Sunless Tans

Here are some quick tips on how to get the best sunless
tan for your money.

wcco.com - Sunless Tans:
May 14, 2006 10:00 pm



I am one of those people who really likes the glow the
sun can give my skin but worry about the harmful
effects. So for years I have used sunless tanning products.

There are now all kinds of lotions, foams and sprays. The
sunless tanners use an active ingredient called
dihydroxyacetone, or DHA. It's a colorless sugar that
interacts with your dead skins cells. It's why the color lasts
for between five and seven days, just long enough for those
skin cells to slough off.

Despite what some tanning salons told us, the DHA in sunless
tanners is not the same DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) found
in baby food.

The FDA has approved DHA or dihydroxyacetone for use
in sunless tanning lotions, but it has not been approved in
spray form. An FDA spokesperson told me that because the
FDA has not conducted tests, it is not sure about the long-term
effects the spray may have on a person's lungs or other
mucous membranes. It is why the FDA recommends people
wear goggles, nose plugs and lip balm.

Tips To Get Your Sunless Tan To Last

After doing all the research on the self-tanners, I thought it
might be helpful to provide some self-tanning tips. So below
are some of the ways the experts I spoke with recommend
getting a natural-looking tan in a bottle.

1. Exfoliate your skin using a sugar or other kind of scrub.
Concentrate on the areas of your skin that tend to be dryer,
such as your hands, feet, elbows and knees.

2. Apply the self-tanner to one section of your body at a time.
Be sure to rub it in thoroughly.

3. You can also try using plastic gloves. Many people do this
to avoid ending up with color on the palms of their hands. If
you do not have gloves, be sure to wash your hands completely
after applying the self-tanner.

4. To avoid problems around your hairline or eyebrows, you
can use a makeup sponge or cotton swab to blend the self-tanner
evenly into those areas.

5. Wait about 15 minutes before getting dressed.

Tips For The Spray Tan

1. Always wear goggles, a nose plug and lip balm.

2. Exfoliate your skin prior to going to get sprayed.

3. Lather a thick layer of the barrier cream on your hands
and feet, paying close attention to your nails and in between
your fingers and toes.

4. After you get sprayed, take extra time carefully wiping
off the spray, and take special care to rub it off your hands
and feet. If you'd like to be extra-careful, use a baby wipe
to get any of the excess color off.

5. Do not shower for between four and six hours after being
sprayed.