We’ve all walked the aisle at the drugstore that houses the sunless tanning sprays, lotions, and oils, each promising to deliver the perfect tan. Thanks to savvy marketing and less-than-stellar results, many consumers are left splotchy and disappointed instead of bronzed and bikini-ready.
But the question that so many people still have is how does self-tanning lotion work, to begin with? Here, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of how self-tanning lotions work.
Sometimes you snag a self-tanning lotion so good, like the Ed Hardy Butter Me Down that you feel like your tan magically appeared right in front of your eyes.
But actually, that beautiful tan you’ve always wished for was created thanks to the incredible formulation. Here’s the answer to how self-tanning lotion works: the active ingredient called dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When you apply self-tanner to your body, DHA works by reacting with dead skin cells on the surface of your body. Essentially, your dead skin cells are temporarily darkened to mimic a sun-kissed glow.
Keep in mind, it’s important to do things like moisturizing skin frequently and re-apply self-tanning lotion before your tan begins to fade.
When it comes to how self-tanning lotion works, the science is simple. The more DHA that a self-tanner has in it, the faster you’ll achieve a dark tan. For instance, spray tans are notorious for using concentrated amounts of DHA to promote a quick, golden bronze color.
In a nutshell, self-tanning lotion does not protect skin from sunburn, so it’s imperative that you always wear sunscreen when exposing your body to UV rays.
An important fact to remember is that most sunless tanning products are not formulated with sunblock. However, self-tanning lotion used in conjunction with sunblock makes for a much safer alternative to tanning outside or even worse, using tanning beds.
Top Tips for a Flawless Application
Shower & Exfoliate
If you’ve ever wondered how self-tanning lotion works best, then start with a clean slate by showering and exfoliating your entire body.
Shave Before Application
Shaving is a form of exfoliation and can also strip skin of natural oils, so it’s ideal to shave before you apply self-tanner, so you don’t strip it off after your initial application.
Moisturize Problem Areas
Elbows, knees, and ankles tend to have skin that’s thicker, darker, and dryer than the rest of your body. So you should moisturize skin thoroughly to keep skin hydrated and smooth prior to your tanner application.
Start from the Legs up
Another tip on how self-tanning lotion works best is to start from the legs up. Next, apply the product to the torso, behind, neck, and back. Then, move onto arms and save the residual product for elbows, wrists, and back of hands and avoid product buildup between fingers.
Once you know how self-tanning lotion works and how to apply it, the process gets easier each time. Boost your color by re-applying your sunless tanner before it starts fading. Also, for deeper color, go ahead and apply another layer the day after your initial application. Best Ed Hardy tanning lotion offers buildable color that looks like the real you.