This is what we dream of: summer, sun, vacation, recreation, relaxation and tanned summer skin. But as quickly as the relaxation is gone after the vacation, the summer tan is also gone. And attempts to retain the pleasant skin tint often come to nothing. Actually, we Central Europeans would have to accept the fact that the golden-bronze skin tint is not our thing. Only those with a Latino skin type can expect a longer-lasting tan. As a rule of thumb, if you have trouble getting a tan, you’ll lose it just as quickly. There’s nothing you can do about it – except get out a little “color for a while” with self-tanner.
Solariums promote skin cancer
Clearly, tanning beds are passé. The skin damage from UV rays is too intense, the radiation risk simply too high. Dermatologists therefore also warn against additionally and unnecessarily increasing the risk of skin cancer through tanning beds. An alternative is offered by self-tanners, which provide a tan without sunburn and skin aging.
Self-tanner instead of sunburn
Modern self-tanners are much more pleasant and tolerable than the artificial sun from the socket. The tanning agent in the self-tanner is a synthetic sugar (DHA = dihydroxyacetone) from the chestnut shell, which reacts with the proteins in the horny layer of the skin and colors it. The color reaction starts immediately after the application of the self-tanner and is completed after about 6 hours. Because only the top layer of skin is tanned by the self-tanner, the tan often lasts only three to five days, sometimes longer. After two weeks at the latest, no effect can be seen. The more DHA contained in the self-tanner, the more intense the tan. Most self-tanning products contain around 2 % DHA, while turbo self-tanning products contain around 5 % DHA. The latest generation of self-tanners also contains the active ingredient erythrulose, another biotechnologically produced sugar. This combination ensures a very natural skin tone, dries out the skin less and the tan lasts longer.
Peeling against spots
The best way to apply self-tanners is in the morning after showering. Through the shower, the excess fat was rinsed off and the skin is slightly exfoliated by showering and towelling. Dry skin flakes can be removed with a body scrub or a loofah sponge, because the color holds particularly well on smooth skin. Elbows, knees and heels in particular can quickly look “spotty” without exfoliation.
Self-tanner as a cream, spray or gel.
On the skin, the self-tanner holds best if you wait with sports and other sweaty activities about three hours after application. Showering or bathing soon after application also jeopardizes the sun look. Whether self-tanner comes as a cream, spray or gel is a matter of personal preference. Also as self-tanning foam or self-tanning milk the sun from the tube is to be had. In any case, you should make sure to use only a special facial self-tanner for the face and not a body tanner. The facial skin is even more in need of care than the rest of the skin of the body and facial self-tanners are therefore specially designed for these needs.
Self tanners are not sunscreen
Since self-tanners only color the top layer of skin, they are not a sunscreen. So this tan does not protect against the sun. However, a small light protection is now offered by almost all products as part of a consistent care against environmental influences. Nevertheless, it is essential to use a sunscreen with an appropriately high sun protection factor when on vacation or just when the sun is strong!
Wear gloves when applying
Self-tanners have a high coloring potential. Once the skin is tanned, you have to wait for the next phase of cell renewal until the skin has regenerated and the colored skin cells are shed. Therefore, it is recommended to wear gloves to apply the self-tanner or, in any case, to wash hands thoroughly immediately after application before the self-tanner stains the palms.
Carrot and Co. are not an alternative
A healthy diet supports a vital appearance – always! But with a carrot cure or tomatoes in abundance, one risks only a yellowish skin coloration, which reminds heavily of jaundice. Also beta-carotene tablets are of no use to get the color of summer.
Tips for applying self-tanning products:
- To make the tan nice and even, you should apply the self-tanner in small portions with a sponge. The first time it is worth a slightly tinted self-tanner. Through its own coloring, it is easier to see where you have already applied the tanner.
- This avoids tanning different parts of the body to different degrees, because there unconsciously rubbed several times. This is just important in such prominent places as elbows and knees, because otherwise they look very quickly much darker than the rest of the body.
- A little body lotion as a primer before applying a very small amount of self-tanner provides an even tan on the problem areas. Eyebrows and hairline are left out, otherwise the self-tanner will stick there and tint unevenly.
- After applying the self-tanner, you should wait with the dressing circa 30 minutes until it is completely absorbed into the skin. So you avoid stains on the clothes. From silk and synthetic fabrics can be removed self-tanner namely only poorly.
