Over the past ten years people have become more conscious of the harmful effects of the sun; while sunscreen is now a staple, tanning is considered passé and careless. Hoards of people who once flocked to bask in its rays are now choosing to shun the sun.

For many though, sun-kissed skin is still a highly sought after look, especially in the summer. The advent of the spray-on tan has allowed people to have the appearance of a tan by way of chemical reaction without ever having to be in the sun’s harmful rays. While doctors agree that the spray-on tan, which is sometimes referred to as the UVA-free tan or self tan, is undeniably better than spending a day without sunscreen at the beach, the question is, what are the long term effects for our bodies and the environment?

Since most self-tanning formulas contain carcinogenic chemicals, I was looking for an alternative for the alternative. The organic spray-on tan salon, Chocolate Sun in Santa Monica, was my answer. Operating since 2002, owner Susie Hatton enlisted the help of a botanical chemist to come up with her own version concocted from herbs, antioxidants and dihydroxyacetone (the tanning magic potion) derived from sugar and beets. What the organic version does not have are chemicals and preservatives.

I happen to like the au natural look of a non-tan for myself so I decided to recruit a seasoned veteran of spray tans to try Chocolate Sun by proxy. She left with a bronzed glow that lasted for a little over a week. She was happy with the “natural and lasting” results and said it smelled much nicer than typical salons she had visited. Prices vary, starting at $20 and not exceeding $55.

Chocolate Sun is located at 137 Bay Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Email: info@chocolatesun.net. Web: www.chocolatesun.net.

Categories:  Santa Monica, Wednesday--Wellness & Beauty