Sunless Tanning Lotion

As long as there have been cosmetics, there have been Sunless Tanning Lotion products. As far back as the ‘60s the first Sunless Tanning Lotion was launched by Coppertone. It was called Quick Tanning Lotion or QT. The resulting orange color was the main flaw of this product. The results attainable today with Sunless Tanning Lotion products look a whole lot more like the real outdoor tan. To achieve either a deep, dark tan or a subtle bronze glow, one can choose from a variety of Sunless Tanning Lotions and sprays, tanning pills, and cosmetic bronzers.

While some of the Sunless Tanning Lotion products available need between 45 minutes and an hour before you can see visible results, bronzers are immediate. A tan that is achieved naturally contains melanin, a component that provides protection from the ultraviolet radiation of the sun. Sunless Tanning Lotion products on the other hand, lack this causing it to be necessary for users to still use sunscreen if they plan to be in the sun despite the deceptive golden-glow look on their skin.

When DHA (dihydroxyacetone) is listed as an active ingredient on a Sunless Tanning Lotion, then you can rest assured that such a product is among the most effective there are. The way in which this product works to create a change in color, is by reacting with the dead cells that can be found in the upper layer of the epidermis. DHA is actually a colorless sugar. The resulting “tan” can be enjoyed from five to seven days from the time the Sunless Tanning Lotion is first applied.

Manufacturers of Sunless Tanning Lotions and pills believe that the amino acid tyrosine that they include in the ingredients of their products encourages and increases the formation of melanin which in turn speeds up the development of a tan. The legitimacy of these claims have not been sufficiently studied nor is there any information regarding whether or not there are any risks involved in making use of large amounts of tyrosine. That element is definitely something to watch out for.

Once you acquire the tan you desire, unfortunately, it does not last forever. Instead, the tan has to be maintained by applying the Sunless Tanning Lotion every couple of days. This is caused by the natural regenerative nature of the skin. Every 35-45 days, the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) is completely replaced taking with it any natural or added pigment thus calling for an additional dose of Sunless Tanning Lotion.