The Benefits of Sunless Tanning over Sun Tanning
Ditch the Sun's Cancer-causing Rays for a Safer Alternative
Jun 7, 2009
In the Elizabethan era, it was very popular to as pale of skin as possible, because this set one apart from the working class, who were tanned from laboring outside. However, this changed dramatically in 1923 when Coco Chanel, a famous French designer, spent a little too much time in the sun on a nobleman’s yacht and was seen sporting a tan.
This set a trend that would catch on like wildfire, and soon tanning was all the rage. Bronzed skin came to be synonymous with vibrant, good health instead of the mark of a laborer. By the 1950s, the first sunless tanners appeared on the market.
Why Sunless Tanners?
We have known for years that while spending some time in the sun is good for us, prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin blemishes and even cancer. Getting that healthy-looking tan can be a very unhealthy process, and for people who are particularly fair skinned or do not tan well, tanning in the sun is nearly pointless in addition to unhealthy.
With sunless tanners, users get the appearance of being tan without the harmful UV rays. It is also convenient—instead of lying in the sun or a tanning bed for hours to get just the right tan, a quick application of a sunless tanner does the job in less than an hour. A sunless tanner can provide an even, all-over tan with no lines. For those who burn instead of tan, they can finally have the bronze skin they always wanted.
Some sunless tanners have additional benefits, like added moisturizers and sunscreen, softening the skin and protecting it at the same time they brown it.
Sunless Tanners have Come a Long Way
There was a time when sunless tanners were not a very good alternative to the real thing. They streaked and turned the skin an odd orange color. However, today’s products have greatly improved. They apply evenly and turn the skin a lovely tan—and many of them come in different shades for fair, medium and dark-skinned users.
The sunless tanners in the past few years have become easier to apply, some of them even coming in spray applied in a booth that cover the whole body in seconds. The best ones dry fairly quickly and do not rub off on clothes.
Although lying in the sun and soaking up the rays is a pleasant pastime, it is not safe for long enough periods for most people to get the tan they desire. Sunless tanners provide the perfect tan without the damaging effects of the sun. To learn more about using sunless tanners, read Tips for Applying Sunless Tanners.
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