Review of Del Sol Table Sunlamp: UV Tanning at Home

3 years ago I was a tanning junkie. I hit up the tanning salon at least 4 times a week. I had a healthy color, a healthy glow, and my overall appearance actually seemed better. I liked the color. I liked the bronze glow. I liked looking healthy. I was hooked.

However after a bad experience at my local tanning spot, I stopped going. The tanning bed was dirty, and I was disgusted. No longer would I subject my body to laying in other peoples dead skin cells.

In the summer time I have no problem getting color, however during winter months, I tend to take on a very pale appearance, and to me, I look unhealthy and sick. I wanted color, but I didn't want to spend a bunch of money every week to go back to that dirty salon.

My Problem Solver:
 
Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start. I had no idea that this type of tanning option was even available. My good ol' Mom told me about it. She said I could get a facial sun lamp like she had when she was a teenager. Hell, I didn't even know they had this sort of thing when my mom was a teen.

The Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start is a relatively small black rectangular shaped box. The inside is hallowed out to place in a sun bulb, and for the grate. It comes with a small table stand, so you can place it directly on a table or on the floor.

Price:
 
I bought Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start 3 years ago, and then I spent $169.00 on the machine. Now though the price has gone up and is being sold in the low $200 range.

When the Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start arrived to my door it came packed with the bulb separate from the machine. This was sort of annoying because the machine has a grate over it to protect yourself from accidentally bumping into the hot bulb while tanning your face.

It was extremely difficult to get the grate off, and very difficult to place the sun bulb in correctly. I was obviously over excited, and I actually ended up breaking the bulb it came with. Luckily I ordered a spare bulb. (I sent the broken one back and said it was damaged during delivery... I'm so bad)

After managing to squeeze the other bulb into the slot, I then put the grate back on.

I was a bit nervous about the Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start to be honest. I knew that the bulb could break easy. I broke on just trying to put it in...I worried that if the bulb was made incorrectly, would it explode in my face?

Tan beds have a protective piece of plastic in case of anything going freakishly wrong with the bulbs. The Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start only has a metal grate. Not saying the bulb would explode into my face, but while your sitting their tanning the thought runs through your head and worries you.

My Use:
 
Everything was very simple after getting the bulb in place. I plugged in the Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start, and sat in front of it with a pair of protective goggles for my eyes. I sat there for 10 minutes, which was a timed session. The Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start has a count down timer on it, so you do not over bake yourself.

Stupid me though, I didn't feel like I was getting tan, so I tanned for an additional 10 minutes and ended up burnt.

WARNING:
 
Do not over tan. Even if your face doesn't turn red after the first 10 minutes does not mean your not tanning. Your first session should only be 7-10 minutes.

After learning my lesson, I used the Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start the correct way. I used it daily for 10 minutes each time. I was able to easily maintain my color on my face all winter. I was happy because I saved a huge load of money by not going to the salon, and I was also able to do it right in the comfort of my own home.

Issues:
 
Some issues I had with the lamp were that it would make ticking noises while Id be tanning. This was not really a malfunction, but it is a scary noise to hear while you are facing the bulb.

One MAJOR issue with the lamp was erosion. I loved my Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start, however only a year after owning the Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start the metal inside of the lamp began to erode. The area that the sun bulb clicked into also began to erode. No rhyme or reason. I didn't leave it in the basement, I didn't get it wet. 2 years later and the area for the bulb is so eroded that I wouldn't use it anymore. It does not look safe.
 
Another issue would be that the lamp would shut off for no reason at all. I would be half way through my 10 minute session, and the lamp would just click off. It would go back on after I hit the button, but I didn't feel it was safe to use after it would turn off on its own like that.

Would I Recommend The Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start?
 
Honestly no. For me the tan I got from The Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start was nice, it kept a bronzed glow on my face all winter long. However it just does not seem 100% safe to me. I would of liked a plastic protective layer on the sun lamp, instead of a metal grate that gets hot.

I also don't recommend it because it rusts up for no goddamn reason.

In the 3 years I owned it, I only got 2 years use. I replaced the sun bulbs 4 times during it's 2 year use. The bulbs are not cheap either (around $60.00 each). What angered me was that 2 times out of 4, I received bulbs that did not work at all, and I would have to send them back for replacements. Guess that is my Karma for lying about the broken bulb that came with the lamp.

If you are still insisting on a sun lamp, I recommend buying from another manufacturer. There were just too many issues with the Del Sol table Sunlamp with Digital Auto Start during it's 2 year life in use.