The Ed.
Well-Known Member
Tanning has never been big business in South Korea. Simply put, a tan is associated with class status and a nice, deep, brown tan signifies the labouring classes. Therefore, it's always been a race against the sun to maintain a milk white skin tone. While these associations are not as prominent now as they once were, the preference for a whiter skin tone is still there.
Beauty website, Refinery29 suggest that the recent trend for 'reverse tanning' is down to this idea. "These days, the pressure for Korean women to maintain light skin for beauty reasons is kind of intense. The (suspect) logic is that a whiter canvas better showcases the meticulously pampered skin they spend a great deal of time and money to achieve. And, that's why white tanning, also known as red-light therapy, has taken Seoul by storm."
While the name 'white tanning' is annoyingly oxymoronic, the trend can't be ignored. While some in the western world scramble to get into a tanning booth emitting UV lights to increase their melanin production, 'white tanning' is accomplished through infrared light. There's not actual 'tanning' going on (which make the trend's name even more annoying) but in reality, there isn't much whitening happening either.
However, what the treatment does do is promise to improve skin tone. Be sceptical - I am - but they do have NASA on their side. The science and technology was developed by NASA to help treat wounds in space by stimulating the body to heal itself. While you're unlikely to heal like Wolverine
It may sound slightly dubious, but science is on its side. NASA (yes, rocket scientists are behind white tanning) developed the technology to treat wounds in space by stimulating the body in healing itself. The long wavelength of infrared light allows it to penetrate deep into the dermis and energize fibroblast cells, which boosts collagen and elastin production. You wont heal like Wolverine, but the technology will even out skin tone and minimize pigmentation issues.
While infrared technology isn't necessarily new, this is the first time it's been developed specifically for beauty reasons and for specific use on the face. Inevitably, the Americans are already jumping on the bandwagon with celeb facialist Joanna Vargas recently debuting a full-body booth (with the much more PC name Healing Bed) at her NYC spa.
It'll only be a matter of time before it lands on our green and pleasant land so watch this space.
Until then geek on!
The Ed.
Beauty website, Refinery29 suggest that the recent trend for 'reverse tanning' is down to this idea. "These days, the pressure for Korean women to maintain light skin for beauty reasons is kind of intense. The (suspect) logic is that a whiter canvas better showcases the meticulously pampered skin they spend a great deal of time and money to achieve. And, that's why white tanning, also known as red-light therapy, has taken Seoul by storm."
While the name 'white tanning' is annoyingly oxymoronic, the trend can't be ignored. While some in the western world scramble to get into a tanning booth emitting UV lights to increase their melanin production, 'white tanning' is accomplished through infrared light. There's not actual 'tanning' going on (which make the trend's name even more annoying) but in reality, there isn't much whitening happening either.
However, what the treatment does do is promise to improve skin tone. Be sceptical - I am - but they do have NASA on their side. The science and technology was developed by NASA to help treat wounds in space by stimulating the body to heal itself. While you're unlikely to heal like Wolverine
It may sound slightly dubious, but science is on its side. NASA (yes, rocket scientists are behind white tanning) developed the technology to treat wounds in space by stimulating the body in healing itself. The long wavelength of infrared light allows it to penetrate deep into the dermis and energize fibroblast cells, which boosts collagen and elastin production. You wont heal like Wolverine, but the technology will even out skin tone and minimize pigmentation issues.
While infrared technology isn't necessarily new, this is the first time it's been developed specifically for beauty reasons and for specific use on the face. Inevitably, the Americans are already jumping on the bandwagon with celeb facialist Joanna Vargas recently debuting a full-body booth (with the much more PC name Healing Bed) at her NYC spa.
It'll only be a matter of time before it lands on our green and pleasant land so watch this space.
Until then geek on!
The Ed.
