7 Dangers of Sun Exposure:

1. Sunburn – when your skin is sun tanned, it’s damaged.
2. Premature Aging – Eeek! Dermatologist will tell you the #1 thing you can do to prevent aging is stay out of the sun.
3. Brown/Age Spots – this goes in the same category as premature aging
4. Actinic Keratoses – these are small rough or scaly spots usually appearing on the face, ears & back of hands
5. Moles – moles are usually round pink, tan or flesh color. Anything that looks irregular should be checked by a dermatologist – Mole Chart

6. Eye Damage – excessive sun exposure can cause burning of the cornea of your eyes.
7. Skin Cancer – most serious type of cancer is Melanoma. The American Cancer Society diagnoses over 60k people every year.

Lifesaving Skin Check!

Hope everyone enjoys this long weekend!  Remember to apply (and reapply every 2 hours) sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

Featured on The Martha Stewart Show!

Last month Martha Stewart had a segment on Sunless Tanning.  Check it out!  Don’t forget to book your appointment!

Sunless Video as seen on Martha Stewart

Tips for a Flawless Sunless Tan

• Shave & Exfoliate the night before your appointment.  While exfoliating pay more attention to ankles, knees, wrists and elbows as these areas tend to be drier and need more exfoliation.  If these areas are not properly exfoliated it could cause blotching and/or the tan could come out darker in these areas.

• The day of your appointment refrain from wearing moisturizers, perfumes, sprays, deodorant, makeup, etc.  Anything that could act as a barrier to the actual tanning solution should be avoided.  The goal here is to have fresh, clean skin, that way the solution will better adhere to your skin.

• Right before your tan, take off all jewelry and put hair up.  Insist that your tanning specialist use a PH Balancing spray before spraying you with tanning solution.  We always spray our clients with PH Balancing spray and never up charge for this because we feel this is necessary to get the best outcome.

• Some sort of barrier cream should be applied to your feet, ankles, knees, elbows and hands to avoid the solution collecting in those areas and creating a darker color.

• While the tanning specialist is spraying you with the tanning solution, make sure not to accidentally touch skin or move frequently as this can create blotches on the skin.

• After your tan is applied, make sure you are dry!  Ask your tanning specialist if there is any extra moisturizing product that can be sprayed to lock in your tan.  We provide this service to our clients at no extra charge because we feel it’s needed to get the best outcome of a sunless tan.

• Once you are ready to get dressed, make sure your dry!  Loose fitting dark clothing is best.  The last thing you want is your tan to rub off around your waist because of your jeans!  A loose black summer dress is best.

• Wait at least 6-8 hours to take a shower.  Once you do shower, you will notice some of the bronzer wash away, that’s ok.  Try not to use harsh commercial body wash.  In fact, try not to use any body wash in this shower.  Your main goal is to wash away the bronzer.  Your tan is still hard at work 🙂

• Once out of the shower, pat your skin dry as if you have a bad sunburn.  Try not to rub your skin with the towel, this acts as a light exfoliation.  Also, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!  We recommend a natural body butter, something that will lock in the moisture.

• Now that all the technicalities are out of the way…..enjoy your tan!  You should continue to apply moisturizer twice a day.  We recommend a body butter in the morning and a tan extending moisturizer at night.  Also, utilizing a body wash engineered for spray tanning wouldn’t hurt either.  Avoid harsh body washes & bar soaps, please!

Proper Sunscreens

Sunless tanning is a safe & effective alternative to traditional UV tanning, no doubt about that.  However, a sunless tan DOES NOT protect you from UVA/UVB Rays.  So, what’s a girl to do?  Wear SUNSCREEN when you are out and about.  It doesn’t matter if you are spending a day at the beach or just running errands, protecting your skin from UV rays should be your number one priority.  After all, it’s the only one you get so take care of it!  

Now that we have established how important sunscreen is, the next step is to decipher between all the different sunscreens to know which ones are “spray tan friendly”.  

Here are a few tips when shopping for “spray tan friendly” sunscreen:

• Look for active ingredients such as Zinc, Titanium dioxide, Avobenzene or Mexoryl SX
• Look for the words “Broad Spectrum” this encompasses protection from UVA & UVB rays
• Look for SPF 30+ (but no higher as anything higher contains artificial oils that may soften the skin and create a blotchy effect).
• Look for a cream- this helps to moisturize your skin!
• Avoid sunscreens that have Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), New government data show that tumors and lesions develop sooner on skin coated with vitamin A-laced creams. 
• Look for sunscreens with soybean oil which aids in cell repair and helps reverse signs of UV damage. 
• As always, look for Paraben & PABA free (two different ingredients)
• Always try to favor sunscreens with the most natural ingredients.

Here are some of my favorite sunscreens

DIY Under Eye Treatment

Skin Care Tip: Avoid harsh bags under the eyes by brewing two chamomile tea bags and sticking them in the fridge to cool.  Once cooled, place them under the eyes! Please remember to keep applying sunscreen all year long!

PreTan Prep!

Spray tanning DOs and DON’Ts.

DO exfoliate the day of your appointment and skip body lotions, oils and powders altogether.
DO wear loose fitting dark colored clothing to your treatment.
DON’T workout after a spray tan.
DO bring a towel to sit on if you have leather car seats.
DON’T sweat (if at all possible!).
DON’T shower for 6-10 hours after the treatment or better yet, sleep on it.
DON’T panic. The spray tan solution can rub off around waist bands, sleeves and toes, this is normal and should not affect the DHA that’s reacting with your skin to create your faux glow. The solutions have a bit of bronzer in them, which will wash off in the shower.
DO moisturize skin liberally (twice a day) after you shower to prolong the color. We have a supply of tan extenders for purchase.

Tips to Extend Your Tan

To maintain your tan, make sure that your skin is always moisturized, preferably twice a day. Your tan should last from 5 to 10 days.  Using the wrong products can fade your tan faster.

Below is a list of commonly used body care products that can have a detrimental effect on a spray tan. Not everyone will be effected by these products, this is only a guide.

Hormonal changes in women may affect the outcome of a spray tan. These hormonal changes include, but not limited to; ovulation,menstruation, pregnancy. The tan may become streaky, patchy, fade worse, or produce lighter or no color.

The following products can lighten or make a sunless tan blotchy: 

• AHA products (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)
• Glycolic, Lactic, Malic, Citric and Tartaric acids
• Anti-acne products that exfoliate, or dry the skin- Accutane, and Salicylic acid, can affect tan fading. Skin also peels, which can look unacceptable, especially with a tan. Antibiotics or other medications that affect your skin, can also affect your tan.
• Anti-aging products that “renew” “refresh” or otherwise exfoliate skin,
• Bar soaps, especially deodorant, or antibacterial varieties (Natural Handmade bar soaps are okay)
• BHA Products (Beta Hydroxy Acids-salicylic acid)
• Body hair bleach products will bleach the tan, non bleach skin lighteners are fine
• Bug spray, perfumes, body sprays when sprayed directly onto skin, can remove or fade the tan. Instead, spray clothing, or spray a “cloud” of spray that you can walk through, instead of directly onto skin.
• Dove soap, and Dove Shower gel, Curel lotions will fade a tan faster, on some people.
• Facial masks and exfoliating scrubs

**We have a selection of Tanning Extenders for your convenience**

Tips for a Healthy Winter Glow

Use an oil based moisturizer

Wear sunscreen (no, it’s not just for summertime!)

Use a humidifier to keep moisture in the air

Drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin

Avoid super hot baths

In the new year…

2012 is a great time to focus on yourself and your happiness.  I for one, will continue my positive thinking and maintaining my health.  I am also going to make sure I keep my kiddos healthy!  A great way to start is to use body lotion that has an SPF in it.  Ideally you want to to be wearing sunscreen all year long.  Even though it is cold and cloudy, those pesky UVA rays are out there and are waiting for your exposed skin…..yikes!!

Look for body lotions that protect against both rays (broad spectrum).  Below is a list 🙂

Happy New Year!

• Alba Botanical Very Emollient Body Lotion Daily Shade Formula
• Aveeno Body Moisture
• Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy SPF 15 Everyday Protection Body Lotion
• Jason Natural Hand/Body Lotion SPF15 Fragrance Free 8.5 oz
• Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E SPF 15 Body Lotion
• Yes To Carrots Hydrating Body Lotion With SPF 30