What To Consider When Buying Sunless Tanning Products

By Haywood Hunter


As the name suggests, sunless tanning products refer to chemical substances that are used in darkening the human skin. They come in various forms such as lotions, creams, dyes, and body oils. Most of them have a characteristic brown color, which is also the color of the final results after use. They come at various sizes and prices. Here are a few facts about sunless tanning products.

Sun tanning products never entail the use of either natural or artificial UV radiation. This is why they are called sunless. UV radiation is harmful if one gets exposed to it for a long period. It may cause cataracts, wrinkles, skin cancer, and suppressed body immunity. These bad effects were the main push for invention of sunless tanning products so that individuals can tan their bodies without having to risk.

All sunless tanning products affect the color of the skins from the upper-most layer called the horny or corneum layer. The horny layer has dead cells which are composed of amino acids. DHA, the short form for Dihydroxyacetone is the most active ingredient contained in almost all sunless tanning products. It undergoes a reaction with amino acids in the horny layer. These interactions take up to 1 hour and once they are completed, the resultant skins are properly tanned.

As the interaction between amino acid and DHA proceeds, there might be emission of a typical smell. It however clears as the reaction proceeds to completion. Some producers add perfumes into the lotions to enhance their smell. This is a good idea as perfumes enhance the scent of the skin and allow sunless tanning products to serve 2 different purposes.

The tanning process varies in different human beings. Some tan faster with little efforts while others take long to tan. Due to this reason, manufacturers vary the strength of sunless tanning products so that they can fit the different people groups. Factors that influence how people tan include their genetic makeup, skin color or tone, and the skin type. There are products that include oils in their formulation to serve people with drier skins.

In order to avoid wastage and/or to improve the results it is recommendable to prepare the skin surface before applying sunless tanning products. Skin preparation entails bronzing, scrubbing, and moisturizing. When applied efficiently on clean skin, sunless tanning products cause a tan that stays for around 3-5 days. One could apply the tanners once after 3 days or sooner depending on personal preferences.

Sunless tanning products appear in two classes, those for internal use and those for external use. Those meant for external application should not be consumed. Tanning pills are the major commodities intended for internal use. However, pills are never approved by many medical bodies since they cause failure in vital organs. They must therefore be avoided.

Sunless tanning products are acquired from health facilities and drug shops. They are lowly-priced and because of increased research and enhancements in technology, they cause more predictable and realistic outcomes. Check out company websites or blogs and forums for extra information on them before buying.




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