Guest Post: Tanning 101

This post has been written by Ariane from MakeupIsMyArt 

Who would say no to a tan that makes us look like we are back from a holiday? In this first post, I will talk about the sun itself, then sun protection, and finally, I will recommend a few products that work well for me.

First of all, it’s important to know that the sun we have today is not the same as the sun of the 60's. In fact, the ozone depletion has harmful effects on our skin and it is actually worst than ever. The sun casts UVA (Ultraviolet A) and UVB (Ultraviolet B) rays - what is the difference between the two, you ask? UVA rays have long term effects such as skin ageing, while UVB cause sunburns. However, UVA rays are too often neglected while they have the worst negative effects on the long term.

Sadly, sun protections too often don't meet the skin needs and they don't properly protect against ultraviolet rays. In this sense, some sunscreens claim to be effective against UVA and UVB rays, but even though it's true that they protect from UVB rays, they protect us only from short UVA rays. Yes, there is such a thing as long UVA rays, but unfortunately, most sunscreens are not well adapted to them, thus leaving us with a false sentiment of security.

The easiest way to tell if a sun protection product is effective is to look at the active ingredients – the most important are MEXORYL, ZINC OXIDE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE and TINOSORB (also called BEMOTRIZINOL). I would also recommend to avoid ingredients such as OXYBENZONE and BENZOPHENONE as they are known to be unstable and they can even have unwanted effects on the female hormone (estrogen) when they are absorbed in the skin.

Now, I would like to demystify some myths regarding tanning. First of all, it’s wrong to think that you can’t tan with a sun protection. Personally, I use SPF 50 on my face, SPF 30 on my body and an even higher sun protection on sensitive areas such as the upper back, the shoulders and the décolletage, and believe me, I do tan a lot! In fact, there is no such a thing as “total” sunscreen, so do not fear - you can still tan with sunblock, and it’s even safer!

A funny thing to note is that SPF 4 and 8 are useless. In fact, the only reason why these types of sun protections are still on the market is because customers continue to buy them – these sunscreens do not protect again sunburns. In my opinion, instead of using this useless stuff, you could always spread butter on you and go lay in the sun!

It is also wrong to think that a tan will protect you against the harmful effects of UV rays. A tanned skin never replaces a good sunscreen – did you know that a deep tan is only equivalent to an SPF 4 sunscreen? It is also good to know that a tan is the skin’s natural reaction to the injuries inflicted as a result to the sun exposure.

It is also very important to re-apply sunscreen every two hours and after going swimming or sweating a lot.

Finally, did you know that there is a variety of products on the market that stimulate the melanin production in order to darken the skin – without the sun damages? I have tried Jean D’Estrées Slimming Sun Capsules and I saw results pretty fast. They are called “capsule” because it’s a product that is taken orally and they are claimed to be “slimming” because they break down fat and reduce adipose tissue – reducing cellulite. These capsules ensure an intense and long lasting tan and they even moisturize the skin by protecting it from free radicals.

Another product I would recommend is Oenobiol Solaire Tan Enhancer. It also comes in the form of capsules and it contains flaxseed oil to moisturize the skin. This exclusive formula, an exact copy of the physiology of the skin, contains the skin’s principal carotenoids: lycopene and lutein.

I hope you found this post useful and learned something! If you want to know more about self tanners, please have a look at Ariane's blog. Interested in being a guest blogger? Please let me know!

Pictures are from weheartit