How Do Spray Tan Solutions Work
Spray tan solutions are used with a spray tan machine. It is sprayed as a fine coat on your body. Once your skin is covered with this solution, it will start to develop over the next 24 hours.
The solution contains a skin tanning agent called Dihydroxyacetone or DHA. It is a natural product derived from sugar beet and hence is safe for skin coloring. It reacts with the proteins and amino acids on the surface of the skin. This reaction produces melanoidins which change your skin color so it appears darker and tanned.
Choosing the Right Spray Tan Solution
The market for spray tan solutions is quite huge, so it's not easy to find a suitable one for your skin. If you are new to tanning solution shopping, here is a guide to help you out:
Ingredients
The ingredients list is the first thing you should check in any spray tan solution. It helps you decide what product to get. For example, if you have very sensitive or dry skin, look for a product that lists Aloe Vera, almond extract or any other soothing plant or oil in its ingredients. On the contrary, people with oily skin should steer clear away from these as the added oils will take very long to dry on their skin.
It is always a good idea to invest in a natural or organic product. Even if you decide to go for synthetic, steer clear away from solutions with erythrulose, parabens or alcohol. Erythrulose is a non-FDA-approved ingredient that we believe does not have any significant impact on the solution's performance. Alcohol, on the other hand, makes your skin dry and itchy and sometimes also affects the end result. You should also prefer a paraben-free formulation because, despite its fungicidal and bactericidal properties, parabens are largely associated with breast cancer tumors.
Any sunless tan solution that does not mention its ingredients is not worth the risk.
Number of ingredients
You not only have to consider what's inside the solution, but you should also consider how much is there as well. Many sunless tanning solutions contain a lot of extra ingredients that don't contribute much to their actual performance. We believe that every extra ingredient added to the formula increases the risk of allergic reactions. Hence the fewer the ingredients, the better the spray tan solution will be.
Base color
Tanning solutions are available in different base colors. While all of these look amazing on all skin types, if you prefer your skin to look a certain way, make sure to get the right base color.
Violet-based products are more suited to medium to dark skin types. A reddish base looks amazing on people with an olive complexion or people with fair skin that tans naturally. If you have medium skin and want to channel dark Brazilian vibes, go for dark-ash bases. It looks gorgeous on dark-skinned people as well. A caramel base color is universal and looks great on all skin tones from fair to dark. It creates a perfectly sun-kissed tan that most people love. If you have fair skin with a pink undertone, try green-based tanning products as it corrects the pink for a gorgeous tanned look. Be very careful when using an orange-based solution as it can quickly make your fake tan appear, well fake. When unsure, perform a patch test first. If you like what you see, you can confidently go full body.
Intensity
The intensity of the tan is another important consideration in your purchase. The key is to find the right DHA concentration that darkens your skin without appearing fake.
If you have light skin, choose a product with a lower concentration of DHA. And if you are naturally dark, go for a solution with a higher DHA concentration. A solution with 3% DHA content delivers the lightest tan while the one with 20% DHA gives you the darkest color.
Most experts recommend using products that are slightly darker than your original skin tone. This way, even if the initial result does not satisfy you, you can always apply another layer to make the tan more intense.
Scent
Always choose a tanning solution that smells pleasant both before and after application. Some products smell nice when you are spraying them. But once they start developing, they also start emitting an unpleasant smell. We recommend that you choose soothing scents like vanilla, cherry, chocolate or coconut.
Brand
From what we found out in our research, there are only a few actual manufacturers of spray tanning solutions. Others are merely resellers who label the product as their own. And if they happen to find a cheaper formulation, they won't hesitate to make the switch. So if you find that the color guide is completely different from the one you used last month, or if the solution feels runnier, know that there is something fishy going on.
The solution to this problem? Always buy from reputable manufacturers who operate with strict regulations and quality control. With them, you'll be sure to receive consistent and reliable products every single time.
How To Use a Spray Tan Solution
Here are some tips for easy spray tan solution application:
- Always prep your skin before application. Exfoliate it to remove the dead skin. Use gentle circular motions for thorough peeling. Make sure that your skin is clean and well-dried.
- If you want to remove hair, do so at least a day prior to spray tanning so your pores have time to shrink back.
- Apply the solution evenly over all parts of your body. Be extra careful around the face, neck and hands. You can ask someone to help you apply it on your back.
- Don't forget to apply it around your toenails.
- Don't spray the product on open wounds or unhealed cuts.
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