Charlie Gets A Mystic Tan!

A Just A Little Bit Orange Feature
Copyright © 3/22/99. All Rights Reserved.

Dear Miko,

After visiting your Web site at www.sunless.com, I was curious about Palm Beach Tan's Mystic Tan system. I must admit being disheartened to discover the system was only offered in Dallas and then at only two locations. When my company scheduled me on a business trip to Dallas, I knew I had to try the Mystic Tan.

I arrived at the Palm Beach Tan location offering the Mystic Tan option and was greeted by a friendly PBT associate.

I was shown to a nice, bright room and given instructions. First I had to strip down to bare flesh: remove clothes and jewelry (I brought along a Speedo to see if I could get a tan line). Next I had to apply lotion to my palms (to avoid tan palms) and I had the option of placing a cap over my hair. I didn't need a hair cap as I have a very short, flat-top haircut. And no, my hair did not get tan. Finally, it was into the booth.

The Mystic Tan booth is similar to a large stand-up shower stall. I quickly noticed each corner of the stall contained a large PVC tube with many holes pointed right at me! I put my feet into large plastic "booties" and angled my legs apart and at a right angle, kind of duck-like, and then continued through the checklist in front of me. I armed the machine by pressing a large button, put my hands over my head, elbows pointed out, held my breath, hit the "GO" button, closed my eyes and WHOOSH! I was immediately enveloped in a cool cloud of vapor. WOW, man!

I waited a few moments and a giant vacuum sucked the remaining mist out of the booth before jets of air blasted me dry from every angle! It felt like I was in a science fiction movie...or a drive-through car wash...in any case it was time to step out onto the drip pad.

I grabbed a towel and began wiping the remaining mist off my body in smooth strokes. I was surprised to see the towel turning dark brown and even more surprised to see it turn red and green!? I mean, what's up with that? I didn't have much time to ponder the strange colors coming off on the towel because I looked up into the full-length mirror in front of me and almost fell over.

I had come to Dallas emerging from a long, rainy, pale, San Francisco winter and had become a rich, deep, Bay Watch bronze in about two minutes. I was delighted to discover the most incredible tan line ever when I removed the Speedo.

The Palm Beach Tan associate told me not to engage in any heavy activity that would cause sweating and to keep water off of my skin for about 4 hours while the tan "sets." The instantly-tan effect is from a bronze indicator in the mist formula which "indicates" what your tan will look like when it has fully developed in a few hours. Later that night I showered and was surprised to see the water at my feet turning brown. Alas, it was only the indicator and it was washing away.

My Mystic Tan remained profoundly bronze and lasted six days. I can't wait to do it again! Next time, I'll put lotion on my fingernails and toenails...otherwise they turn a little bronze. Oh, and don't wear a white T-shirt immediately after you do this. I did and fortunately the red and green circles on the shirt underarms came out in the wash...most of the way.

In the last year, my dermatologist pointed out a few small, whitish spots on my arms and informed me they were damage from UV radiation...the sun! Well, I've thought about my options and since my visit to the PBT Mystic Tan booth, I'm throwing away my "Pale is Beautiful" T-shirt and looking forward to many healthy "Golden" years ahead.

Here are some before and after pictures I had taken. Unfortunately, my tan line shot did not turn out.

Thanks, Miko!