Fall Fashion – Tan is IN

The temperature is falling, but that doesn’t mean you have to give in to pale skin for the next few months. Keep your summer glow all year round with an airbrush tan!

How it works:

When you get an airbrush tan, a technician uses as specialized tool to evenly spray a solution on your skin. The solution we’re referring to contains Dihydroxyacetone or “DHA” – I know it sounds kind of scary, but DHA isn’t some sort of toxic chemical. In fact, it’s a completely NON-toxic, organic compound often derived from plant sources such as sugar beets and sugar cane, and by the fermentation of glycerin. DHA-based sunless tanning has been recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation, American Academy of Dermatology Association, Canadian Dermatology Association and the American Medical Association as a safer alternative to sun-bathing. When you get a tan from laying out in the sun, UV Rays are penetrating deep into the inner layers of your skin where they can cause serious skin damage, even cancer! But DHA works only in the outermost layer of your skin and changes your skin tone in a safe, natural way.

How long does it last?

On average an airbrush tan lasts 6-10 days. But there are steps you can take to make sure it lasts as long as possible. Be sure you exfoliate before your appointment. The night before, take a shower and scrub, scrub, scrub! We are constantly growing new skin cells and old ones flake off to reveal fresh new skin below. We want to be sure we are spraying the new, healthy skin and not old, dead skin on the surface! Be sure to shave before you come in, too. And don’t wear any lotions or perfumes on the day of your appointment. We want to be sure that the solution doesn’t encounter any obstacles and can be applied directly and evenly to your fresh new, smooth, clean skin! After your tan, avoid showering, working out, swimming, or anything requiring you to get wet for the first few hours. Let it really soak in and give it time to be absorbed. Avoid tight-fitting clothes when you come in for your appointment for the same reason – you don’t want the solution to be rubbed, washed, or smudged away before it has a chance to set into your skin. After those first few hours, break out the lotion! Keep your skin nice a moisturized for the duration of your tan. If you can avoid letting your skin dry out and fake off, your tan will last longer.

The benefits

You might be wondering why anyone really feels like they need a tan in winter to begin with… well, you’d be surprised what a little bit of color can do! It’s been shown that an airbrush tan, when properly applied, can make you look thinner, younger, and healthier. The color can help to mask age spots, cellulite, and blemishes, too. Your airbrush tan technician isn’t going to let you look orange, either. We know the nuances of our solutions and how to create a natural looking skin tone for each unique customer. In the dead of winter, you don’t want to look like you spent all night sleeping in a tanning booth, you just want a touch of color to make you glow and we can get you that perfect shade. It only takes a few minutes and costs less than you might think!  Give us a call to see for yourself!  🙂

Spring Tanning Options

Spring is around the corner and you want to start preparing for all your warmer-weather activities and outfits. Looking pale as a ghost doesn’t go well with your spring wardrobe! So what are your options to get that healthy glowing tan that will look great with everything?

Sun Bathing

You can always go outside and soak in the sun. While it might cost less than other options, it’s definitely less safe and takes a longer time to get results. UV Radiation is what creates a tan and this radiation can be very dangerous. Sun burn is the risk we most often think of. Sun burn is not fun at all. It’s painful, ugly, and lasts longer than anyone would like. But there are other dangers, too…  UV Rays are known to cause skin cancer, cataracts, premature skin aging, and suppression of the immune system. UVA rays in particular have been shown to increase the chance of getting melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer! As great as getting a perfect tan can be, it’s certainly not worth dying for.

Tanning Beds

Tanning beds work by emitting ultraviolet radiation, or UV Rays, which work deep inside your skin to change pigment and create a tan. There are two types of UV rays – UVA and UVB. Most tanning beds primarily emit UVA rays, although some “high pressure” tanning beds emit a more concentrated mixture of the two. UV Radiation is that dangerous radiation we just talked about. There are plenty of side effects to watch out for.

The FDA has banned the use of tanning beds by minors and strongly discourages people from using tanning beds for cosmetic purposes. There are simply too many risks involved. Besides skin cancer, you risk getting a sunburn, and without using goggles, you put yourself at risk of getting a condition called arc eye, or snow blindness – which is basically like a sunburn on your eyes! Talk about painful! Many tanning booths limit your exposure to 20 minutes, but depending on your skin type, 20 minutes can be enough time to cause serious damage, especially when you go often.

Why spend time and money for something so dangerous? There’s a safer alternative…

Airbrush Tanning

Spray tanning has come a LONG way since the days where it was an obvious, streaky, orange mess.  We’ve mastered the formula and the application, creating the modern airbrush tan. It’s a work of art. The artists hardly get credit though, since their work looks so natural that you’d never even know!

Airbrush tanning doesn’t create color using a dye or stain, it uses a compound called Dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, which is an all-natural, simple carbohydrate with formula C3H6O3. This skin browning effect is non-toxic and similar to the Maillard reaction. Different amino acids react to DHA in different ways, producing different tones of coloration from yellow to brown. The resulting pigments are similar in coloration to melanin, the natural substance which browns or “tans” from exposure to UV rays. But all of this takes place in the outermost layer of the skin, not deep in the lower layers like a sun tan. It’s a natural, organic reaction, not one caused by radiation. The result is a natural looking tan without the harmful side effects.

We no longer have to stand in a booth that sprays you and turn around hoping to get every inch of skin evenly either! Airbrush tans are applied using a special spray “gun” by trained professionals. You won’t miss a spot or have some areas darker than others. Airbrush tanning technicians can even apply the formula in such a way that you can add slimming contours and cover problem areas specifically.

When properly cared for, an airbrush tan can last up to 10 days. It’s a natural, organic, safe option for getting some color all year long. And best of all? It’s quick! Instead of lying around all day getting a tan, you can be in and out in 15 minutes with a full body tan, and technicians can even come to your home with a mobile station and do it for you there!

Give us a call for an appointment and see what all the fuss is about.

Full Body Make-Over For Under $40?!

You want to look slimmer, healthier, more toned, and lose your cellulose and varicose veins….  Don’t even think about adding up the costs of all the surgeries and injections it would take. The price tag would be shocking. What if I told you that you could have all these results for under a hundred bucks? What if I told you that you could do it for under FIFTY?! And then what if I told you it only takes 20 mins!  Nope, I’m not just lying to you… you really can! And it’s in a way you probably never thought about….  a simple, safe, organic airbrush tan!

No, really!

Spray tans have long had a bad rep for turning people orange and streaky. That’s not the case! Airbrush tans don’t use stains or dyes, they use an organic and safe compound called DHA. It only works on the top layer of skin, and doesn’t penetrate and damage deeper skin cells the way that tanning beds can. It’s FDA approved and all natural. Since it creates a tan in a natural way and is applied by a specially trained technician, your tan will not look orange and streaky. It will look so natural that most people won’t be able to tell it isn’t from the sun itself.

Airbrush technicians can contour the application to make you look thinner, have bigger cleavage, and even have more toned muscles. It’s incredible what some well-placed color can do.  It also makes you look healthier when your skin has some color to it. A healthy glow goes farther than make-up!

Airbrush tanning can also cover up certain blemishes. It does wonders to hide veins and cellulite. It can also mask blotchy skin or age spots, as well as make stretch marks and scars less visible.  It’s not a magic wand, but it certainly helps!

An airbrush tan won’t last forever, but if you exfoliate before your appointment and avoid showering after it and then keeping your skin nice and moisturized, you can prolong your tan up to 10, sometimes more!, days.  It’s great to do all year round. Extra great for special occasions or big events. Time to see what an amazing make-over it can be for yourself! Make an appointment today!

 

How To Get a Natural Tan

It’s summer. You’re not all bundled up anymore, you’re going to be showing some skin! You want that skin to look great when you do, right? Tans are ideal because they hide more flaws and look healthier than pale, pasty skin. But we all know there is a huge difference between being TAN and being ORANGE!  We’ve all seen someone who overdoes it on the self-toner and spends a few hours too many in the tanning bed and comes out looking like an orange leather handbag…  No one wants to look like that! You want a healthy, glowing, NATURAL tan. So how do you get one? Well…

Your skin gets tan because the sun produces UV rays that penetrate your skin. These UV rays are actually pretty dangerous. It’s like being in a giant microwave.  So to protect your cells from literally baking, your body produces melanin to absorb these rays safely. This is what makes your skin darker. But getting a natural tan from the sun is sometimes tricky. There is a fine line between tanning and burning. Try as you might to protect yourself, I’m sure there’s been a time or two when you’ve gotten a dreaded sunburn. It looks and feels terrible. Painful, itchy, peeling, bright red skin is a far cry from healthy, gorgeous, glowing tan skin! But that’s just one of the risks of tanning outdoors in the sun. Long term sun exposure can deeply damage the anatomy of your skin cells and cause wrinkles, sun spots, and even skin cancer.  Tanning beds produce UV rays as well, so it works in much the same way. It also carries the same risks.

You might think that’s the only way to get a natural tan, but it’s actually not!  Airbrush tanning is another natural way to tan. (I know… I’ll give you a minute to pick up the pieces of your blown mind…)  It’s not a paint or a dye that gets applied to the skin like most people think it is, which is why it won’t leave you looking orange the way most self-tanners do. Airbrush tanning actually uses a non-toxic, completely organic compound called DHA.  It doesn’t cause wrinkles, sun spots, or skin cancer the way the sun can because it doesn’t penetrate deeply enough to damage your skin cells. DHA creates a chemical reaction within the amino acids in the very outermost layer of your skin. It’s a little bit like when you cut an apple and it begins to turn brown on the surface. This reaction does not involve the underlying skin pigmentation, nor does it require exposure to UV rays to initiate the change in color. It’s a natural, temporary color that looks just like a tan that occurs from melanin. Airbrush tans typically last about 7-10 days if you exfoliate properly before your appointment. It’s FDA approved and less expensive than you probably think it is for such an amazing treatment.

So the next time you want a natural tan, try airbrushing!

Airbrush Tanning Vs. Self Tanners

It’s too cold to get a natural tan outdoors, and you’ve heard all about the dangers of tanning beds, so your options are limited if you want to get a great tan during winter.

You can:

A.) Go somewhere tropical (take us with you!)

B.) Use a self-tanning product

C.) Get an airbrush tan

 

Self-tanners come in many forms. There are plenty of sprays and lotions that you can choose from and they range in price from a few dollars at your local pharmacy to hundreds of dollars at a fancy salon. The ingredients vary from product to product. Many of them use dyes to stain your skin. Unless you’re very familiar with the product and how it looks on your particular skin tone, it’s hard to tell what shade of tan you’ll end up with. This sometimes ends up leaving you with an unnatural, embarrassing orange color.

You also have to be careful applying your self-tanners. If you miss a spot, your tan will look patchy. You have to properly rub all the solution into your skin or you will end up with streaks or splotches of darker color. Sometimes this is hard to do on your back or in places that you can’t easily see or reach. There are some areas that you don’t want to be as dark as the rest of your skin, too – such as the back of your knees or palms of your hands. It looks unnatural and stands out as a fake tan, when the goal is to have a tan that looks natural! Certain self tanning products can also stain your clothes or furniture, so you’ll have to be cautious around fabrics.

Getting an airbrush tan eliminates many of these concerns, however!

When you get an airbrush tan, your technician will be able to help you find the right shade for your skin tone. They’re experts at making sure your color won’t look too dark or too unnatural. Airbrush tanning solutions don’t use stains or dyes to create that color. There’s an all natural, organic compound called DHA that reacts safely and naturally with the outermost layer of your skin to create a darker pigment naturally. This is added to a bronzing agent to create the perfect glow. All of our products are vegan and never tested on animals.

Having an expert technician apply the solution also ensures that there will be no missed spots, no streaks, and no unnatural looking tans on areas that you DON’T want!

All of this is much less expensive than you think, too! Check our website for prices and specials. Make your appointment and start looking and feeling amazing with an airbrush tan from Shine!

The History of Tanning

Sun tanning is popular in today’s culture, and tans are seen as beautiful, but that wasn’t always the case!

Centuries ago, having pale skin was a status symbol. Lower class workers, such as gardeners and carpenters, had darker skin because they were outdoors all day, so being tan was something looked down upon. Women went to great lengths to avoid the sun! Arsenic was even tragically used in the 10th century to whiten the skin. Later on, upper class women wore hats and rarely left the houe without a parasol. They also caked their faces in heavy white powder to appear pale.

The tanning trend started to take off in the 1920’s. Led by the likes of Josephine Baker and Coco Chanel, soon having caramel colored skin was all the rage. In the 1930’s, movies began using color film, which further propelled the tanning movement! Starlets were seen basking in the sun at Hollywood swimming pools, and “sun therapy” was being prescribed to cure common illnesses! Swim suits became skimpier and skimpier, and by the 1950’s, bikinis became the hottest fashion trend.

It was a complete turn-around. Having a tan was now a symbol of wealth and leisure! People were using silver UV reflectors to get darker tans. In 1953, Coppertone was put on the map with the iconic symbol of the blonde girl and her dog tugging at her bikini bottoms to reveal her tan lines. The tag lines was “Don’t Be A Pale Face” and “Tan Don’t Burn!” In the 1960’s, people all over the country were using cocoa butter and baby oil as tanning lotions. The surfing lifestyle was all the rage and California was the place to be! “The Endless Summer” and The Beach Boys solidified this!

By the 70’s, people wanted to have tans year-round.  In 1975, the tanning booth was created to give you that “just got back from vacation” look all year long. Mattel introduced Malibu Barbie the same year. George Hamilton became the first tan Dracula in “Love At First Bite” shortly after! Sunscreen with SPF 15 came out and more people than ever could enjoy themselves in the sun. Movies like “10” and shows like “Baywatch” kept the tan craze alive and well for decades to come. Higher SPF sunscreens were invented, as well as water-proof varieties and spray-on’s. Tan enhancers such as Maxgel and Sizzle became popular with both indoor and outdoor tanners. Tanning became big business – more and more tanning salons opened, offering customers access to tanning booths.

Eventually, we began studying and learning more about the effects of the sun. It was discovered that too much sun exposure causes serious cellular damage, and is a leading cause of skin cancer. People are now urged to use higher SPF sunscreen and avoid too much time in mid-day sun. Sunless tanning became a safer alternative to roasting at the beach all day or hopping into tanning beds which saturate you with potentially harmful UV rays. There are bronzers you can apply yourself at home and spray tan booths that will spray color at you! Sunless tanning has come a long way from the orange dye that they used to use. The most effective and natural looking sunless tan available today is airbrush tanning. A technician will apply a solution to your skin evenly and make sure you look naturally tan. It’s hard to tell the difference between an airbrush tan and a tan you get from being outdoors. Airbrush tanning solutions contain a compound called DHA which naturally stimulates your skin to produce color, but does not permiate your deep skin tissues the way UV rays do. An airbrush tan will last approximately 7-10 days. It’s FDA approved and currently the safest alternative to baking your body in the sun. It won’t cause wrinkles and leathery skin the way too much sun can, too!

Being tan is still considered beautiful and most of the models you see in magazines and actors you catch on TV are perfectly bronzed. Tan skin hides imperfections and makes you look younger and healthier. Tanning isn’t going anywhere!