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Vicki Duong

December 4, 2018

VICKI TRIES; Solius

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Okay, I get it. This contraption looks like a super high-tech stand up tanning bed, but I swear it’s so much better than that. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I was invited to check out the Solius machine located at BioPro Pharmacy (the first to launch) so I came ready with a list of questions because I’m a dork and I don’t want to just know something works I want to know how it works.​

First and foremost, let’s dive into what Solius, the company is a Seattle based company aimed at making the benefits of light therapy more accessible, especially as it pertains to vitamin D production. They chose to launch their product in Vancouver because of Vancouver’s likelihood of prioritizing health and wellness as well as the fact that Vancouver has a similar climate to Seattle. While it may seem trivial to some, the sun is essential to our health and peace of mind, hence why many people are affected by seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression associated with colder months and often linked to a lack of light.
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But what does it do?

​Well, in short it helps your body produce vitamin D via emitting UVB rays. Think of all the benefits you get from the sun without the scary stuff. UVB without the infamous UVA. Ever heard of happy lamps? Being in a Solius is like being inside a happy lamp but WAY more effective.

Do you tan?

Nope! Solius gives you a mega dose of UVB and it does feel warm inside the machine (you may even experience a bit of redness), however it’s UVA that gives you that golden glow.

UVB is that good good. UVB is the part of the sun your body really craves/needs. It’s literally what makes you happy when skies are grey. UVA is what penetrates your skin on a deeper level and changes your skin tone. It is what alters your skin cells and can increase your chances of getting cancer (wear sunscreen y’all).

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I am someone who used to tan religiously (enter exhibit A of me looking like a Jersey Shore reject – just kidding, but seriously those photos exist), so trust me when I say I get it. There is something about going tanning that makes you feel ultra cozy AF. You still get that from Solius. Not only is it super cozy and warm but, like being in the actual sun, it boosts your mood. Solius would be a great system to try for those affected by seasonal affective disorder.

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Who needs more vitamin D anyways?

We could all use some more vitamin D in our lives. Seriously though, our society is largely indoor based so over 70% of the global population has low levels of vitamin D. It’s one of those things that you probably wouldn’t realize you were lacking unless your deficiency is extremely severe. Despite it’s name, vitamin D is actually a hormone and your body is capable of producing it on its’ own with sunlight.​PictureI also assumed I was turning into my mother because recently I’ve started to say that I can feel the cold in my bones like some spinster however after researching vitamin D deficiencies I am happy to say that saying I can feel it in my bones makes sense. During colder months I spend less time outside, therefore I absorb less sun. Because of this my body produces less vitamin D which has been linked to brittle bones, osteoporosis and other calcium deficiencies. It is also linked to skin issues and a lack of sleep.

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Okay, but why wouldn’t I just take a vitamin D supplement instead of using Solius?

I mean, you could. But Solius is a better solution than supplements in supporting vitamin D health for the same reason why you wouldn’t use a skin graph to fix a paper cut. Your body is capable of fixing itself, so why introduce something foreign to try to amend the issue? Vitamin D supplements are a dosage you put into your body, whereas Solius helps your body produce vitamin D on it’s own.
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I also asked a pharmacist about vitamin D because I’m a big nerd and he told me that it takes about half a year of daily supplements to build up your vitamin D levels to where it should be. With Solius it’s about 6-7 treatments before you notice a significant improvement. He also told me that in blind clinical trails, supplements contained somewhere between 6-20% of what they stated.

How do you use Solius?

Oh, this is the easy part. They have an app and you fill out some questions about your skin and it calculates the ideal amount of time you should be in a Solius. You can book an appointment through the app and you don’t have to deal with an associate at all. The last few times I went I just booked online, walked into the pharmacy and straight into the device, got my sun on, and then left. When you are inside the machine they recommend that you strip down to your undergarments and socks to allow for as much absorption as possible. Then it plays spa music while you decide what you want to watch on the screen (beach views anyone?) It also prints out these super stylish protective eyewear stickers for you to wear during the process that you can discard after your session.

If your curious about trying it out download the app and use the code VICKI for your first session free. This is not an affiliate code whatsoever, cross my heart. I make approximately zero dollars of this code but it saves you some of that sweet, sweet coin of yours.

I get it, I would be skeptical paying for this at first too. So I batted my luscious lashes to get this code for y’all. Happy sun soaking!

The fine print: The team at Solius was kind enough to gift me this treatment, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Posted In: ARCHIVE, Archive Lifestyle · Tagged: lifestyle, review, solius, vicki tries, wellness

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