The sun kissed look is the latest trend these days. Earlier people used to bathe in the sun for long hours to get that bronzed look. But now having understood the harmful effects of long hours of sun exposure, people are switching to safer sunless tanning products. Tanning pills, self tanning lotions, tanning pills, tanning accelerators…there is ample choice for one to choose from.
There are several techniques these days to get that toned bronzed look with a spate of safe sunless tanning products in the market. Tanning tablets and accelerators, self tanning lotions, all assist you in achieving that perfect bronze look sans any risk to the skin. A few of these products work outwardly to give you the desired shade of tan while others work internally.
Tanning products that work outwardly
Bronzers- These products can be purchased in a variety of forms, such as lotions, powders and creams. Generally, they're a vital part of make ups. They can be simply applied to the skin in a few minutes. Likewise, they can be taken off from the skin only with standard soap and water. Their effect lasts for a couple of hours.
Tanning lotions and sprays: Tanning lotions and sprays are the best way to get a deeper tan. These products use dihydroxyacetone or DHA as the active ingredient- a simple sugar which reacts with dead skin cells to produce color transformation.
Tanning products that work internally
Tanning pills- These products have evolved recently. They contain an ingredient called canthaxanthin, which is primarily made use of as a food coloring material. When taken in giant quantities it sticks within the body and changes the complexion of the skin. Though these pills provide desired results, they also cause many complications. They can leave yellow deposits near retina and even cause hepatitis.
Tanning accelerators- These tanning products work by increasing the production of the skin pigment melanin. They consist of a chemical substance called amino acid tyrosine. This substance stimulates the secretion of melanin which enhances the natural tanning of the skin. The tanning accelerators can be obtained in the form of lotions and pills. While these products have been in use for several years, their effectiveness as a tanning product still remains under doubt.
The sunless tanning products provide very realistic effects. They lend your skin with a deep and dark complexion. A few products can even provide you a bronze or a golden appearance. However, since these products provide an artificial tan, they not lend protection to your skin from the sunlight as does the melanin in case of a ‘real’ tan. Therefore, in case you opt for these products, ensure that you apply a sunscreen when you venture out in the sun.