageing!
It Helps Conceal Imperfections
If you sunbathe or use sunbeds, aside from the cell-level damage you’re doing to your skin, you also risk causing uneven skintone. UV rays can make acne and other imperfections appear much darker and can even cause hyperpigmentation or exacerbate melasma. On the flipside, there are self-tanning products, such as Sienna X Ultra Dark Mousse, which will not only prevent you from needing to damage your skin with UV rays, but can actually cover imperfections in your skin and make them look less visible. Win/win!
You Can Have Year-Round Tanning
It’s all well and good having a glow for a few weeks after your summer holiday, but in time this will fade and that’s often when the temptation to use tanning beds arises. According to The American Academy of Dermatology, indoor tanning can increase the risk of developing the two most common types of skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma by 58% and basal cell carcinoma by 24%. Avoid the risk altogether by giving yourself an easy to maintain, all-year tan using St.Tropez Self Tan Watermelon Infusion Bronzing Mousse. It is a lightweight classic tanning mousse that tailors to your individual skin tone, for a natural looking and long-lasting tan in just one application.
