Why should I use a tanning lotion?
Why should I only buy my lotion from a salon?
What are tanning pills and are they safe?
Is indoor tanning safer than outdoor tanning?
I've always heard that I need to burn before I can tan. Is this true?
I forgot my eyewear today. Can I tan anyway?
How do I know what skin type I am?
What can I do to extend my tan?
I'm following my tanning schedule exactly, but my legs just aren't tanning. Why?
Airbrush FAQs
How long does it last?
What is the difference between airbrushing and using cream sunless tanners at home?
How do I prepare for an airbrush session?
How long after the application can I shower?
Will the solution stain my clothes or sheets?
What should I wear?
What is DHA and is it safe?
Can I tan in a bed after airbrushing?
How long does it take to dry?
How many sessions will I need to achieve the color I want?
Why is an airbrush application better than misting booths or applying by hand?
Can I have the airbrush done in my hotel room?
Do I need an appointment?
General Tanning FAQs
Q: Should I use a tanning lotion?
A: YES! Healthy moist skin will tan faster, get darker and retain your tan longer than dry skin. Throughout the tanning process, it is very important to replenish the skin with moisture and nutrients. Using a quality accelerator and lotion specifically formulated for indoor tanning with a hydrating and skin repairing ingredients is essential for proper skin care and to help achieve a healthier-looking, longer-lasting tan.
Caribbean Sun has the quality accelerator and lotion that is right for you and your budget. Lotions create an alluring bronzed radiance while select botanical extracts, essential oils, vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and natural plant extracts deeply replenish, nourish and hydrate skin making it softer and more youthful-looking.
The best results require an accelerator for faster, darker tanning and a quality moisturizer is necessary for maintaining and extending your tan.
Q: Why should I only buy my lotion from a salon?
A: Consumers may not be getting the indoor tanning products that they think they are when they purchase them through unauthorized outlets like discount websites, local flea markets or non-tanning outlets. Outdated, discontinued, damaged and tampered-with products are often the products that are diverted into these outlets. REMEMBER: Professional tanning products should be recommended by a qualified indoor tanning specialist to insure proper use. Indoor tanning products have unique ingredients that should be used only as directed to ensure the finest tan possible.
Q: What are tanning pills and are they safe?
A: What a wonderful thought: I can just take a little pill and instantly be tan! No spending time in a bed, no risk of overexposing, no hassle! While this sounds like the ultimate new development in tanning, this couldn't be farther from the truth. In the quest for the perfect tan, many people may look for a "magic pill" that will help them achieve this with minimal exposure to ultraviolet radiation. There are no such pills approved for this purpose. Nevertheless, pills bearing tanning claims continue to appear on the market. Nutritional supplements, or tanning pills, that "promote" tanning proliferate, and ads for them are everywhere.
Why? The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act passed by the United States Congress in 1994 allows the marketing of products as a "dietary supplement" without the approval of any government agency, as long as the labeling includes a disclaimer saying that it has not been evaluated by the FDA and the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If a question about safety arises, the burden of proof is on the FDA, not the manufacturer.
Canthaxanthin-based products
The active ingredient in most tanning pills is canthaxanthin, which is most commonly used as a color additive in certain foods. Although the FDA has approved the use of canthaxanthin in food, it does not approve its use as a tanning agent. When used as a color additive, only very small amounts of canthaxanthin are necessary. As a tanning agent, however, much larger quantities are used. After canthaxanthin is consumed, it is deposited throughout the body, including in the layer of fat below the skin, which turns an orange-brown color. These types of tanning pills have been linked to various side effects, including canthaxanthin retinopathy, a condition in which yellow deposits form in the retina of the eye, and may result in blindness or severe vision loss or impairment. Side effects including damage to the digestive system, liver, and skin surface have also been noted. The FDA withdrew approval for use of canthaxanthin as a tanning agent, and has issued warnings concerning its use.
Canthaxanthin-based 'Tanning Pills' Are Not FDA-Approved. In fact, all tanning pills which contain caretenoids in sufficient quantity to tint human skin, whether the caretenoid in question is beta carotene, lycopene, or canthaxanthin, are illegal for sale in the U.S.
Conclusion: Caretenoid pills have no effect at all on melanogenesis (the process of producing pigment in your skin), but they absolutely do change the visible color of the skin. Because you have no control over where your body deposits the pigment, however, the results may not be pleasing. One woman, for instance, ended up with two stripes down the sides of her nose. Because people have protective pads of fat on the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet, those areas tend to turn bright orange — and stay that way for months. On top of that, the pigment will color all of your bodily wastes (excrement, tears, sweat, urine) an orange-red tint. Doesn't quite sound like a "magic pill" anymore..
Sources:
http://www.sunless.com/safe/tanningpillsdontwork.php &
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-tan2.html
Q:Is indoor tanning safer than outdoor tanning?
A: Legally, we cannot say it is safer to tan indoor as opposed to outdoors. However, keep the following facts in mind:
Indoor tanners are at a great advantage by having access to the control and comfort that is part of the indoor tanning experience. In addition to various state and local regulations in place, national guidelines set by the Federal government enhance the controllable factors involved in indoor tanning. Since 1986, Federal Performance Standards for tanning devices have been in place to cover and control many of the following aspects of indoor tanning:
-Timer control
-Protective eyewear
-Temperature control
-Electrical safety
-Protection from lamps
-Equipment access and support, and more
VARIABLES INVOLVED IN OUTDOOR TANNING
Outdoor tanners are at the mercy of many uncontrolled elements. Here is an example of a few things to consider if tanning outdoors:
1. Solar elevation (height of the sun in the sky)
The intensity of outdoor ultraviolet light (the sun), and especially UVB, depends on the height of the sun in the sky. This will vary depending on the season of the year, time of day and latitude in which you live. UV intensities are highest during the summer months in the 4-hour period around noon (or 13:00 if daylight saving is in effect).
UVB intensity varies more with the time of the day than does UVA. As a rule of thumb "when your shadow is shorter than your own height" you may receive half or more of UVB during the 4 hours around solar noon on a clear summer day. In summer at noontime, UVB is two to three times more intense in equatorial areas than in northern Europe. At about 600 latitude the total UVB exposure during the months of January and February can be less than one clear day's exposure around midsummer.
2. Latitude and Altitude
The UV intensity at the earth's surface is related to the angle at which the UV rays pass through the atmosphere. In the tropics (close to 00 latitude, or near the equator) solar UV is more intense because it has less distance to travel through the atmosphere to the earth's surface.
UV intensities increase with altitude. This is because the amount of atmosphere available to absorb UV is reduced, and so more and shorter wavelength UV is able to reach higher altitude areas. In high altitudes, skiers can be exposed to higher intensities of UV, especially as snow is an excellent reflector.
3. Atmospheric Scattering
Solar UV is composed of direct and scattered radiation. The sky looks blue because the blue rays from sunlight are highly scattered by the atmosphere. UV is scattered even more than blue light, and this can lead to an increase in a person's exposure.
4. Clouds and Haze
UV intensities are highest under cloudless skies. Clouds generally reduce UV intensity, but light or thin clouds have little effect and under certain conditions may even enhance the UV intensity. Hazy days generally have higher amounts of water vapor; UV scatter in the atmosphere increases and can result in a higher personal UV exposure. Thus, even though haze or cloud cover can cause one to feel cooler, the UV exposure can still be high.
5. Ground reflection
The reflective properties of the ground have an influence on UV exposure. Most natural surfaces such as grass, soil and water reflect less than 10% of incident UV. However, fresh snow strongly reflects (80%) UV. During spring in higher altitudes, under clear skies, reflection from snow could increase UV exposure levels to those encountered during summer. Sand also reflects (10-25%) and can significantly increase UV exposure at the beach.
Reflected UV is a key source of exposure to the eye. Acute effects, such as snow-blindness while skiing or photokeratitis at the beach, can result from UV reflected from snow or sand respectively.
Q: I've always heard that I need to burn before I can tan. Is this true?
A: Absolutely NOT! In fact, burning does nothing but harm you. Also, burning causes peeling, so your "tan" will just peel away within a couple days.
Q: I forgot my eyewear today. Can I tan anyway?
A: No. Every client using tanning equipment must use federally compliant eyewear. Towels, scarves or eyelids do not adequately protect eyes from ultraviolet exposure. In fact, your eyelids only block out 25% of harmful rays. In addition to state laws, Federal regulations require that tanners wear protective eyewear. When proper eyewear is not used during the tanning process, the potential for eye injury is greatly increased. Some eye injuries and disorders include Photokeratitis (Cornea Sunburn), Cataracts, Pterygium (Abnormal tissue growth) and Damage To The Cornea.
Q: How do I know what skin type I am so I know what tanning schedule to use?
A: Our tanning specialists will assist you in determining your skin type and help you develop the most effective tanning schedule. Below are some guidelines to help you.
Skin Type I:
Usually bright white or pale skin, blue or green eyes, red hair and many freckles. This skin type always burns outdoors, never tans.
NOTE:A person who is a true Skin Type I
should avoid tanning indoors and outdoors.
Skin Type II:
Beige skin, blue or grey eyes; blonde or light brown hair
and some freckles. This skin type has a strong tendency to sunburn outdoors, but
sometimes tans.
Skin Type III:
Light brown skin, brown eyes and hair. This skin type
sometimes burns outdoors but always tans.
Skin Type IV:
Light brown or olive skin, dark brown eyes and hair. This
skin type sometimes burns outdoors and tans readily.
Skin Type V:
Brown skin, dark brown hair and eyes. This skin type rarely
burns outdoors and tans easily.
Skin Type VI:
Black skin, black-brown eyes and hair. This skin type rarely sunburns outdoors.
Q: What can I do to extend my tan?
A:Moisturize. Your skin is constantly renewing itself. The dryer your skin is, the faster it wants to shed it's top layers and bring new skin to the surface. You loose the top layers, you loose your tan. Also, the healthier your skin is, the better it tans. Dry layers on the surface of your skin will block the UV rays from getting to the other layers to tan them. Even if you moisturize you still need to maintain a tanning schedule of every 4 to 5 days, or at least once a week, to keep your tan, because your skin is reproducing new cells all the time.
Q: I'm following my tanning schedule exactly, but my legs just aren't tanning. Why?
A:The skin on your legs are thicker than other parts of your body,making it more difficult for the light to penetrate. There is not as much fatty tissue (especially on the shins), therefore there is not as much blood flowing around as places like your stomach and buttocks. And ladies, whenever you shave your legs, you take some of the top layers of your skin off. Those top layers were your tan. If you feel you are ready, try a tingle lotion. It may help to get the blood flowing.
Q: How long does it last?
A: Depending on your skin and how often your skin naturally exfoliates, your tan could last 5 to 7 days. Using a good quality lotion everyday can help you keep your tan from fading for up to 2 weeks.
Q: What is the difference between airbrushing and using cream sunless tanners at home?
A: Let's just put it this way: It's like fingerpainting your car as opposed to having it sprayed on. You just can't duplicate the consistancy and natural look of an airbrush tan.
Q: How do I prepare for an airbrush session?
A: For maximum results, shower and exfoliate before your session. Be sure your skin is free of any perfumes, lotions, deodorants, or any product that could create a barrier.
Q: How long after the application can I shower?
A: We recommend waiting at least 6 hours after your session before showering, going in the pool or hottub, or doing any strenuous activity that would cause you to sweat. Any of these could strip the DHA from your skin before it has a chance to develop.
Q: Will the solution stain my clothes or sheets?
A: Our solution is water-soluble, so should any rub off onto your clothes, it will wash right out.
Q: What should I wear?
A: Many clients opt to be nude during their session. However, we always provide disposable underwear and bras for your use, or you may wear any of your own bathing suits or underwear. Loose fitting clothing should be wore to and from the salon.
Q: What is DHA and is it safe?
A: DHA is dihydroxyacetone, a carbohydrate (monosaccharide sugar) compound approved by the FDA for use in externally applied sunless tanning solutions. DHA is usually derived from a vegetable source like beets or sugar cane. Its properties as a skin darkener were discovered in the 1920's but weren't marketed as such until the 1960's when Coppertone®
introduced Quick Tan®. It was added to the FDA's list of
approved cosmetic ingredients in the 1970's. DHA is the tanning ingredient used
in the Mystic Tan tanning solution that has produced more than 2 million
sunless tans with no documented reports of adverse effects.
Q: Can I tan after airbrushing?
A: Absolutely. But remember, the airbrush solution contains no SPF, so use caution.
Q: How long does it take to dry?
A: Usually you will be dry by the time the session is completely. However, to avoid any creases or lines, we recommend you wait about 5 to 10 minutes before putting on your clothes.
Q: How many sessions will I need to achieve the color I want?
A: You will definately see results after your first application. If you wish to be darker, you can always come back for another session. Applying too much solution in one sitting is where streaks and a faint orange tint originate. We recommend coming in 2-3 times to achieve that bronze glow you are after.
Q: Why is an airbrush application better than misting booths or applying by hand?
A:The airbrush is a precision instrument that allows for a smooth, flawless application. Special care can be taken to avoid over application on problem areas such as knees, elbows, hair, blemishes, hands, feet, and other skin afflictions that tend to absorb more color.
Mist-on booths require a series of body contortions within the booth to cover each area. The machine or the client has no control over the product and where it ends up.
Most people who have used the various booths on the market have two compaints in common. The first is uneven total body coverage and the second is horrible looking feet and hands. To an educated airbrush technician this comes as no surprise. These booths don't gently cover the entire body with tanning solution, they soak it. Needless to say the majority of it lands on the feet creating a horrid condition. The feet and hands have a combination of thin skin and callous, the worst possible scenario for over application.
In addition, upon exiting the booth you are told to rub in and wipe off the excess solution which totally defeats the purpose of a spray on application. If you have to rub it in you might as well use a hand applied product.
Hand application often results in streaky coloration, stained palms, and terrible looking hands and feet. The airbrush with its inherent precision and flexibility combined with a well trained technician is by far the application method of choice .
Q: Can I have the airbrush done in my hotel room?
A: Sure. Please call for rates.
Q: Do I need an appointment?
A: We ask that you call at least 4 hours ahead to make an appointment to ensure our airbrush technician will be onsite.