Tancream

Melanoma Awareness Month - A Cautionary Tale from Gillian Robson

Here’s a cautionary tale from Gillian Robson, the co-founder of the suncare/self-tanning brand TanCream with her guide on what to do and look for.

Gillian Robson - Co-founder of Tancream

Gillian Robson - Co-founder of Tancream

May is Melanoma Awareness Month and the message here is very clear ‘please be skin savvy during the lockdown.’ As we’re now allowed outside and the lockdown has loosened, the question is: Have you putting on your SPF? Please take a moment to check your skin and if you have any concerns or if anything that does not look quite right, do seek professional advice.

HERE IS GILLIAN’S STORY:

My first mole appeared on the back of my left leg at the base of my thigh – I first noticed a slight mark and within days it got darker and then within ten days, it became irregular and even darker. My gut instinct kicked in. I knew it didn’t look right so I took myself off to the GP who immediately fast-tracked me. Within a few days, I was in the hospital, had it checked by a dermatologist and it was removed there and then!

We are SO LUCKY to have such an amazing NHS system 

I got my results within about 10 days. A day I will never forget as I walked in to see the consultant only to be faced with a MacMillan nurse when they told me the devastating news. None of us want to hear the word ‘cancer’ but yes it was an aggressive form of Malignant Melanoma (skin cancer) I had to have more surgery to remove more skin, this was the most horrendous and terrifying time. Having to wait for the results to see if it had gone any deeper than 6mm below the surface as this would go into my bones and bloodstream.

This is a mole that Gillian had removed from her face in August 2019

This is a mole that Gillian had removed from her face in August 2019

It is so frightening to think if this happens, it spreads rapidly and in most cases, it can be fatal. Thankfully mine was contained in that area and had not spread, what a relief that was! However, 2 months later when I started with back pain the rollercoaster started again. They rushed me in to have some bone scans and blood tests as they were worried it had escaped them – the NHS is incredible – I was fast-tracked to have all the tests, then a wait for 2 weeks for the results seemed like forever, and my life was on hold! I was determined to remain positive and that this wasn’t going to take me away from my family. This I learned from my aunt who died when I was 12, she taught me lots of values in life but most of all to keep smiling and stay positive. Something she did so well during the last few months of her life as she hid her pain from me and that has given me the strength to get through anything. The next two weeks were all a bit of a blur really, but the call came to say I was all clear of any signs that cancer had spread.

My new life began – I was determined to make others understand why it is so important to wear sun protection. I felt guilty that I had used sunbeds, sunbathed with little sun cream on – something that so many of us did as we didn’t know the reality behind the harmful UV rays that the sun did to our skin and how bad sunbeds really are. Now I was paying the price for it all as I now live with skin cancer. I have had 14 lesions removed over the years; basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas all caught in time as I now know what I’m looking for.

Knowing your own skin and any changes is so important. My number one tip would be to photograph all your skin areas. Take them in good lighting and get your partner to take photos of your back and back of the legs – these are the most common areas to get issues as they are the places we miss when applying sun protection.

If there are certain moles or skin issues that your gut feeling makes you feel uneasy then pay more attention to them. Watch those closely every day and take photos (make sure they are taken in the same lighting as previous ones and the same angle). Measure the diameter over a few days if they change then get them checked out – at the moment due to COVID 19 none of us want to have face to face appointments – so give your GP a call, explain exactly how it’s changed and that you have photos. Offer to send them over via email so they can send them direct to the dermatology department and they can look at them more closely – if there are any concerns then they will tell you the next steps.

Early detection in any cancer is key and skin cancer can affect all skin types

Skin cancer is predicted to be the most common cancer by 2024, 86% is preventable if we wear sun protection. Our skin is the largest organ in our body so we must look after it. After all, if there was a cream that we could apply to prevent breast cancer you’d wear it. It is estimated to cost the NHS £180 million this year, so let us start saving them money and looking after our skin.

Gillian as she is today

Gillian as she is today

I also have some more information I can share with you from MelanomaMe a charity in the North East that supports patients and families experiencing skin cancer. Kerry the founder has also had skin cancer so knows only too well how important it is to talk & share your experiences.”

Other UK charities that Gillian suggests are:

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As a footnote, The Amazing Blog highly recommends Gillian’s Tancream it’s SPF 50 with a 5* UV it’s also a gradual self-tan bronzer that’s anti-ageing, odour and streak-free. As a unique blend of sunscreen and sunless tanning and has become a multi-award winner, recently with The Beauty Shortlist Award for Innovation. See here to purchase your 100ml Tancream at £44.95.

Friday Feature - Self-Tanners

We here at The Amazing Blog were getting sick of reading the artificial ingredients that many self-tanners contain. That's why we have gathered some of our favourite natural and organic self-tanners for you.

The first self-tan on our list is the NUXE Sun Self-Tanning Lotion. NUXE’s philosophy is to utilise the properties of plants to produce high-quality and effective beauty products, or as they put it, ‘When Nature’s brilliance meets glamour’. The company strives to promote sustainable development and create conscientious cosmetics. Lastly, but very importantly for us, all NUXE products are free from parabens, mineral oil and animal extracts. Although this self-tan is not 100% organic, Nuxe does prioritise ingredients with a natural origin.

NUXE has released a Sun range, to revive lacklustre and tired winter skin. Within the Self-Tanning range is a Lotion and a Facial Balm. We were lucky enough to test out the lotion, and it delivers an even and natural-looking tan after being left on for 1 hour. You can keep applying it daily to achieve a gradually darker tan. It not only leaves the skin sun-kissed and streak-free, but it also leaves behind an iridescent glow that even J-Lo would be jealous of.

Purhcase the NUXE Sun Self-Tanning Lotion here for £15.50.

The Invisible Tan from Eco By Sonya is award-winning for a reason. Having Won Best Fake Tan in the Natural Health International Beauty Awards 2016 and winner for Best Fake Tan at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017, we can see why. We all love a tan, but the fact that this one is made with entirely natural ingredients, including plant, fruit and flower extracts, is music to our ears.

This overnight 8-hour tan is easily buildable and easy to apply because it doesn't tan instantly and leave dark, unsightly streaks. Don't let that fool you though, you only need one application for a bronzed finish, but you can always apply more layers if you're after an even deeper tan. This self-tan is best suited for medium/olive skin tones, so bear that in mind! The lotion applies like a moisturiser as it is infused with aloe vera, rose geranium oil, avocado oil and chamomile that leave the skin soft and nourished, helping the tan appear smoother and more even. It is free from synthetic fragrance, artificial oranges dyes (that leave orange smudges wherever you go), parabens and GMOs, and it's cruelty-free. Eco indeed.

Purchase The Invisible Tan By Eco By Sonya here, for £28.

The next wholesome tanner that we have for you is TanOrganic's Self Tan Mousse. This is the world's first certified-organic self-tan mousse, which is a significant badge of honour. As far as TanOrganic are concerned, a bad fake tan is as indiscreet as an obvious toupee, and we couldn't agree more. The trade-off for a quick and easy self-tan in mousse form is that it is generally a little flakey and patchy. TanOrganic, however, have created the ideal formula that combines the fast application of a mousse with the nourishment of a lotion. The mousse fades gradually and evenly, so you are not left with orange patches, and doesn't have that potent and offensive fake-tan smell.

This self-tan mousse is ultra moisturising, owing to the hyaluronic acid, moisturizing ingredients and natural food colouring (artificial colourants are usually what dry out the skin). Organic Aloe Vera juice, which is extremely hydrating and calming, makes up 80% of the formula. Not only this, but the entire formula is 100% organic and natural, without any synthetic ingredients, colours, dyes, drying agents, parabens or toxins. Last, but not least, it is cruelty-free. Really, the list goes on and on.

Of course, a staple for every self-tanning addict is an application and exfoliator glove, and we love TanOrganic's. Their Luxury Application Glove is extremely soft, and therefore gentle on the skin. The soft texture and separate thumb hole (that tanning mitts don't usually have) produces an even, streak free tan. The Tan-Erase Ultimate Exfoliator Glove provides extreme exfoliation with its course texture, perfect for preparing the skin pre-tan and removing old tan. You will be left with baby-soft skin, the perfect canvas for your Self Tan Mousse!

Purchase TanOrganic's Self Tan Mousse here for £31, the Application Glove here for £8 and the Exfoliator Glove here for £15.

Our final product is a unique one. Although it isn't based around natural ingredients like the others, we just had to throw it in as it is too intriguing a product not to. Tancream™, a patent pending self-tan is a unique blend of sunscreen and sunless tanning agents. The result is a luxury face and body lotion offering SPF 50, that also provides a gradual bronze tan. It wasn't as easy as popping a sunscreen and a self-tan in a bottle and shaking it up though. Tancream is the result of two years of intensive research that has been endorsed by leading dermatologists. Your skin is definitely in safe hands, especially since the sun is no joke.

The sunscreen properties give this product Ultra UVA 5 star High Sun Protection and protects the skin against damaging and ageing UVA rays. You also don't have to worry about patchy orange skin, as the intensely hydrating lotion gives life to dry skin. Infused with instant bronzer, you achieve a healthy and lasting glow. Not only this, but the lotion also contains Tancream's unique anti-ageing formula. The formula is easy to apply, and streak- and fragrance-free.

Purchase Tancream here for £39.95.

We hope you'll join us on our venture for partly or wholly natural and organic self-tanners, as really, they don't need to contain all those nasties. Be bronzed and glowy whilst treating and protecting your skin!