Fake Tan vs. Sun Tan

June 23, 2008 11:01 AM

How does a real, UV created tan work when it is acquired after skin has been fake tanned with a cream/spray type product?

If you fake tan before a holiday, when you get on holiday, how will the sun effect you? Will it not make a difference until the sun tan reaches the level of the fake tan, or will it all add together to create more and more tan...?

posted by lukeo05 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (3 answers total)

A fake tan is just dye; it does not protect skin from UV rays. You can easily have fake tan+sunburn.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:18 AM on June 23, 2008

Also, it pretty much adds. Dark base + dark 'paint' = darker
posted by a robot made out of meat at 11:59 AM on June 23, 2008

You can still burn because fake tan does not provide any sun protection. Your skin will react the same way it usually does to sun whether you are wearing fake tan or not so for purposes of sunburn you should think of your skin as being totally exposed.
posted by triggerfinger at 1:22 PM on June 23, 2008