Many years ago, long before I recognized the damaging effects of the sun and became an SPF addict, my vacation consisted of spending the afternoon slathered in oil at the beach. Yes, really. If you look up “sizzling human turkey” in the dictionary, you’ll find me there. One day, after another four hours of sunshine, I returned to my apartment to prepare for dinner. When I showered, the skin on my chest fell off cleanly in my hands. Lessons learned. Like many black women who enjoy tanning, I still crave the “healthy” (but really not at all healthy) glow I get from the sun, but I’m no longer willing to risk my health for it, which is sunless tanning Product debut.
In 2019, I wrote an article for the UK Fashion About my experience with tanning for the first time as a black woman. Amanda Harrington is an incredible tanning expert whose body-contouring skills have earned her an impressive A-list clientele (she’s been dubbed the “Michel of Tanning” Kilo”). The result is extraordinary: golden, evenly flavorful and confidence-boosting. I told myself at the time that this was the beginning of my lifelong relationship with spray tanning. I was wrong – I haven’t done it since. Frustratingly, my options were very limited: self-tanning products were either full of alcohol or simply not suitable for darker skin tones. I know some black people who secretly use sunbeds. They were aware of the risk and willing to take it, but I wasn’t. Fast forward five years, and the changes in the industry—from changing attitudes toward self-tanning to the plethora of beautifully formulated sunless tanning products suitable for all skin tones—are pretty staggering. Brands like Clarins, James Read, Isle of Paradise, Tan-Luxe and Vita Liberata are leading the way, and the message is loud and clear: A large number of consumers (yes, including black people) want to look sun-kissed Kissed.
Gemma Jones, brand trainer at Institut Esthederm, said this responsibility on the part of the tanning industry is reassuring, “especially as scientific research shows that irresponsible and unprotected skin exposure during the tanning process ultimately leads to premature photoaging.” Consequences to skin cancer Still, Jones is quick to admit, “There is a strong desire among consumers, and arguably always will be, to look like they have a sun-kissed, tanned glow in order to look better.” healthy. Isle of Paradise founder Jules Von Hep, whose tanning booth always has a diverse clientele, thinks it’s “ridiculous” for brands to create products that exclude people of color. “Unfortunately, this idea was promoted by self-tanning brands in marketing campaigns in the 1990s and 2000s, only targeting lighter skin tones. Today, with TikTok and Gen Z really leaning into #BlackGirlTanning, it’s clear that The mindset that ‘tanning is only suitable for one skin tone’ is disappearing.
Another factor in existing self-tanners is old skin-drying formulas. The new generation of inclusive tanning products is so focused on hydration that they will compete with their skincare counterparts. James Read is one of the staunch supporters of the tanning industry and has recently launched his latest brand, Self Glow. To cater to all skin tones, he no longer uses synthetic shades and instead uses cocoa extract as a natural color guide. “I discovered this through years of testing on multiple people of different ages, skin tones, and skin types. It adapts naturally. For every skin tone, it delivers a warm glow while banishing dull tones on the skin. His list of hydrating and brightening ingredients also includes hyaluronic acid, squalane, kakadu plum, vitamin E, and aloe vera, all of which are top-notch. Unheard of. However, Reed says the recipe isn’t the only thing that needs to be rethought. If it were him, we wouldn’t be using the word “tan” anymore. “The trend in tanning is moving more towards glow and skin enhancement rather than physically altering or transforming the skin, which is largely why my brand is called Self Glow because the desire and the end product are all about the skin. Natural warmth and radiance against changing skin.
