Don’t underestimate the benefits of a fake tan

3 minute read

Have you ever wondered what makes tanned skin so popular? Apparently, tanning was popularised back in the 1920’s by French fashion designer, Coco Chanel. Tanned skin was seen as representing good health and a relaxed lifestyle. ¹ Even today, there is a perception that tanned skin makes you look healthier, ‘glowing’. The difference today is that we now understand that achieving that ‘healthy glow’ through sun exposure is not healthy at all. When skin becomes tanned, it means the skin has been damaged. Skin damage can result in premature ageing and in skin cancers, including melanoma. In some cases, the effects may not become apparent for many years.

Feel good, feel confident

Is it necessary to have tanned skin? Of course not. But, as mentioned above, having a golden tan can make us feel good. This is especially so during the warmer months of the year when we dress lightly and expose more of our skin. Having a golden tan or even a deeper bronzed glow can increase our confidence and make us feel more positive about ourselves. Having happy thoughts about our appearance can be beneficial for our mental outlook. And, having a gorgeous tan that's not the result of sun damage is very important for our physical health. These are two benefits that can flow from having a fake tan. Importantly, however, your fake tan should be a quality product that's free from known toxins.

Are all fake tans the same?

The short answer is: no. Getting your tan through the application of a fake tan may be a healthier choice than sunbathing but, sadly, the ingredients found in some fake tan products on the market have their own concerns when it comes to your health. These ‘not so nice’ ingredients include:

• artificial fragrances and dyes
• petrochemicals
• parabens
• formaldehyde
• sulphates

The good news is that we do have non-toxic choices when it comes to fake tan products.

Eco Tan

The multi award-winning Eco Tan is arguably one of Australia’s (and the world’s) best fake tan brands. Created by an Aussie mum more than a decade ago, Eco Tan self-tanning products are made from only natural and organic ingredients and are easy to use to give yourself a gorgeous tan in the privacy of your own home.

The Eco Tan range has evolved over the years and while all products can be used on both face and body, each product has been formulated to make your specific tanning requirements easy to achieve. Naturally Safe Cosmetics is a great place to buy Eco Tan products online and is proud to be amongst Australia’s official Eco Tan stockists.

Eco Tan face water

The idea behind this gradual face tanning water is that it can be used as a toner and slots easily into your daily natural skin care routine. It can be applied to freshly cleansed, dry skin using your fingers and is a great option if you like the idea of being able to control the level of colour in your complexion and build it up gradually. Initially, you can apply it every day for a few days until you achieve the colour you are happy with. After that, you can re-apply 2-3 times per week to maintain your glow.

(Image credit: Naturally Safe Cosmetics & Canva)

Eco Tan gradual tan

If you like the idea of a gradual face tanning water, you might also like a gradual tan for your body. Again, Eco Tan comes to the rescue with its  Certified Organic Winter Skin. Combining a tanning lotion with a skin moisturiser, Winter Skin gives you a sun-kissed glow while nurturing your skin with nourishing ingredients like Aloe Vera Juice, Vitamin E, Chamomile and Rose Geranium.

(Image credit: Naturally Safe Cosmetics & Canva)

Choose a fake tan that’s not fake at all

Now that we’ve established the benefits of a fake tan – like achieving a golden glow while avoiding sun damage and improving confidence by being able to show off a flattering tanned skin colour – it’s important to also ensure that the fake tan products we use on our body are natural and free from toxins. In addition to the two products mentioned above, there are other self-tan products in the Eco Tan range, including express tan options which offer results in as little as an hour. All these self-tan products are free from nasties like harmful chemicals, synthetic ingredients, PEGs, Phthalates and GMOs. In fact, Eco Tan’s range is certified organic and certified toxic free. It’s also vegan, cruelty free and Australian made.

¹ pennmedicine.org