What Are We All To Do Without Sunless Tanner? [UPDATED]
Last week we told you about the latest reports on DHA, the ingredient in sunless tanners that we have championed in the past (it’s natural! it’s a sugar!). Now the new science is saying that it may cause DNA damage. As always, more research is needed for anything conclusive, but we can no longer recommend that you use this stuff in good conscience.
I don’t know about you, but in recent summers I’ve loved using a little self-tanner on my face to up my glow. I’ve always enjoyed getting some sun on my arms and legs, but while I’m not a big sunscreen user, I still tend to be careful with exposure on my face. That’s where the lotion came in handy.
So what are the options for your face if, like me, you’re ditching the sunless stuff?
1. Stay pale, use blush.
Pale skin with a fresh pink cheek is never out of season. But if you want to mix it up for the summer go with something a little peachier. Peach says sun-kissed without looking garish on super fair skin.
2. Fake it carefully with some bronzer.
If you are very pale, bronzer does run the risk of looking a little silly. But if your skin’s not of the translucent variety—and bless you girls who needn’t worry about this at all—a nice clean bronzer may just do the trick. Here’s a good tip to avoid looking clownish, especially for daytime wear: mix a little bit into your moisturizer or favorite oil when you apply it instead of using a brush. It’ll be more subtle and dewy like that.
3. Get a little sun.
There’s not a dermatologist in the free world that will recommend you get any unprotected sun exposure on your face, but I’m a believer that anything in moderation can’t be that bad. Am I encouraging you to sit out and cook your mug? Heck no. Do I think ten minutes here and there is going to turn you into a leather-faced old hag. Neither.
At the end of the day, we all just need to work with the skin we have and find the subtle compliments that make us look (and feel) healthiest. So while I’m sad to see sunless tanners go, at least until more is known, I’m up for finding more great natural bronzers and blushes. So please post your favorites!
Did you use sunless tanners in the past, and will this new science deter you now? If so, what are your plans for getting your glow on this summer?
UPDATE! I can’t believe I forgot this tip. Eat more veggies! They’re proven to give skin a tan-like glow. See?
You know something I’m finding really liberating and wonderful about my “clean” journey? The way I am learning more and more to accept what I’ve got. I used to buy EVERYTHING because it was the hottest new thing, or Supermodel X used it, or a magazine promised I would become whole if I just tried it out. Well since I’ve stopped believing that the latest miracle product would actually work a miracle and make me perfect and solve all life’s problems I’ve learned that my ole mug ain’t half bad. Sure, I’m not in the running to becoming America’s Next Top Model, but I don’t dread my reflection in the mirror (with or without make up) and I don’t think there is any one thing that will make me or stop me from being beautiful. So I’m pretty fair, and my skin tone isn’t very even. I was very fond of tanning, either using the sun, sunbeds (one brief season I was addicted) and then the “safe” self-tan version. But using cleaner products, changing my diet and my lifestyle (goodbye cigarettes, hello fresh air and exercise!) has made more difference than any make up or serum ever could. So will I be tan this year? A little, because of that good old fresh air and exercise, I’ll get some sun exposure, but I’ll limit it and live with being a little fair, a little freckled, and a whole lotta just me, the way I was made.
Beautiful, @Naomi!
I bought Chocolate Sun probably a year or so ago with the intent to use it on my legs – I’m very pale with some veins that are minimized by a bit of a tan. I never did get around to using it, and just as I was getting to thinking of it again, this report came out. Either I’ll just not use it, or I’ll look into it more and evaluate the science for myself and then make a more informed decision. It will probably be the just not use it route. Like Naomi I’ve learned to appreciate my skin so much more. I do sometimes like a little color on my face though…
I am fine with a little sun on most of my body, but my face and chest have accumulated too much damage over the years so those areas are always protected by clothing or sunscreen. As a pale girl, it’s hard to find bronzers that look right, and hard to use anything shimmery without making my pores look enormous. So I made a DIY recipe (part of what I sent in for the contest, actually) that seems timely with this post. It’s basically 1:1:1.25 kaolin, rice powder and a mineral shimmer blush or bronzer (adjust ratio for color/shimmer desired). I use Alima blush in Sugar Rose or bronzer in Belize (I’m Olive 1 in Alima foundation for a just-how-pale-am-I reference). Mix ingredients thoroughly in a clean container and place in a convenient jar. Brush it on face, collar bones, shoulder, etc. I use these jars for storage and they are awesome http://www.coastalscents.com/make-your-own-1/packaging/jars/sj-c-20.html
I am a very pale lady but tanning never appealed to me: I don’t tan in the sun anyway and I just can’t imagine investing the time etc. in fake tanning of any kind. Lest you think I am inhumanly okay with every part of my body, let me assure you I refused to wear dresses when the thermometer rose above 72 for years so I wouldn’t have to expose my pale legs (I don’t wear shorts). I finally got over that in the past few years. It seems that most people are far more focused on themselves than they are on me–not a single person has blocked their eyes to avert the blinding whiteness of my legs. And I bet if I were to point out their paleness as excessive, I’d get a few slightly confused looks “what? they look like legs. And you’re pretty fair.” Remembering that no one sees my “imperfections” as well as I do goes a long way.
Putting on a low spf like 15 will allow you to tan, and still provide some protection. Only higher spfs like 50 make it harder to do this.
I’m super pale, don’t tan, and I tried a tanning lotion several years ago (Aveeno I think?) and had such an awful allergic reaction I haven’t tried another since. I use Honeybee Gardens healthy glow mineral bronzer in sunkissed (http://www.honeybeegardens.com/product/natural-cosmetics/blush.html). I feel like it can be applied lightly enough that it doesn’t make me look ridiculous, but gives me just enough color that I don’t look like a ghost.
Just to make the maidens fair feel good – I can get a tan walking from the taxi to the front door and wish so much for pearly white skin. When the other girls wanted to have a self-tanner party, I brought my own bleaching creme.
The look I’m giving your legs – pure envy!
I haven’t used sunless tanner in a couple of years, mostly because I’m just too lazy to apply it carefully and wait for it to absorb, but also because of the limited “clean” options. What I haven’t let myself laze-out on though is dry skin brushing. I’ve found that if I do that every morning my skin tone is so much nicer and more even. It helps make up for the lack of tan, plus it is supposed to have multiple health benefits. I do let myself get a little sun, but I’m pretty fair, so not too much. I recommend ditching the self tanner, getting a good dry skin brush, and embracing your pale self!
@Abbey, I have to agree about the dry brushing. I like my skin much more since I’ve been brushing every day.
I go in the sun in moderation and barrier method sun block. I also use bronzer on my face since i like to use a higher SPF on my face and neck. A wise Eastern European facialist warned me about them years ago. She also warned me about fragrance. For some reason, at the time, I took her advice on the self tanner but not the fragrance. I didn’t give up fragrance until after reading your book.
I am super pale with freckles (Irish and Austrian heritage…you don’t get a more fair combination), and have not tanned for almost 20 years. And I never used fake tanning creams…something about the idea of it didn’t appeal to me. I have always been OK with my pale skin, but since I started eating a heavily plant based diet, my skin now has more of a glow. There is much less pink and more of a warmth to the color. I know there was that (poorly done) study a while ago about this, but I actualy do think my skin tone has changed. It might be wishful thinking, or maybe I am crazy, but it makes it a little easier to wear those short shorts and go without makeup!
I agree with KarlaKris. I sorta like extremes. Very dark women are beautiful too. For me the trick was learning to see my own medium monotone as pretty. As I looked around at people I started to realize that there really is beauty everywhere. I am a ballet teacher and I teach teenage girls. I am always astounded at how critically they look at themselves. I think that there is a lot to be said for self acceptance. That being said, I still avoid a tan as if it would kill me in the hopes that just maybe I look pale enough to be peaches and cream.
As yet another person with very pale skin, I would encourage others to just embrace themselves as they are. My grandfather died due to skin cancer, so I’ve always been pretty skeptical about tanning, but it was some time I spent in southeast Asia that made me really think about the issue. Most skin care products there promise to “whiten” skin, and a lot of the models, actors, etc. you see are pretty light-skinned. I actually had girls come up to me and tell me how beautiful my light skin was and that theirs was not. I would always tell them that they WERE beautiful, and it made me sad to think that so many of us are going around trying to change the color of our skin. All skin colors are great, and I wish we would all truly believe that. Okay, I’m done preaching! I do feel strongly about this topic, though, and I appreciate the discussion that is had here.
@Naomi – what a lovely way to be! It’s liberating to stop spending so much money trying to “fix” yourself, enjoy what and who you are, and use the money for something else- like a savings account, a nice meal or a visit with a friend.
@philosophotarian – again, a solid, healthy perspective on what others notice – or don’t!- about our appearance.
I loved reading everyone’s comments on this post!
Me too. I really appreciate the conversation here – so much positivity and “light” shining from one woman to the next – such a rarity to experience this kind of community in today’s society. Self-love spills over into acceptance and loving and accepting others! I’m so glad I’ve found this space!!
Self-tanners always made me look slightly dirty, maybe because
I was very untalented at applying them -sadly that’s
also the case with blush and bronzer. No matter how
light a touch I thought I had my sweet husband would always innocently
say “Hon, what’s that … stuff on your cheeks?”. So now I just like the
way I look. Only problem is that if I use a sunscreen worth anything
I DO get a whitish cast – and I’m very fair to begin with!
Any suggestions out there? I’m currently using Devita and LOVE
that there are zero break-outs and zero white cast (and the ingredients list
is awesome) – but I also think I’m getting a slight tan through it!
Maybe I should just accept that the white cast = sun protection?
@Eva, I use John Masters spf 30 for face and Badger for body. The key with natural sunscreens is how you apply – I rub the product to distribute on my hands, pat onto my skin relatively evenly, then rub in. No white cast at all with JM, none with Badger either if I don’t over apply. I got through last summer with zero color added to my pale skin. Fig + Sage just reviewed a natural you might check out too. Good luck! And I applaud the appreciation of your natural skin, but if you want to have another go at blush/bronzer you can try diluting a mineral product as I mentioned in my comment above.