Tanning lotion
A tan without putting yourself at risk of sunburn and skin cancer? That's what tanning lotion is for. If you've never thought about using this product before, you may be surprised by how effective it is.
They are specially formulated to cause the skin to produce more melanin, which is what gives our skin its color. This new tanned shade appears on the outermost layer of the skin, called the epidermis. However, it is important to know that these products do not protect the skin against UV (ultraviolet) rays and do not contain any sunscreen or sunblock properties. So using these lotions is not a form of sun care.
For many years people have seen tanned skin as “in” or “cool,” which quickly prompted sunbathers to flock beaches and pools in the attempt to get their own darker shade. But with the risks of skin cancer and premature aging, the medical community began discouraging this practice and suggesting they turn to sunless ways of tanning.
There are a variety of ingredients that go into these products, the most common being melanin, L-Tyrosine, copper, tea oil, green tea extract and other natural oils. More advanced formulas also contain ingredients that use bronzers to achieve a deeper tan. To add more appeal to consumers, many such lotions have pleasant fragrances.
Some people use these lotions in combination with tanning beds. This type of product is referred to as sunless tanning lotion, which has different ingredients to the regular lotions. Because tanning beds use acrylic in their protective shields, 'sunless' lotion ingredients are formulated to not cause skin damage or buildup on the tanning bed. If you are planning on using a tanning bed to get your new shade, be sure you are not using an 'outdoor' lotion, since this may cause a lot of damage to the surface of the tanning beds.
You can find quality tanning lotion at any grocery store or online. To ensure you don't experience a negative skin reaction, it is important to first test a small patch of skin to see if any irritation occurs.
