3 Things You Need to Know About Sunless Tanning

The sun's rays provide a natural method for getting a beautiful bronze tan—as well as a potential sunburn or skin cancer. It also takes a certain amount of time that you may not have if you need to achieve a new look for an upcoming appearance or event. That's when sunless tanning offers an ideal solution. Here are three things you need to know about your quest for a smooth, even sunless tan.

1. Sunless Tanning Is Safer Than the "Real Thing"

You might assume that any product that makes your skin tan could also cause skin cancer or burn your skin. Fortunately, that's not true of sunless tanning options. Most products use an active ingredient called DHA, or dihydroxyacetone, to color the skin. It colors the dead skin cells that cover the surface of the skin, giving you a simulated tan without the UV exposure. The bronzing effect occurs within seconds and typically lasts for 3 to 7 days. The most important precaution is to proceed with extreme care around your eyes, avoiding the eyelids completely. Eyeshadow or foundation can step in to complete your look.

2. Different Products Suit Different Tanning Needs

If you've decided to try self-tanning, you may find yourself mystified by the variety of do-it-yourself products on drugstore shelves. Each of these types of products offers specific pros and cons to suit individual needs, goals and skill levels. If you're new to self-tanning and you're not in a big hurry to darken your skin, you might start with a low-DHA moisturizer that works gradually. If your tan is starting to fade on you and you need to make some quick fixes, wipe those uneven spots down with a self-tanning towelette. Lotions and creams are a popular option for many self-tanners because they dry slowly enough to allow for blending. If you need to tan your back or other some elusive part of the body, reach for a spray product.

3. Salon Application May Be Your Best Option

Achieving consistently good results from self-tanning can prove challenging, especially for first-timers. Even experienced self-tanners may end up with streaks, splotches, and other unwelcome discolorations. Proper preparation, including thorough exfoliation of the skin, is a critical first step in creating a smooth sunless tan. You may also discover that even the most elaborate spray mechanism can't provide even coverage to hard-to-reach areas. If you're self-tanning to ready yourself for a wedding, dance, or other public events, give serious thought to letting a skilled salon professional administer your sunless tan.

Sunless tanning can come to your rescue when you need to give your skin that extra glow as long as you go about it intelligently. Talk to services such as Collin County Cryo about your specific self-tanning needs!

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