Perfect Organic Sunless Tanning in Napa

Now that we “Fake Bake” at the Greenhaus Day Spa in Napa, there have been quite a few questions from our sunless tanning clients. Our Spray Tan Specialists wanted to share these questions and provide answers to make your venture into organic sunless tanning a smooth, easy and of course, beautifully bronze experience.

FAQ’s on How to get an even, beautiful tan every time.

• DOES IT WASH OFF?

NO. The unique Dihydroxy (DHA) is what creates your tan. The organic color is for application and just like a tan from the sun, the tan from this product will not wash off because of its new breakthrough formulation. Note: DHA is not permanent, so it will fade just as any suntan does, which is why a weekly application is recommended to maintain your tan.

• HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

This is one of our favorite questions. We recommend that FakeBake is applied on the average of only once or twice a week. Of course, you will determine your own maintenance schedule. Remember, you are in control, you can deepen your tan simply by applying more of the product and keep a longer lasting tan with the proper homecare products.

• CAN I USE THIS PRODUCT ON MY FACE?

YES. The FakeBake formula was designed for the entire body, including the face, since it is a delicate blend of quality ingredients. Often separate tanning products are sold for the face simply as a marketing strategy. We take care to protect your mucus membranes

• HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRY?

Because the level of moisture in each skin type varies, drying time will also vary slightly. In general, we have found that 20 minutes is sufficient time for the product to dry. Many choose to apply the product several hours before going to bed to ensure that the product has dried completely.

• WILL IT STAIN MY CLOTHING OR OTHER ITEMS?

No. Since organic color pigment is not a stain or a dye, it will not permanently stain and will wash out of any synthetic material. It has been even mentioned, that the color could be removed more easily than make-up on collars. No pre-laundering treatments were required.

• ARE THERE ANY HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THIS PRODUCT?

Dermatologists will enthusiastically agree that tanning with a dihydroxy formulation is much safer than tanning for prolonged hours in the sun. FakeBake has created an organically based product with no animal testing, to ensure a safe tan and to promote healthy skin.

• CAN I USE IT IN THE SUN?

In our research to find the perfect tanning product for Greenhaus Day Spa, we discovered that the use of FakeBake with the sun actually accelerates the tanning process. Stimulating the dark pigment of the skin, known as Melanin, accelerates any form of sun tanning. Those who wish to combine our product with an additional sun tanning regimen will see quicker and more satisfying results than ever before. We do recommend the use of SPF or sun block when engaging in any form of sun tanning.

• WHAT ABOUT SWIMMING WITH THE PRODUCT?

This product fades, but does not wash off. For the very best results, follow our instructions and apply the product at night and rinse the next morning. Do not swim immediately after application of the product; this would result in waste. Instead, swim after your morning rinse.

If you are considering just a hint of color for a healthy glow, or a beautifully bronze skin, make your private tanning appointment with our Spray Tan Specialist’s here at the Greenhaus Day Spa in Napa and start tanning.

Fabulously Fair, or Beautifully Bronze? With FakeBake you can have it both ways.

After much research here at Greenhaus Day Spa in Napa, we selected Fake Bake as our product of choice for sunless tanning.

These days we are all on alert to protect from UV ray exposure, and focus on skin cancer prevention in our daily lives. So what if you really want to be beautifully bronze instead of fabulously fair? The hottest approach to a bronzed skin is using a self tanning formula. You can choose to be Fair, or go ahead and tan, or should we say….”sunless tan”. You too can be the center of attention with legs like Jennifer Lopez. Just spray it on, add a little shimmer and you are ready to stop traffic. So what do Jennifer and all the other celeb’s do to have a subtle color or deep bronze look? Such a variety of self tanners available on the market today, it’s another one of those decisions that takes a little research, trial and error. Having your tan applied professionally may be the best place to start. Once you have had your tan applied it’s easy to continue bronzing, or simply touch up your sun kissed legs.

Changing your old ways of baking (or should we say, “roasting”) in the sun just to get a little color can be so simple. You can now FAKE IT and look fabulous. A large number of sun seekers have eliminated tanning bed sessions and sunbathing for the next best thing. Fake Bake is the front runner in the self tanner product category because it gives the most natural color on all skins including very fair, and even red head skin-tones. Fake Bake's exclusive formula works to enhance your own pigment without turning you orange. The rich-cocoa brown color ensures a streak-free application every time.

Here are the most popular tips to improve sunless tanning application and results.

• Dry skin will absorb self tanner unevenly, making it tough to rub in. Make sure you moisturize before applying tanner in order to insure an even, streak-free tan.
• Exfoliate your skin before applying sunless tanning lotions to avoid uneven application of color. Exfoliate at least 3 times a week. (you will lose only a small amount of your natural tan, not enough to worry about it)
• Always shave or wax prior to using this or any self tanning product. This is also a form of exfoliating the body and will remove any excess dead skin cells.
• Applying correctly and no streaks does take practice no matter which one you use. Take your time to get an even, full coverage, mix and be sure to moisturize feet/hands/knees/elbows prior to application.
• Avoid getting product on hair or eyebrows, and wait at least 30 minutes for the product to dry before putting on clothes. Try wearing dark clothing to avoid staining. Should your clothes get a bit of tanner on it, wash them out as soon as possible with warm water and mild soap; avoid rubbing.
• You only need to apply the self tanning lotion once every two to three days, and moisturize with a body lotion to enhance your color. No lotions with AHA’s as this could shorten the life of your tan.
• Wash your hands thoroughly so you don't have tanned palms. Don't shave, bathe, or swim for at least an hour after applying the product

Stay tuned for our take on the “How To’s” and best advice from our Greenhaus Fake Bake specialists.

Sun, Skin and Napa Valley

It is definitely not easy to imagine the rolling hills of the Napa Valley without the warming benefits of long sunny days. But why then, is it so easy to imagine a trip to the Wine Country without adequate sun protection? Probably because navigating through the amount of sun products available on the market today can be overwhelming – to say the least.

The following Q & A’s are intended to shine some light in the jungle of SPF, antioxidant, waterproof and new FDA’rules, in order to create a memorable Napa Valley experience without the burning memories of a sun overdose.

Q & A about Sun and the Skin in Napa Valley

Q: What are free radicals and how do we protect ourselves from free radical damage?

Greenhaus Day Spa: Free Radicals are molecules responsible for aging and tissue damage. A chemical reaction occurs to break the bond between paired healthy molecules causing damaged molecules or free radicals which act as scavengers causing a chain reaction resulting in the breakdown of skin tissue and collagen, aging the skin. Examples of free radicals could be pollution such as smoke, car exhaust etc. and are closely related to oxidative stress. Antioxidants slow or completely inhibit the action of free radicals on the skin.

Q: How do Antioxidants help to protect my skin?

Greenhaus Day Spa: SkinCeuticals talks about Sunscreen being the first line of defense protecting the skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays shielding the outside of the skin. Even the best broad-spectrum sunscreens can only block or inhibit up to 55% of UV-induced free radical damage. So the second line of defense for your skin is the use of antioxidant protection for the inside of your skin. Application of a topical antioxidant will strengthen the skin’s natural defense system to help neutralize UV-induced free radicals, environmental aggressors and the breakdown of collagen.
So when combining the use of an antioxidant serum with a sunscreen you can have the most comprehensive protection against photo damage and skin cancer.

Q: What do I most need to know about sun exposure?

Greenhaus Day Spa:

• Limit your time in the sun,the sun’s rays are their strongest between 10am and 2pm.
• Wear clothing to protect when possible, long sleeves, broad rimmed hat, sunglasses.
• Use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sport activities.
• Re-apply your sunscreen every 2 hours even if it is water resistant.
• If you have had too much sun, cover your body or get out of the sun completely.

Q: What are the more effective sunscreen ingredients I should look for?

Greenhaus Day Spa: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are considered to be the best mineral sunscreen ingredients. Quality sunscreens use smaller particles of these ingredients to give a smoother, more sheer application. These “mineral filters,” block harmful UV rays and are considered to be a physical block, are non allergenic, and maintain protection with prolonged exposure.


New FDA rules -
New FDA rules effective in 2012 call for all sunscreens that claim to provide UVA protection, or broad-spectrum protection will undergo intensive broad-spectrum test requirements which will aid consumer’s in determining the amount of UVA protection in addition to the amount of UVB protection. Only sunscreens with an SPF value of 15 or higher can make claims regarding anti-aging and or cancer prevention on the label.
In addition, any products with an SPF value 2-15 will be labeled with a SKIN CANCER / SKIN AGING ALERT warning, and can only make claim sunburn protection.

Included in the new FDA rules, sunscreen labels will be limit the highest amount of SPF stated to a SPF50+. This should take some of the confusion away in regard to how high an SPF needs to be, and how much protection you are really getting.

Sunscreens that claim water resistant must state whether the product remains effective for 40 minutes or 80 minutes with swimming or sweating. There will be no more sunscreens claiming to be waterproof, sun proof, or sun blocks as this could be overstating the effectiveness of the product.

Q: What sun protection to you recommend for the Wine Country?

Greenhaus Day Spa: Our staff recommends SkinCeuticals topical antioxidant to prevent damage from the INSIDE and a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect the OUTSIDE of your skin on a daily basis, especially here in sunny Wine Country. If you live here in the valley, or are just visiting to enjoy all that Napa has to offer, make sure you are well protected from the damaging affects of the sun, both INSIDE & OUT.

Why should you protect your skin - Inside & Out

Hot summer days and trips to the wine country can leave your skin in need of stronger, better, and more effective protection from the damaging effects of the sun. At Greenhaus Spa in Napa, our trained professionals agree, that navigating through the amount of sun products available on the market today can be problematic - even leaving your skin under-protected for your excursion into the Napa Valley.

So how do you determine what’s best for you and your family for sun protection?

Sun Facts:

Are you protected from both UVA and UVB? Why is this so important in protecting and maintaining healthy skin, and cancer prevention? What are free radicals and how do they contribute to UV damage and aging in the skin? In order to know the best choice in your search for the sun protection, one will need to understand that all sun products are not created equal and take the plunge into the full spectrum of sunscreen “lingo” and information.

An actual Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is determined based on the length of time your skin can be exposed to mid-day sun without a sunscreen before burning. The factor is multiplied by your individual exposure time. For example, an SPF value of 15 allows you to be in the sun 15 times longer than the time it would take you to burn with no sun protection. What most of us do not know is that “SPF” only measures UVB rays or Burning rays. Not all sunscreens protect from UVA rays or Aging rays. UVA rays cause up to 90% of photo-aging and can pass through clouds and even glass. UVA penetrates the skin much deeper than UVB and causes breakdown of collagen and elastin inducing damage in the epidermal layers where most skin cancers occur. UVA contributes and even initiates to the development of skin cancer.

Protect from UVA/UVB and free radical damage
A broad-spectrum Sunscreen is designed to protect from both UVA and UVB rays. As mentioned earlier, not all sunscreens are created equal. A broad-spectrum sunscreen provides UVA protection yet cannot be measured as a sun protection factor. So it’s important to know that you have UVA protection in your sunscreen, and just how much protection you are really getting.

SPF 50+?
There has been much controversy concerning sunscreens labeled with an SPF value of 50 or higher. The real question here would be…. are you truly getting the same “factor” of protection, or just a few more minutes of sun time?
FDA tests show that an SPF of 50 gives 99% protection from UVB rays. So really…. can there be more “factors” than 50?

Sun protection yes, but how about Free Radical Damage?
Sunscreens prevent sunburn yet may not protect the skin from free radical damage. If a sunscreen is applied too thinly or not re-applied frequently enough, the skin can be exposed to more sun damage and free radicals. As a sunscreen is exposed to light there may be some free radical by-products produced on the surface of the skin, contributing to the occurrence of more free radicals. Blocking and buffering the skin from free radical activity can enhance your defensive stance from UV induced skin aggressors.

Before you head out to go wine tasting, stop at the Greenhaus Day Spa and have one of our skincare professionals determine the best antioxidant and sunscreen combination for your individual skin type and needs. This way you ensure a truly unforgettable Napa Valley Summer experience, that not only recharges your batteries (and maybe replenishes your wine cellar) but also your skin will look healthy and rejuvenated.