Carrots for tanning: does it really work?
Summary
For some, porcelain skin is synonymous with angelic beauty, delicacy, and purity. But let's be honest, white skin doesn't always meet the "summer beauty standards".
To remedy this, you might be desperately searching for a solution to tan without looking like a lobster.
If that's the case, let us introduce you to a vegetable that could be your beauty secret this summer! Please welcome... drum roll...🥁 the carrot!
Carrots for tanning is a well-known old grandmother's trick.
But what about it really?
Let's take a closer look at this popular belief and find out if using carrots for tanning can really help you achieve that coveted golden tan.
The carrot: a vegetable with varied nutritional virtues
Let's zoom in on the carrot! 🔍
Closer examination of the carrot
This root vegetable with orange skin is packed with essential nutrients for our body's functioning. Fiber, potassium, vitamins K and C, and manganese are all indispensable to stay in shape and tackle our daily life with energy and vitality.
But let's not forget today's star nutrient: vitamin A! This is obtained thanks to carotenoids (plant pigments). Beta-carotene is the most abundant one in carrots.
Key roles of vitamin A
The action of vitamin A on the human body is manifold: vision, immune system, cell growth. Don't worry, we won't cover these aspects today.
Instead, let's discuss its impact on the skin. This nutrient contributes to maintaining normal skin!
According to ANSES (the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety), vitamin A even participates in the renewal of tissues (skin and mucous membranes).
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What are the mechanisms of tanning?
A little effort here, we're tackling the most complex part! 🤯
To tan, the skin needs to be exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun. These rays produce melanin by stimulating cells present in the basal layer of the epidermis, the melanocytes. Melanin is then transferred to neighboring skin cells, the keratinocytes. The skin also tends to thicken slightly to increase its protection against UV rays.
The Fitzpatrick scale categorizes skin into 6 phototypes based on its sensitivity to the sun. Read our article to learn how to tan naturally and healthily according to your phototype.
So, is the carrot for tanning: myth or reality?
To find out, we need to understand if consuming carrots plays a role in the tanning mechanism or not.
Does the carrot really promote tanning?
Carrots for tanning work, but this claim needs to be nuanced.
Consuming carrots can indeed give the skin an orange tint. However, this color is more related to an accumulation of beta-carotene in the epidermis (and not "just from carrots").
So in short, consuming carrots enhances the skin's glow and contributes to giving it a golden tint. But to achieve a true natural and lasting tan, a combination of moderate sun exposure and beta-carotene consumption is necessary.
To address this, we have developed a Formule Soleil that prepares the skin, activates tanning, and prevents skin aging thanks to a concentrated blend of seven complementary active ingredients, including:
Beta-carotene that improves skin appearance and protects it;
Lycopene and lutein, two pigments similar to beta-carotene;
Copper that contributes to melanin production;
Vitamin E that protects cells from free radical damage;
Burdock that helps maintain good skin condition;
Pantothenic acid that helps in healing and skin hydration.
Some common misconceptions about carrots?
You're now determined to try carrots for tanning this year. But you'll see that popular beliefs attribute other benefits to this vegetable, some of which are more or less... debatable.
Here are 4 common misconceptions about carrots.
Common misconception #1: Eating too many carrots can turn your skin orange.
True, excessive consumption of carrots can cause carotenemia, that is, an orange discoloration of the skin... tanned is not orange, right?
Common misconception #2: Eating carrots improves night vision.
It's true, vitamin A can help slightly improve night vision.
Common misconception #3: Eating carrots gives you pink buttocks.
Well, honestly, that's a total myth. Needless to say, no link between carrots and rosy buttocks has ever been proven.
Common misconception #4: Eating carrots makes you pleasant.
It's false, of course. If that were the case, we'd organize carrot buffets to solve world conflicts. 😉
How to incorporate carrots into your diet?
It's very easy to incorporate carrots into your diet for tanning. In salads, as a side dish, in desserts, and even in smoothies: the sweet flavor of this vegetable offers a multitude of culinary possibilities.
Well, if you really don't like the taste of carrots, don't force yourself obviously: tanning supplements will take over!😉
How much carrot to tan?
There's no need to consume tons of carrots to tan! A daily consumption of 100 g would be sufficient. Given that a carrot weighs on average 125 g, a single vegetable provides an adequate amount of beta-carotene.
🧑🍳 Our carrot recipe idea
Using carrots for tanning is deliciously simple with this original recipe. But don't limit yourself to this one, you'll find many others on online culinary sites or in dedicated recipe books.
Carrot Carbonara
Ingredients:
6 carrots;
100 g of bacon;
1 onion;
4 tablespoons of cream;
2 egg yolks;
salt, pepper.
Preparation:
Peel and slice the carrots.
Chop the onions.
Sauté these vegetables for 20 minutes in a skillet.
Add 20 cl of water, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the bacon.
Mix the cream, bacon, and egg yolks and incorporate them into your vegetables.
Season with salt and pepper.
Simmer for 3 minutes.
Enjoy! 😋
Our other tips to improve your tan
We also have many other ideas besides carrots for tanning. Here are other carotenoid-rich vegetables to incorporate into your diet, as well as some tips for safe sun exposure.
Consume foods rich in carotenoids
Here are the main fruits and vegetables, other than carrots, that will help you tan:
Sweet potato;
Pumpkin;
Butternut squash;
Mango;
Apricot;
Red bell pepper;
Butternut squash;
Spinach;
Dandelion;
Kale.
Sun exposure (with caution, of course)
Enjoy the sun safely by following these tips:
Avoid exposure when the sun is at its peak, between 12 PM and 4 PM.
Choose a sunscreen suited to your phototype.
Apply it every two hours, and also after swimming.
Stay hydrated.
Do not expose yourself for more than 30 minutes a day if you are sensitive to the sun.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from UV rays.
Using carrots for tanning will give your skin a golden and subtle glow.
However, consuming carrots alone is not enough to guarantee a complete and lasting tan, which is why moderate sun exposure is necessary. If you don't like this vegetable, other foods rich in beta-carotene, such as sweet potato or mango, can also contribute to a radiant complexion.
Finally, to maximize the benefits of carrots and other beta-carotene sources, consider our Formule Soleil, which promotes healthy and natural tanning.
