Instead of risking skin damage with constant sunbathing, you may want to try self-tanners. These products give you that tanned glow without having to sit in the sun for hours on end. However, tanning products range widely, making them difficult to navigate when you're looking for the right look. Lotions and sprays are the most common self-tanners, but these have several advantages and disadvantages based on your intended use and needs.
How to Have That Tan Look
All self-tanners use the same general ingrediants to create that darkened skin glow. An additive, called dihydroxyacetone or DHA, literally dyes your skin a certain color. The skin's top layer of dead cells takes on the color change, allowing you to fade back to your normal skin color when the top layers sloughs off. Some products actually take several hours or even days to produce the peak color, making self-tanning a veritable art.
Full Skin Coverage
If you want that tan bikini body, you'll want to choose a spray tanning. Spray tans are often professionally done and provide full coverage via a spray. Lotions tanners often miss certain areas, leaving you with a spotty look for the beach. Pay attention when you apply lotion tanners, and you'll cover all the skin perfectly. The lotion is thicker than the spray as well. This may make coverage simpler.
Spot Tans
You may not be looking for that beach-ready body tan. Perhaps you just want a little color for an upcoming event. Spray tanners are well-suited for spot tans, such as covering the upper chest, face, and neck. You only need a little tanner for these areas, making the spray a quick and easy tool to get you out the door. Avoid spraying your face directly, however. It's best to blend the spray into the face to prevent eye irritation.
Tan Longevity
In general, tanner lotions provide a darkened look for a longer period than sprays. This longevity may be due to the quantity of tanner applied to the body. Lotions tend to have more volume applied to the skin compared to a thin spray layer. Skin cells quickly drop off, revealing the normal skin color below. However, everyone's skin is different, making tan longevity variable for each individual consumer.
Testing It Out
Every skin tone is unique, requiring a different tanner color to achieve that perfect hue. Before you spray or lotion the entire body, consider testing a small, inconspicuous area first. You can watch the color develop safely without using the whole body as a test area. Some tanners have a lot of DHA, making your entire appearance orange with certain particular skin tones.
Try several self-tanners before settling on a product that you use on the entire body. Because tanners take several days or even weeks to fade, an improper self-tan can look disastrous. Choose your product carefully and apply as directed in the instructions. You'll be ready for the beach in no time.
