SelfTanning.com

What Is Self Tanning And Why Is Everyone Doing It?

Before I get to why so many celebrities and ordinary people around the globe are self tanning, let’s clear up a little confusion about what exactly it is. In a nutshell, self tanning refers to any product that interacts with your skin to turn it tan. These products can be in the form of lotions, creams, mousses, sprays, gels, and foam.

Is Self Tanning Safe?

Once people realize all the wonderful benefits that self tanning can do for them, the next question I always get is “Yeah, but is it safe?” Before I get to the specifics, let me tell you the answer is a resounding, YES!!! All self tanning products contain one ingredient that is responsible for making the skin turn tan. It’s called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA).

So How Do Self Tanners Work Anyway?

The key to how self tanners work lies in the main active ingredient, DHA. When applied to the skin, DHA interacts with the amino acids found in the outermost layer of your skin. It sounds gross, but that’s exactly how it works. It’s the same type of interaction you witness with foods turning brown (think apples and pears when the inside is left exposed to air). For all you science geeks, DHA is a simple sugar.

I Heard These Products Make You Orange And Smelly, Is That Still True?

As long as you use the right products, there is no reason for that “orangey” color and awful smell that used to occur with self tanning. When these products were first introduced in the 70s and 80s, it’s true that these were problems. But over the last 50 years, the industry has come a long way! That orange color people used to get has been replaced with gorgeous shades of tan, brown and golden tan.

So What Are The Best Self Tanners Currently Available?

This is our specialty and main focus here at SelfTanning.com! Once again we’ve put together a comprehensive ranking and review of the best self tanners currently available on the market. To find the best products, we actually go out and buy all the self tanning lotions, gels, sprays, foams, mousses and creams we can get our hands on.