How do sunless tanning products work?

Since cosmetics and skin products have been in existence, sunless tanners have been used in one form or another to darken the skin. The first specific sunless tanning product ever to be marketed was done so by Coppertone in 1960, the product being called "QT Lotion" which stood for "quick Tanning Lotion." The early self tanners produced results that were very orange in hue, and luckily have come a long way towards producing realistic tanning results. There are many forms of sunless tanning products, from pills to lotions and sprays, the best results usually coming from "bronzers." The degree to which your skin is colored can range from a mild golden glow to a deep, dark and rich brozned effect. One thing to note is that bronzers and sunless tanning products do not protect your skin from ultraviolet rays the way that an actual suntan does, so sunscreen may be more necessary if you spend time outside than if you developed the tan in a tanning bed..

Bronzers

Bronzers produce their effects immediately, and will be able to show full results anywhere between 1 minute and 45 minutes after application. Many are removed with simple soap and water, and are available in powders, cremes and lotions. Keep in mind that a bronzer is basically make-up, and is simply tinting your skin where you apply it. If you go in the water or wash your face, arms or hands, the bronzer will begin to wash off or produce a streaking effect.

Sunless lotions and sprays

Probably the most effective form of sunless tanning are sprays and lotions containing the chemical dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as the active ingredient. It is a colorless sugar that reacts to the upper layer of the epidermis, and causes the dead skin cells to darken in color. This is the same way that Mystic Tanning works, only on a far smaller scale, with less uniform results. The darker coloring of the dead skin cells usually lasts from five to seven days, but results will vary with your preperation. Exfoliating previous to usage helps the process last longer.

Tanning pills

Tanning pills contain an ingredient called canthaxanthin, which is essentially a food coloring. When large amounts are ingested and distributed through the body, the skin will turn an orangish-brown color.

Tanning accelerators

Tanning accelerators mostly contain an amino acid called acid tyrosine, which increases melanin formation and speeds up the natural tanning process. Although cosmetic products like tints and bronzers will not be effected by accelerators, the natural tanning results that can be achieved using a high pressure tanning bed can be sped up through use of an accelerator.

Tans fade over time, and all tans require maintenence to keep going. The reason behind the fading effect is that the entire epidermis is completely replaced every 35-45 days. Over time, your skin is constantly rejuvinating itself and shedding the dead cells. The majority of tanning color of any kind is held in the epidermis, so in order to keep your golden brown looks over time, you will need to re-apply your products according to the manufacturer's specifications....or visit your nearest Tan Factory to find out about our great deals on products, Mystic Tanning, and the latest in bed tanning technology!

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