Best San Diego Spas for Alternative Tanning Options

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My favorite time of the year is swiftly rounding the corner once again. Summer days filled with the sweet smell of tanning lotions and scorching rays of sunshine have finally returned to relieve me of the abundance of dismal overcast weather.

Of course, with the arrival of summer also comes the hours spent in tanning beds in order to achieve a solid base tan before baring it all at the beach. After all, who wants to pair their board shorts or tank tops with ashy winter skin?

Unfortunately, most people neglect to realize the consequences that come with the time-controlled minutes spent under artificial rays of sunlight at many a tanning salon. The tanning industry has long argued that the lowered amount of harmful UV radiation paired with the monitored length and frequency of exposure makes indoor tanning a much safer practice than outdoor tanning. However, research over the years has proven otherwise.

Studies have linked indoor tanning with increased risks of melanoma as well as basal- and squamous-cell carcinoma. With just these startling facts in mind, we are left to wonder: What are our alternative tanning options in the midst of the up and coming summer season? Fortunately, San Diego is home to a handful of leading day spas and medical spas that offer safe and natural ways to attain a sun-kissed glow just in the knick of time.

La Jolla Spa M.D.
I have experienced the regretful aftereffects of Mystic tanning once in my past and have been reluctant to let any kind of spray paint touch my body since. Plausibly, there's no doubt as to why I retained a slight amount of hesitancy upon entering La Jolla Spa M.D. to test out the SunFX spray-on tan. Thankfully, my mind was put at ease once I became informed about the remarkable features of the tanning system they offered.

La Jolla Spa M.D. was the first spa in America to feature the world renowned SunFX tanning system. Professionally applied by a certified esthetician, this unique combination of organic vegetables and a cosmetic tanning agent DHA, instantly transformed my skin into a golden-brown hue all within a matter of five minutes.

I was shocked by the results that were almost immediately visible. Granted, my sense of astonishment was one of satisfaction in comparison to the carrot-colored skin I had once received. The SunFX tan made me look as if I had spent a week beneath a Caribbean sun.

If you are prone to burning or want to achieve a natural looking tan without suffering the harmful effects of the sun, check out the summer special at Spa M.D. For $750, you will not only get 3 months of unlimited tanning, but the perfect summer tan in five minutes.

Get more tips for summer skin from La Jolla Spa M.D. here.

ICE Spa
It's easy to bypass this neighborhood spa as it's camouflaged amidst the residential appeal of Kensington. ICE Spa is all the buzz of the San Diego spa scene as a result of their new beauty innovation called Sugaring, an enhanced waxing technique designed to decrease pain and damage to the skin.

And while ICE is highly regarded for their lengthy list of other treatments including herbal body masques and purifying aromatherapy facials, they also offer a completely organic way to give your body the ultimate glow just in time for summer.

The Self Tanning Body Treatment begins with an exfoliating body scrub in order to eliminate dead skin cells and leave your body feeling silky smooth. The exfoliation process is then followed by a 50 minute manual application using Aveda Sun Source in order to achieve a streak-free, natural looking tan. Your skin will develop a golden tan within two to three hours, without having to expose yourself to the sun's intense rays and empty endless bottles of tanning lotion.

Cool off and beat the heat at ICE Spa's new location in Coronado this summer and treat yourself to their risk-free tanning remedy. Buy five Aveda Sun Source tanning treatments and get the sixth one free.

Beauty Kliniek
You might have second thoughts just as I did when I first came to Beauty Kliniek. Its location in a simple La Jolla shopping center can be rather offsetting compared to the lavish locales of other day spas, but I quickly learned that you should never judge a book by its cover.

Beauty Kliniek specializes in a unique airbrush tanning system incorporating Mist Mirage products. A Mist Mirage glycolic scrub is applied beforehand in order to prepare your skin for a long-lasting tan which is then followed up by a customized application. Three distinct shades, natural, bronze and dark, are blended to correspond with your skin tone so you won't leave with skin resembling that of a ripened tangerine. After your San Diego spray tan airbrush application, an esthetician uses a thick paint brush to blend and smooth the color in order to produce a streak-free luminosity.

To top it off, the Beauty Kliniek mirage treatment presents the opportunity to contour the shape of your body through tan hues. Chiseled abs? Yes please. Firm backside? I'll take that too. To get a little extra glow for a special occasion or event, one session at Beauty Kliniek is $85. But if you're more of an avid tanner, you can buy five Mist Mirage airbrush tans for the price of $225 and get the sixth one free.

Urban Skincare
In the amiable neighborhood of Little Italy you will find Urban Skincare, a homey spa with artsy Jazz era paintings ornamented against rich shades of purple and yellow. Exuding an ambience of gracious relaxation, I immediately realized how this upscale spa offers a sanctuary in the midst of San Diego's daily hub bub.

As I sat down in one of the tranquil treatment rooms with spa owners, Erin and Larissa, I was cordially informed about their Body Bronzing Treatment. The St. Tropez tanning line was chosen for their treatment to give clientele the option for a natural, year-round tan without having to step foot beneath the heavy sun. While this tanning system offers one maximum intensity shade of color, it can be custom blended with the St. Tropez Body Moisturizer to bring a precise blend of color to your skin.

For $99, Urban Skincare's one hour hands-on tanning treatment incorporates a pre-exfoliation scrub followed up with a non-greasy aloe based tanning application. Your skin will have a beautiful streak-free glow guaranteed to last for 7 to 14 days.

Haute Spa
Dwelling in the charming neighborhood of Point Loma, this petite, but elegant spa also specializes in the popular organic based SunFX tanning system, introduced by La Jolla Spa M.D.

Haute Spa's enhanced treatment will undoubtedly bring your body a glimmering radiance. A perfect combination of bronzers is infused to create a personalized color for your skin, and is then applied using a specialized SunFX airbrush gun.

For $50, you can receive a superior sun-kissed treatment in a matter of twenty minutes. But if you're looking to retain that long-lasting sparkle, you can treat yourself to Haute Spa's series of six for only $250.

Once you get your bronze base, learn how to Have Fun with Beach Fashion at San Diego Boutiques. Oh my lycra - it's summertime!