I'm not saying that you need to be tan to go to this season's pool parties. But as an almost albino beacon of bright whiteness myself, I've decided to take advantage of sunless tanning options available to those of us plagued with pasty paleness. True, beach bunnies from the Boardwalk to Baja have nothing on Vegas' showgirls (and boys), strippers, club kids and cocktails, but how do they do it?
Our beautifully bronzed Las Vegans are not the result of simply sunbathing; it's the careful combination of chemicals, cosmetics and UV bed-baking. Spray tans, bronzers and tanning-bed time are the three keys to getting that consistent and creaseless color. And though it sounds like a lot of work for a seasonal look, without all three beware the unattractively orange Oompa Loompa or that ever-popular tourist trend, the you're-so-burned-it's-hurting-me Red Revenge.
The perfect tan can be achieved by treating the two tan-able layers of the dermis differently. The stratum corneum ("the horny layer") is the topmost surface of the skin, where dead cells dry and accumulate. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), the active ingredient in topical sunless tanners, reacts with the surface skin cells causing a color change. Exfoliation is the only way to ensure you don't end up with orange ankles, knees or elbows and that your application will last at least five days. The basale stratum ("the basal layer") just below the surface is the new skin that burns. To tan it you have to be patient; short sessions under the UV lamps will eventually build to a full-bodied bronze.
Vegas' most prolific and popular tanning salon chain, Tan Factory, offers the easiest DHA application with their Mystic Tan: a 60-second spray of their signature sunless tanning product, automatically applied in a private booth. Blocker cream keeps your fingers and toes from turning orange and a thorough wipe-down will eliminate streaks. And their air-conditioned tanning beds in a bevy of intensities will keep your glow consistent through the scorching summer months. Don't forget the bronzer: Be it blushes, body powder or cream, the micro-platelets of copper will add a subtle sparkle once you're out in the real sun.
For the Tan Factory nearest you, go to
www.tanfactoryonline.com.
Jennifer Henry's got the goods on what to get & where. E-mail her at
[email protected].