FAKE IT, DON'T BAKE IT - 3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SWITCH FROM SUNBEDS TO FAKE TAN.

What's the first thing that you think of when you hear the word 'sunbed'? - a gorgeous golden glow? an enviable tan? an even colour all over?

Or do you think of the flip side of things? - premature aging, skin cancer, sun spots - the list goes on.

Back in the day when sunbeds were first brought out, there was little exposure and understanding about exactly how dangerous sunbeds can really be. Because of this, some women (and men for that matter) were using sunbeds two or three times a week - sometimes more - just to achieve that oh-so-desirable golden glow.

Now, however, sunbeds are viewed in a much more negative light - and for good reason.

After discovering a firm connection between sunbeds and skin cancer, the warnings surrounding the risks of using sunbeds have sky-rocketed. We are constantly hearing stories in the newspapers and on TV about people who are facing the terrifying consequences of their religious sunbed abuse, and the statistics are frightening.

And yet still, with all of this said, and so much media coverage on the issue at hand, some people continue to use sunbeds.

In this post, I want to discourage people from using sunbeds, and encourage them to opt for the healthier alternative - fake tan.

So, without further ado, here are my top three reasons why you should skip that trip to the sunbed, and invest in a bottle of high-quality tan.

1. Cheaper in the long-run.

How much do you spend on your weekly trips to the sunbed shop? Seriously, though, how much? That £3 here and there has to be adding up, and your bank balance won't be thanking you for it. If you buy one good quality bottle of tan, then you could save yourself a ton of cash. I usually spend between £11-£30 on a bottle of tan depending on the brand, which might sound a lot, but they last for ages! A bottle will usually last me between 4-5 months, and that's when I'm reapplying twice a week.

2. No wrinkles - just beautiful, plump, perfect skin

It's no myth - increased sun exposure will age your skin prematurely, meaning that you could end up with a ton of wrinkles way before your time. Unless you want to start forking out on botox and fillers, I strongly recommend you head to Boots and get some Xen Tan.

3. Skin Cancer - it could be you

I think one of the main issues when it comes to sunbeds and the link with skin cancer is that people refuse to believe that it would ever happen to them. Many people become used to the idea of these awful things happening to 'someone else', but what if that someone else really was you? Would all of those trips to the sunbed shop really be worth it then? You could attain that same, gorgeous, healthy glow by whipping out your tanning mitt and smoothing on some lovely golden mousse - and you won't have to worry about the dangers involved!

If you're a sunbed user, then I urge you to take into account all of the above points, and really consider the alternative. I've been using fake tan for years now, and it's never failed me once. At the end of the day, no tan lasts forever, and top ups are always inevitable, so why not do it the safe way?

Think about it.

Lots of love,
Grace x