Mystic Tan: The Future Of Sunless Tanning
(page four)

The first time he used the bronzer on a volunteer, he was not prepared for the results. "As I finished her face and paused to look at her, I was shocked. She looked like a totally different person. I hid my shock as best I could, and proceeded with this metamorphosis."

When the metamorphosis was complete, the young woman was so excited she hurried away to show off her new look to her friends.

Using food grade dyes, which are purer and more expensive than cosmetic grade dyes, Laughlin experimented until he came up with what he considers a true deep bronze. He had an excellent source of feedback, the young employees of Palm Beach Tan. "For the final formula, I actually had employees pounding their fists on the counter demanding that I make them look like their newly bronzed coworker - now."

After Laughlin had refined the process, he felt ready to leave the bronzer out. It turned out it wasn't going to be that easy. "That was a definite no-go from my volunteers ... So, to meet consumer demands, and I do mean demands, I had to make certain changes."

Laughlin is well aware that the Mystic Tan technology can be used for more than sunless tanners. "Of course, this system could be used in a host of other applications, such as application of sun screen or treatment of skin disorders." He envisions people being coated with sun screen right at the beach. And what film director making a beach movie wouldn't appreciate having the hand-held version for tanning an extra in just twenty seconds? More frivolously, how about coating people with their team colors at the football stadium?

Unfortunately, Laughlin could not give me an answer to my very first question: Where's mine?

In the half a year since Dr. Laughlin went public with news of his invention, why hasn't there been an enormous explosion in the number of Mystic Tans? Palm Beach Tan has an exclusive right to the Mystic Tan in the tanning salon venue, but that does not bar a dermatology clinic, spa or body-building club from having one. Not to mention units built for the home.

It seems unfathomable to me, professional sunless tanning addict that I am, that investors have been so slow on the uptake. Does a great idea have to bite them on the butt to get their attention? Apparently businessmen as savvy as Troy Cooper are in short supply.

As an admitted rabid critic of indoor tanning, I have been wondering what effect the Mystic Tan is going to have on the indoor tanning industry. I do not think it takes much insight to foresee that the indoor tanning industry is going to have a heavy regulation anvil fall on its head.

So I couldn't help but ask Dr. Laughlin if he thought the indoor tanning industry was being a bit, uh, optimistic concerning expansion and growth?

His answer was quick. "What choice do they have?"

Mine was quicker. "You."

He laughed. "Good answer."

Photographs courtesy of Mist-On Systems, Inc. All photographs are the property of Mist-On Systems, Inc. and cannot be used without permission.