Victoria Says Tan Is Natural, But Is It Safe?
By admin • Dec 1st, 2009There are three things Victoria Beckham is rarely seen without - a pair of sky-high heels, a designer handbag the size of a Labrador and a tan verging on a David Dickinson shade of burnt orange.
However, the former Spice Girl has claimed that her tan does not come out of a bottle, but is the result of sunshine filled life in LA.
In a recent interview with Allure, the mother-of-three said: "I don’t self-tan anymore; it’s frustrating when people criticise my colour. It’s the colour that I am! I wear sunblock, but I live in a hot climate."
Other revelations made by David Beckham’s other half included the fact that she "beyond hates" ballerina flats, claiming she can’t walk in them, while her slim figure is the result of a love of salads.
She also revealed that she preferred sex to sleep, stating: "I’m getting into bed with David Beckham every night, so, you know, there’d be something wrong if I said, ’sleep’."
But revelations aside, as a fashion designer, you would have thought that Victoria would have re-assessed her tanning regime by now.
Following the increasing success of her own fashion label, Victoria may have noticed an emerging trend for more pale and pasty-looking skin, without a hint of tan.
Allure magazine includes a feature on how to get the pale look by trying out hair and makeup styles inspired by the Twilight saga.
And with the success of the films, along with other Vampire tales such as Swedish flick Let The Right One In and hit TV show True Blood, looking pale and interesting is becoming increasingly popular in the fashion and beauty stakes.
In addition to a lack of orange tan, the look involves a hefty dose of smoky eye makeup, red lips and a hint of blusher.
But fashion is not the only reason why Victoria may wish to continue using her sunblock under the LA sun - indeed, there is a much more important motive for such a decision.
Today (December 1st), Scotland brought in new legislation banning under-18s from using tanning salons, while unstaffed salons will also no longer be allowed to operate.
And Nina Goad, spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists, said she hopes that England will soon follow its neighbour’s lead.
"People have a right to make their own choices when it comes to their health and lifestyle, what we ask is that people have access to information that ensures these choices are well informed," she added.
Ms Goad noted that some sunbed suppliers may be misleading their customers by advertising the health benefits of tanning but not also providing information on the risks.
"Conflicting information, from sunbed providers who want you to use their products and from charities warning of the cancer dangers, means that people may be confused about the risks they are taking," she explained.
Using sunbeds can leave women at a significantly higher risk of skin cancer, including malignant melanoma, the most serious form of the illness.
In addition, eyes can be damaged if people do not wear the correct optical protection, while they will also be at risk of accelerated skin damage, such as premature aging.
But women may be becoming increasingly aware of the risks that sunbeds pose, with nearly 90 per cent of people in the UK backing proposals to stop under-18s from using sunbeds, according to a survey by Cancer Research UK.
The results also show that 90 per cent of people want all sunbed salons to be staffed at all times and 91 per cent want salons to provide health information to all users making sure they are aware of the health risks of using sunbeds.
So whether it is for fashion and beauty or health reasons, it would appear that the days of the St Tropez tan are over. Victoria Beckham may wish to take note.
Do you think a tan looks good and would you use a sunbed to get one?