Swimsuit season is around the corner. While it can be tempting to take advantage of the summer sun to transform your skin from its pale winter complexion to a golden tan, don’t grab the tanning oil just yet.
Tanning Dangers
It doesn’t matter if you visit the tanning salon or you prefer soaking up the sun’s natural rays, tanning of any kind can do serious and sometimes dangerous damage to your skin.
While a tan is sometimes associated with “good health and looks,” a tan is actually a sign that your skin cells have been damaged. The skin darkens to try and protect itself from the sun. The damage from tanning is cumulative, meaning that the darker you get, the more your skin is trying to visibly communicate that it is being harmed and accelerates the aging skin, such as wrinkles, dark spots, and weathered skin.
The problems with tanning aren’t just cosmetic, though. Because not only does tanning damage your skin cells, it also increases your risks for cancers like:
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
In fact, one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. The culprit behind most skin cancers is exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet light. It’s the biggest risk factor for all types of skin cancer, including the deadliest form, melanoma.
While Caucasians (and men over 50) have the highest risk of developing skin cancer, everyone, no matter how fair or dark their skin tone, can be affected by skin cancer and suffer serious health consequences of UV damage. You are especially at risk if you have:
- Skin that burns easily
- Blond or red hair
- A history of excessive sun exposure
- A history of bad sunburns, even in childhood
- Tanning bed use
- A weakened immune system
But if you still want the warm glow of a tan, there are options without all of the UV damage. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using self-tanning products as an alternative to tanning outdoors in UV light from the sun or an indoor tanning bed.
No matter the weather or season, it’s important to practice sun safety. These natural tanning products from Lavera, Alba Botanica, and 100% Glow can help. So this summer, use these herbal tanning products and skip the sun.
Self-Tanning Lotion by Lavera
Self-Tanning Lotion from Lavera provides a beautifully even, streak-free golden color while nourishing and protecting your skin. That’s because it’s formulated with natural ingredients like shea butter, sunflower seed oil, aloe vera leaf juice, vitamin C, and calendula flower extract. Working together, this formulation is meant to soothe and protect your skin while still delivering the golden color you covet, just 3-4 hours after application.
Sunless Tanner Golden Tanning Without the Sun by Alba Botanica
Skip the sun and still achieve a golden tan year-round, with Sunless Tanner Golden Tanning Without The Sun from Alba Botanica. This light-textured and fast-absorbing lotion is easy to use on your face and body, and offers a natural, non-streaking golden tan in under 3 hours. And it’s also enriched with vitamins, herbs, and pure plant proteins for optimal potential benefits.
All Over Glow by 100% Glow
All Over Glow from 100% Pure nurtures and illuminates your skin at the same time. This natural bronzer is made with skin-loving ingredients like certified organic aloe vera juice, antioxidant-rich goji, acai, cacao, coffee cherry, and skin-softening pomegranate oil. This versatile formula can be applied alone on bare skin, or blended with your favorite makeup or moisturizer.
What are your favorite herbal tanning products that help you skip the sun (and the sun damage)?