Two Excellent Tanning & Melanoma Resources

I found two good resources for information on Melanoma on the web at health-related sites FamilyDoctor.org and WebMD. The first article describes the basics of melanoma, and explains the “ABCDE”s of detection. The second article describes how different risk factors contribute to the risk of melanoma; both genetic and avoidable causes are addressed. As the WebMD article says, the bottom line for prevention is “wearing, and having your children wear, sunscreen every time they are outdoors when there is daylight, and reapply it every two hours”.

SluffWIPES Sunless Tanning Towel Review

There are so many products of dubious quality and value that we will mention both the good and the bad. SluffWIPES are an exfoliating towel designed to be used before you apply a sunless tanning lotion. It creates a smoother and more even color. Which is great and we recommend exfoliating before applying any tanning product but at this price it doesn’t make any sense. They sell 40 wipes for $24 or $0.60 per wipe. They recommend using 2-3 wipes per an exfoliation. At that price, you may as well just use one of many self-tanning wipes, like the TanTowel Evolution Plus 50 Pack, which feature both exfoliating AND DHA based sunless tanning.

Mini-review:

Strengths: Effective exfoliating product, we recommend sanding your body before you tan

Weaknesses: Terrible value, better off getting a product which saves you money and time

This product is a meh, TanningMoisturizer advises you to pass.

Tanning Accelerator

Tanning Accelerators work in conjunction with UV exposure to provide a relatively easy method of speeding up the tanning process. Most tanning accelerators contain the chemicals psoralens or tyrosine. These chemicals help produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color.

In order for tanning accelerators to work optimally, they need to be applied to the skin 3-4 weeks prior to UV exposure. This can be rather inconvenient, so plan accordingly. Tanning accelerators can work for almost any skin type but benefit individuals with fair skin the most. Similar to other tanning products on the market, tanning accelerators also provide users with a moisturizing agent that helps nourish the skin and keeps away fine lines and wrinkles.

While there are tangible benefits to the use of Tanning Accelerator, there are a few potential threats that can occur through extended use. Here is an excerpt taken from the BetterHealth website.

There is no evidence that the topical use of tyrosine has any effect on melanin cells. When applied to the skin, tan accelerator products can cause painful conditions, including blistering. Psoralens should only be used under medical supervision to treat skin problems such as psoriasis. Using tan accelerators for a long time has also been associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. When taken by mouth, the possible side effects of tan accelerator products include nausea, headaches and itchy skin.

Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel: Worth the Price?

The Clarins Self Tanning Gel isn’t much of a gel at all. I’d call it more of a lotion than anything. I’m convinced that Clarins only promotes this self-taning product as a gel to rationalize the exorbitant $30 they charge for something so ordinary.

That’s not to say that I didn’t like the tanner. The tan I received was authentic, dark yet understated, and the smooth blend of the moisturizing agent left a nice feeling on my skin. The fragrance itself I found to be rather pleasant but I can see some people being turned off by the distinctive smell.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about this self-tanning product. I have very few complaints as far as the tanner is concerned other than the steep price. However, I am a proponent of cheaper alternatives in cosmetics and I think that $30 is just too much to spend on a glorified tanning lotion.

Tips From Jergens on Natural Glow

There is a lot of information and advice on the internet about tanning moisturizer, but if you want to get the inside scoop from Jergens why not go straight to the source? This is a good overview for Jergens covering

» Choosing the right formula
» How to apply
» What to expect
» Maintaining your skin glow

While TanningMoisturizer Tanning Moisturizer.Com is the internet authority on tanning moisturizer, don’t take our word for it, check it out for yourself! And then read our reviews of Jergens Natural Glow Daily Tanning Moisturizer. Your skin will thank you.

To Tan or Not to Tan Consider Quench Radiance Reviver by Olay

If you feel weird having a “natural” looking tan in the middle of the winter, or have a skin tone that may not look fantastic with a bronzed tan, a good alternative to typical self tanners is Quench Radiance Reviver by Olay. Like other self-tanning products on the market, Quench Radiance Reviver claims to moisturize skin and give it a “more radiant, natural-looking glow.” It claims, however, that it is different from most tanning products. According to the website:

“Many color-enhancing skin care products, like self-tanners, deliver an intense “coat” of saturated color and aren’t designed to significantly improve the quality of the skin’s moisture barrier. Radiance Reviver’s unique combination of color-enhancing and moisturizing ingredients is proven to help produce long-lasting, natural looking color that highlights — not hides — a woman’s natural skin tone.”

Olay is as readily available as other over-the-counter self-tanners and can usually be purchased for $7-$10 in drugstores.

Dangers of Tanning Booths

Check out this page which contains information from the Health Safety Executive (a branch of the British government). It has some great information which reminds people that tanning booths and other UV equipment are just as dangerous as natural sunlight. I also found this PDF on the HSE website which describes how to control the health risks associated with tanning booths. Of course, the best way to control the risk is to stop using them!