Tanning without the sun. Sounds a bit sacrilegious, doesn't it? Torching the skin has been a rite of passage for those in search of the perfect tan since before Marissa and Summer were in diapers. But over the years, Mister Sunlight has exposed his dark side, making the future of the California Tan look, well, not so bright. What does that mean for all you sun bunnies? Two little words: skin cancer.
With the risk of cancer in the equation, it's no longer just about suffering the sting of a sunburn and the always lovely reptilian skin-shed when we choose to bask. In today's world, sun tanning can be dangerous business. So it's not surprising that "sunless tanning" has become a holy grail of sorts, since such heavily promoted products as "tanning pills" or "insta-tan lotions" have never quite lived up to their hype. The early version of tanning pills were known to turn some users into human-sized carrots and the original lotions were infamous for causing unsightly streaking and embarrassing splotches.
It wasn't until the dawn of the millennium that a process called Mystic Tan arrived, offering color without the risk of cancer and hope to countless reluctant sun bathers. Mystic Tan is to pale bodies what Rogaine is to bald heads - virtual magic. In fact, in the past couple of years, Mystic Tanning has become an immensely popular alternative to not only traditional sun worship, but also to those ultra-violet coffins known affectionately as tanning beds.
So what's the difference between the store-bought UV rays and the Mystic Tan? Well, about 30 minutes of time and a bit more cash. Where traditional tanning beds actually "tan" your skin with the use of lotion accelerators, Mystic Tan is all artifice - the Earl Scheib of the tanning world. For $29.99 (well, closer to $25 per session if bought in bulk), a Mystic Tan professional will paint any body. Literally.
How does it work? Instead of sizzling inside a claustrophobic light machine, an unclothed (or bathing suit-clad) Mystic Tan client stands in a large, private stall and is misted twice - once in front and once in back - by a battalion of nozzles that move up and down as they spray on a unique tanning solution. The entire process is completed in minutes. The covering of fingernails and toenails with a blocking solution prior to entering the "shower" actually takes more time than the actual blast-and-spray itself.
The result is immediate and grows more obvious within six hours. It is actually recommended that a client wait at least that amount of time before taking a real shower to wash away the very slight sticky sensation and modest scent left behind by the Mystic Tan solution. Each Mystic Tan lasts approximately seven days (without the fear of skin cancer or sunburn), and the look is strikingly natural.
During the early days of Mystic Tan's growth, it became quite the rage among its many devotees. After all, it is the only way to get a beautiful tan instantly, which is why Mystic fans like to use it before important meetings, celebrations and parties, or any other time they want to look their best.
With that in mind, it's not surprising that Mystic Tan's initial success seemed to center around the various entertainment meccas and an industry in which your first impression can also be your last. Actress/singer Jessica Simpson is just one celebrity who has made her love of the Mystic Tan widely known in the media.
However, as its popularity has skyrocketed and its use become so widespread, it's quite possible that the venerable description "Southern California tan" may soon be obsolete. One must wonder, could it possibly be replaced by - gulp - "Des Moines, Iowa tan"?
Important Warning: Mystic Tan is NOT a real tanning of the skin, so you will NOT be protected if you take your new Mystic Tan to the beach and lay out under the real sun without wearing sun block.
