Source: Shutterstock

Yikes! I know, I know. Gel manicures are beautiful and last forever, but this development makes sense. You’re repeatedly putting your hands under UV light to set the gel, and chances are you don’t have sunscreen on your hands. I know I don’t put SPF on my hands before hitting the salon.

UV lamps have the same dangers as tanning beds. There’s also “added worry that the machines aren’t regulated, meaning consumers don’t know how much exposure they are getting to the rays.” It’s pretty scary that these machines aren’t regulated, right?

Gel manicures are also dangerous if you have them for too long. Dr. Chris Adigun of the American Academy of Dermatology says “Any manicure left in place for an extended period of time is not a good idea because you are not seeing what is going on underneath the nail polish.” You have to let your nails breathe, girl!

And constantly getting gel manis, just like acrylics, can cause your nails to become weak and thin. Nobody wants that! So do yourself, your nails and your skin a favor and stick to regular polish.

Do you get gel manicures? How often? Do you worry about the exposure your hands get to UV rays? Tell me in the comments!
 

Your hair dye could be putting you at risk too

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Pale vs. bronze--which leg looks better?

I want a tan for beach season, but I’ve learned the hard way that summer is not the time to start experimenting with self tanner. Instead, you want to have your bronzing arsenal set and ready by the time warm weather hits, so you don’t step out in that sundress with streaks, spots or splotches.

While a ton of things can go wrong when it comes to self-tanning, it’s loads better than what can go wrong with baking under harsh, gross UV rays. After college I worked briefly at a tanning salon and got the message loud and clear that staying out of the sun is the key to preserving a wrinkle-free face. Seriously, the clients looked like saddles.

So, I’ve become an expert on all things faux-soleil but I thought I’d try the Neutrogena Micro-Mist Tanning Spray since it touts a streak-less, quick-drying tan.

I chose the medium shade–I’m not trying to change races, just tone down my blinding paleness–and here are my official pros and cons!

At $10, it's cheaper than a trip to cancun! | Source: Neutrogena

PROS:

• Price–At about $10, this was way more affordable than a salon airbrush tan that can run upwards of $60, but doesn’t last much longer!
• Easy–The directions tell you to hold the can about 12 inches from your body and spray in a small circular motion. The can works well upside down so you can get those, ahem, hard to reach spots without being a Cirque du Soleil performer.
• Color–Hands down, this is the most natural-looking color that I’ve found in a self tanner, including airbrush and Mystic Tans. IMO, it looks natural and subtle, not Snooki-esque. Do you agree?

CONS:

• Ventilation!–I’m still coughing from applying this in my small NYC apartment. I didn’t anticipate a massive cloud of self-tanner to fill my home, but it did, even with the windows open and my ceiling fan on. Now my floor is sticky and I’m just waiting for my perfect white couch to develop a tan. Proceed with caution unless you have a big, breezy back yard!

• Intensity–While I love love the color, there wasn’t quite enough of it. One application yields the perfect shade for a subtle, mid-winter glow, but I had to apply it three times to get this color. Still though, I’m not sure if this is dark enough to convince people that I’ve spent the winter sunbathing on my yacht, the Gurl Talk! (heehee!)

Overall, I really do like this spray. It made good on it’s streak-less promise, and I wasn’t left with stained palms or weird too-dark patches on my elbows and knees. I will definitely use this again…but only if I get a gas mask first!

Have you ever used a spray tan? Tell us what you thought in comments!

Do you need to break up with your ex? Find out!

i want a tan

A million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States. This year, about 10,000 people will die from it in the United States alone.

Most skin cancer was caused by sun damage acquired before the age of 20.