PSA: Spray Tans Save Lives

Let’s talk being tan. I rarely cross over to anything other than sports, but today is one of those days that I feel like I need to make a pubic service announcement.

So here. We. Go.

STOP TANNING IN TANNING BEDS.

Now, I don’t want to sound like your mom or your grandmother or that annoying person who tells you everything that you do is going to kill you. Think of me as your sister who knows what she’s talking about. As somebody who can be extremely superficial at times and on camera for a living, I know how important it is to be tan. I get it. And I’m not trying to lecture you.

But I’m also a cancer survivor. Melanoma survivor, to be exact. (Five years in remission today!) If you don’t know my story, you can read about it here. But all you need to know is that a flat birthmark on my shoulder turned into full blown cancer and a stranger in a football stadium literally saved my life.

Back to tanning. My oncologist can’t tell me FOR SURE that tanning beds gave me cancer. But we do know that it doesn’t run in my family. I’m pretty fair skinned being blonde and blue eyed, so naturally when I turned 16 I started to sneak into tanning salons behind my parents back. I though I HAD to be tan. So, I continued tanning in beds for years. Well until…

I became a patient at MD Anderson Cancer Center in my early 20s. I’m just saying 1+1= 2.

And just because I had to give up tanning beds DOES NOT mean I’m not tan. Why? I’m addicted to spray tans. It’s a game changer. And no, you don’t have to spend a a ton of money just to be tan for a few days at a time. They have memberships. Yes, you heard me correctly. Memberships for unlimited spray tanning. That cost way less than if you pay for one custom tan. (Shout out, Beach Bum Tanning. No free ads, but this is worth it.) I mean, you’re basically losing money if you don’t do it.

Let’s be honest, 90% of people are hotter when they’re tan. It’s just facts. It changes everything. You look skinnier. Your makeup looks better. Spray tans make it look like you’ve been laying out in Ibiza for weeks while you’ve really been freezing your ass off in New York City. Trust me, it’s worth it.

And no, you won’t turn out like Ross.

You’re going to turn out like this:

Shout out Alex and Sofia from Call Her Daddy, fellow spray tan lady gang.

Bronze in seconds? Not setting myself up for wrinkles when I’m older? Sign me the fuck up. Just make sure you moisturize and exfoliate like you’re supposed to. That’s massively important.

Look at me, a sports reporter giving beauty advice.

But in all seriousness, I know that this blog may not change your mind on tanning. But hopefully it will make you think a little bit harder if you still tan in a bed. The good news is that it seems like tanning beds are going out of style (I think??). Who doesn’t want the bronze, flawless, wrinkle free, young skin for the rest of their lives? And also, PLEASE go to the dermatologist and get your skin checked. It can literally save your life.

Spray Tan game is undefeated.