French Elle’s April issue

Skin cancer has become one of the most common cancers in the world. In the UK alone, 2,600 people die from this disease every year, caused by extensive exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or sunbeds. These distressing facts, however, don’t appear to be deterring people from turning to sunbeds during these tough times in a bid to keep their summer glow.

Cancer Research UK recently found that 34% of more than 2,000 people surveyed were less likely to travel to a hot climate due to the pinch of the credit crunch. As a result, a fifth of regular sunbed users plan on increasing their visits to keep up their ‘healthy’ glow, even though ultraviolet rays from sunbeds are up to 15 times stronger than those from the midday sun, and using a sunbed once a month or more can increase the risk of skin cancer by more than half. Nevertheless it seems that for many, feeling more attractive and looking ‘healthier’ far outweighs the risks involved.

In a recent article [published on BBC News, Katy Scammell from Cancer Research remarked: ‘As the recession takes its toll on people’s holiday plans, what is clear is that a tan is still something that many people value and aspire to. Using a sunbed may seem like a cheap, quick fix to achieve that summer glow, yet while the process may only take a few moments, the damage can last a lifetime.’

As cancer organisations express their concern over the rise of ‘binge tanning’, it is somewhat unbelievable that people are willing to place their health at risk by using sunbeds. With the increased risk of melanoma, coupled with the extensive damage it causes to the skin (read premature ageing), is it really all worth it in the end? After all, who wants to look like a dried up, shrivelled piece of fruit?

Thankfully, all is not lost.

The days of looking ‘orange’ may soon be numbered, only to be happily replaced by the ‘nude yet refined look’. Enter French Elle’s April issue featuring eight female European celebrities, including Eva Herzigova, Monica Bellucci, Sophie Marceau, and Charlotte Rampling, all of whom appear refreshingly natural, healthy and, more importantly, human: all without the help of makeup or Photoshop. The timely issue of French Elle will hopefully provide binge tanners with something to think about. As the recession slams the brakes on peoples’ spending, the natural look is (thankfully) set to become the defining trend of the seasons ahead.

So instead of rushing to your nearest tanning salon, stop and think about what you’re ultimately doing to your skin and health. Embrace your natural beauty and draw inspiration from the valuable lesson that these confident women are illustrating, and that is that less is infinitely more.