People are using actual Coca-Cola to boost their tan

This is not ok

coca cola tan
(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))
Penny Goldstone
By Penny Goldstone
published

This is not ok

From crazy blackhead removal techniques to stick-on Korean face masks, the internet is positively rife with weird beauty trends, some genius, some, well, not-so-genius.

One such trend is putting Coca-Cola on your body to enhance your tan. We kid you not.

Apparently, the thought behind it is that the soda and oil accelerates your tan, though needless to say there is no scientific proof behind it.

Now, at the risk of sounding like your mum, this is a terrible idea. Aside from the fact that this is gross and sticky (and will probably attract bees), there’s just no substitute for good old SPF when you’re sunbathing.

Don't believe us? Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told Allure Mag , 'Applying it to the skin may lead to a temporary darkening or staining of the skin, but because sodas are acidic, it may exfoliate dead cells, enhancing the ability of UV light penetrating into the skin. Ultimately, this may increase your risk of a sun burn.'

Bottom line is staying in the sun too long, especially sans protection, is putting yourself at risk of skin cancer, and we can all agree no tan is worth that.

So do yourself a favour, and have coke the way it was meant to be had. In a glass, with plenty of ice.

Penny Goldstone
Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.

Latest