Problems With Your Self Tanners? Here’s the Solution!

You've experienced a lot horror stories involving streaking or orange palms? Self Tanners are easy to use once you have enough practice. But why is it so easy to make mistakes in using self tanners? It’s because of the active ingredient in all self-tanners called dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, this is the chemical that is responsible in tainting your skin (temporarily), once it came contact to your skin it will take effect within an hour and as soon as it starts, it’ll be hard to stop the process. So you better do good from the start to get your best tan.

Problem No. 1 Streaks
Uneven surface cause uneven tan. To avoid getting ugly streaks make sure to exfoliate your skin before using a self tanner product. This should be the number one rule in your self tanning book. Not only will you get an even skin to work on, by exfoliating and removing dead skin cells you’ll keep your fake tan longer.
Also make sure to have even application. Do circular motions when applying your self tanners, working on small areas at a time.


Problem No. 2 Brown Palms
Unless you’re going for a spray on tan or airbrush tanning, your hands will be the one to apply your self tanner all over your body. To avoid getting brown palms, you should wash your hands every so often while applying your self tanner. By washing your hand before the DHA activates in your skin you can be less prone to this problem. Wash your hand every 15 minute. Another way is to use a surgical glove, use the one that is tight so it won’t crease.
Another option is by using self tanner gloves or towels. The tanning chemical is in the gloves itself, you just need to rub them in your skin making your hands safe from over coloring. But don’t forget to rub the gloves on your hands too!

Problem No. 3 My knees and elbows turn orange.
This is normal due to the skin’s chemistry. To avoid it, make sure to apply lotion to your knees and elbows before applying the sunless tanner. After application, lightly damp some tissue and rub it gently over your elbows and knees, or by applying a little more lotion, then wiping that off.

Problem No. 4 Stinky Smell
This is a common problem. Most self tanners comes with an awful smell. And sometimes it not so easy to get rid of them. I've found that using a scented bath/shower gel is the best way to deal with this.

Problem No. 5 Staining on your clothes
Although some self tanners claims to be rub-off free, don’t risk it. Use dark clothing for at least 4 hours after applying your self tanner.

Problem No. 6 White Face
If you ever experience your tan washing off from your face, you have probably used a face cream with AHA just right before your self tanner application. That is because the active ingredient in the sunless tanner will tan the lotion, not your face. But don’t worry just don’t use your face product (with AHA) before applying your self tanner and you can use it again say after a 12 hours.


Problem No. 7 Flaking of Tan
Like mentioned above, exfoliation is very important. Also the flaking of your skin may be due to dryness, to take care of your tan and to prolong it, you must always moisturize your skin day and night. And also, drinking a lot of water nourishes the skin and will give your skin a nice healthy glow.

Problem No. 8 Orange Tan
Getting an orange tan is not your fault, it’s the product. About a few years ago, most fake tanners give this orangy tan that does not look flattering at all. But self tanners has improved and they are more natural looking than ever. Most fake tans looks even better that sun tan. So to avoid this scenario it’s best to get a good review of the product before using it, and to test it first on a small area of you skin.
Although you need to practice, using self tanners are not rocket science. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll be sporting that perfect sun kissed glow all year round.

The Best Sunless Tanning Product of 2010

A couple of weeks ago, a friend introduced me to this new self tanner she's using. We both are crazy about tanning and that was the best glow I'd seen from her. I've made a quick blog post about it because I was so excited to share this new find and I promised to follow up a full review on it. And so here it is.

I am absolutely confident in saying that Idol Tan is the Best Sunless Tanning Product to date.

When I got my first tube, the first thing I did was to check on the manufacturer and do some background checks on them with the help of Mr. Google.

The company was founded in 2002 and is a proud member of the Natural Products Association, which meant they only use high quality, all natural and safe ingredients on their products. They are well known in the health care (and beauty) industry for producing some of the best treatment for wide range of condition, and one of them is skin care. And by the way Idol Tan is US manufactured ;)

Free Bottle of Idol Tan, Limited Time Offer

So I had the product and I'm so eager to try it however I still have color from my last tanning product and I want to give it an honest review so what I just did was open it and took a sniff. I've been using self tanners for so long that I don't really care so much about the awful smell but Idol Tan is one of a few self tanning product that actually smells good.

After 3 days, my fake tan was completely gone and I exfoliated, moisturized and excitedly applied this product.It's in a gel form, easy to spread and dries up fast. Now I wouldn't say that this is foolproof, you're still prone to streaks if you don't apply it correctly, and brown palms can happen if you don't wear a glove or if you don't wash your hands every so often.

The color appears after 3 hours or so and the shade was just amazing. I have some moles in my arms and face that usually gets darker and more emphasized with sunless tanners but this product didn't darken them as much as the others which for me was a great deal because my skin looks cleaner. My tan lasted a good 7 days.

I've used so many products before and I know from experienced that Idol tan is not the best smelling product and not the most easy to apply either, however it's one of a very few self tanners that last more than 5 days.

But what makes this product the best is the tan it gives my skin. That's the most important IMHO (In My Honest Opinion). It's looks so natural, and a lot of people who are used to seeing me with a tan, and most already knows that I'm into fake tanning, compliments my glowing skin, some actually thought I cheated by getting a sun tan!!! Yup! That's me, I'm such a FAKE TANNER that fake tanning is natural and sun tanning is cheating.. :P

I highly recommend this product as the current best sunless tanning lotion in the market and what's even better than best is that they are running a special promo, as an introduction to the market you can get a bottle for free. It's a limited time only offer so I suggest you hurry. But if you missed the opportunity to get a free trial, buying a bottle is so worth it, you'll be stocking on this once you see your healthy glowing tanned skin.

CLICK HERE TO GRAB A FREE BOTTLE

Self Tanners During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a miracle of life. It's one if not the most wonderful stage in a woman's life. At this stage a mother has a lot of things to DO and NOT DO in order to ensure the health of the growing child inside her.

A mother who is used to having a lovely glowing caramel skin would wonder if she had to give this up too. This mother should be reminded that her baby's health should come first, and that she may not really have to.

First of all, when you are pregnant, you should really be careful what you apply on your skin, whatever our skin absorbs may also go to the placenta and affect your baby.

But studies has shown that DHA, the active ingredient in self tanners does not penetrate our skin and is generally safe to use during pregnancy. But it is strongly advise to not use this product during the first trimester which is the most crucial stage on your baby's development.

So if you decide you'll want to keep the best tan you get from your sunless tanner product, it will be safer to ask your doctor first. You may mention to your doctor that DHA does not penetrate the skin.

You should also be aware that pregnancy changes the woman's hormones and even your skin's usual reactions to products that you have been using before getting pregnant. You may get a darker tan or lighter tan than your usual, or you may look more orange than bronzed. So to be safe, test it first on a small area of your body and see it your skin reaction is still the same.

Self tanners is the only safe way to get your skin tanned during pregnancy, tanning beds, tanning pills and sun tanning would be very dangerous for you and your baby. Spray tanning could also post danger because you might inhale the tanning product.

How to Get the Best Sun Tan

Just have to throw this out first, Sun Tanning could damage your skin and may cause SKIN CANCER!

But if you ever have too, of course we don't always do what we're told and sometimes we just have to break some rules just because, here are tips on how to get that great sun tan-with caution.

Prepare your Skin
The first thing you should do when getting your perfect tan is to exfoliate your skin. This will give you a fresh and clean slate to work on for your tan. You want all those dead skin cells scrubbed off so your tan could last longer. Use a body scrub that has a good moisturizer.

Second is to wear a sun block (with minimum spf). For real! I'm not kidding you! I know it sounds like I'm defeating the purpose here, but what I'm trying to tell you is how to get the best tan, and you get the best tan by being safe. Of course by using a sun block you'll slow down your tanning process, but I swear that the best sun tans are not made in a day. Remember that sun block lotion does not work for the first half an hour so apply your sunblock at least half an hour before sun tanning.

Tan Slowly but Surely to achieve a Perfect Sun Tan
Here's a secret to a great sun tan, you tan your skin gradually by tanning for 1 to 2 hours a day only! By doing this (and by applying sun block) you avoid getting sun burns that will just damage your skin and ruin your sun kissed bronzed.

Best time of day to tan is around 8am to 10am and 2 pm onwards. That's when the sun is less dangerous.

Improve and  Prolong your Tan
Tan for consecutive days, for just 1 to 2 hours per day. This way you get a deeper and darker tan as days past. Not only will you get a perfect shade of tan but you'll avoid getting sun burn.

Moisturize your skin everyday. To prolong your tan and to nurture you skin as well, always moisturize it day and night. Specially if you want to keep your perfect tan longer you must avoid getting your skin dry so you wont shed off your tan sooner than it should.

Wear a sun block that has high SPH (spf 30 is great). Like previously mentioned, only tan for an hour or two, after that you should protect your skin for extra sun exposure. You should want a nice summer glow skin and not a sun burned someone, peeling off looking awful.

Drink lots of water. Drinking water is good for our body and specially to our skin. Keep your skin healthy and glowing by drinking at least 2 liters of water a day. Nothing is more pretty than a glowing tanned skin!

Alternative to Sun Tanning
There are a lot of ways to achieve a great sunless tan, they are safe and most are cheap. Best of it all you can get tanned on seasons when you don't get much sun.

The Best Tan is a SAFE TAN.

Summertime is not the only time when you desire to achieve that captivating golden bronze tan all over your body. And you should know that sun tanning or sunbathing is a major reason for having skin cancer.But who does not want to be gorgeous? Don't worry because there are alternatives to sun tanning- SUNLESS TAN!

Tanning Beds- NOT SAFE
Too much exposure to UV rays causes the skin to age, be prone to radiation damages, and then be faced with the risk of skin cancer. Sunburn and rashes usually occur because of the ultraviolet lights that harm your skin. Use of a tanning bed also exposes you to the same level of danger as the same radiation and lights are present in it. Keep in your mind that tanning with presence of ultraviolet radiation is not safe at all.

DHA based products-SAFE
In other words, it's fake tanning. Using DHA doesn't really give you a tan but tints your skin, it does not make you skin produce melanin so you're still unprotected from the sun. But DHA that comes in lotions, creams, liquid solutions that can be applied using airbrush or tanning booths, does not expose your skin to any radiation and it's harmless.

Bronzers - SAFE
They are just make ups, they are instant and washes off when you shower. But always remember if you have very sensitive skin, always test first a product on small area of your skin and wait for any allergic reaction (24 hrs) before applying through out your body.

Tanning Pills- NOT REALLY SAFE
FDA does not approved tanning pills specially those that contain CANTHAXANTHIN. Although most tanning pills contain greater amount of l-tyrosine, which is a safe supplement (for weight loss and depression), there has been no scientific proof of it's effectiveness to tan skin.

Melanotan ii- NOT REALLY SAFE
FDA also does not approved melanotan as a product for tanning, but still a lot of tanning fans are experimenting with it. No fatal or serious side effects was reported up to date but FDA warns users for a possible long term effects of using the drug.


Whatever your choice is in getting your best tan, just keep in mind that if your risking yourself-it's not worth it!

Achieve a Natural Looking Tan from a Sunless Tanning Lotion

Is it really possible to get the best tan from a lotion without exposing skin to the dangerous UV Rays of the sun?

Yep! there are a lot of ways to achieve the nice sun-kissed skin you're looking for.

One way is by using a sunless tanning lotion.

There are many products in the market that can give you different shades of tan, that also offers different additional benefits besides giving you a bronzed skin.

Cellex-C Bio Tan Sunless Tanning Gel 240ml is one of the best tanning product out there that gives you a natural looking tan. Bio-Tan is a glistening peach-colored, oil-free gel containing natural sugars and amino acids. This luxurious, silky formulation represents a real advance in the creation of a sunless tan. Bio-Tan works at a deeper level than other self-tanning products.

Most tanning lotions works on the outermost layer of the skin but Bio-Tan's unique proprietary process creates color that projects from ‘within the skin’ in a similar way that the color of a natural tan radiates from the skin’s melanin pigment. This simulates the translucent glow associated with a naturally induced suntan.


Features:

1. A totally unique, self-tanning formula that mimics a genuine golden sun tan.
2. Contains DHA (dihydroxyacetone), most often derived from sugarcane or sugar beets. This natural sugar derivative, when applied to the skin, reacts with amino acids in the skin’s surface layers to create a tan-like color. DHA is safe and has been used in self-tanning products for over 35 years. Researchers have now perfected the level of DHA to produce an authentic looking color that closely emulates a real sun-tan.
3. Contains erythrulose, a natural sugar and self-tanning agent which acts synergistically with DHA to produce a longer lasting, even tan with an attractive sun-bronzed color.
4. Contains melanin, naturally extracted from cuttle fish ink. Melanin is an excellent anti-oxidant and free-radical neutralizer.
5. Contains walnut extract. Traditionally used in skin treatments because of its fungistatic and astringent properties. It also contains a natural colorant, which imparts a subtle brown tint.
6. Contains tyrosine, an amino acid that, when combined with tanning sugars, produces a quick and uniform looking tan. The color produced is amazingly close to that of a natural sun-tan.

Oh did I forget to mention it's in a Gel form and their is a very specific way on applying it.. Takes a little more work than most sunless tanning lotion but it's worth your effort once you see the results and you may be surprise that it's your best tan ever!

Here's how you apply Bio-Tan

Step 1. The secret to this natural looking tan is exfoliation. Exfoliate your skin with Cellex-C Speed Peel & Polish Gel before applying or re-applying Bio-Tan. It makes all the difference.

Step 2. Spread a generous amount of Bio-Tan Gel over your face and neck. Avoid eye area, eyebrows and hairline.

Step 3. Do not blend at this stage. Allow one minute for the product to be absorbed into the upper layers of your skin. Then, gently massage any excess gel into your skin. Use the same procedure for other areas of your body. Wear a loose, old T-shirt and baggy pants until step 6 is completed.

Step 4. Wash your hands with warm water and soap immediately after applying Bio-Tan. Then, using the sponge wedgie provided, apply the gel to your fingers and back of your hands if desired.

Step 5. Apply an oil-free moisturizer to your face—Cellex-C Sea Silk—or to your body—Body Sheen & Toning Gel—to give your skin an extra glow. If your preferred moisturizer contains oil, wait 20 minutes before applying it as it may interfere with the color development.

Step 6. After 3—4 hours, gently wipe your skin with a warm, damp washcloth. This will remove excess superficial color left on the surface of your skin. You will notice how the tan now reflects through your skin giving a totally natural light golden tanned appearance. If a deeper tan is desired, repeat the application of Bio-Tan.

Step 7. To keep your tan looking fresh and natural, exfoliate every 2—3 days with Cellex-C’s Speed Peel & Polish Gel and then reapply Bio-Tan following the same steps as before.

* Cellex-C Bio Tan also comes in a darker shade

Warning:
This product does not contain a sunscreen.

Get an Even Tan inside a Spray Tanning Booth

Even the sun can sometimes give you an "uneven" tan, but a Spray tanning booth can guarantee you a perfect even tan!

What is spray tanning by the way?
Spray Tanning is done either inside a booth or applied using an airbrush. Inside an spray tanning booth, a fine mist of tanning solution will be released. The process is very quick, usually less than 5 minutes. You don't really see the results instantly, it will usually take a few hours before the DHA in tanning solutions takes effect. However some airbrush tanning includes a bronzer in their solution to have a good visual of areas they've cover to give you the best tan. However the bronzer can be washed off by water, but don't worry because the DHA will soon take effect after a few hours.

Tips before getting a spray tan.

• Exfoliate. DHA reacts with dead skin cells so patches of dry sky can result in uneven coloring. Prior to getting a fake spray tan exfoliate your skin by using bath salts or loofah while taking a bath.
• Wax or Shave Shave or wax before you get a spray tan. Waxing or shaving your hair will remove dead skin cell which will make your fake tan fade sooner.
• Loose or Dark Clothing Some spray tanners also include a bronzer so to avoid staining your clothes wear something black or something loose.
• Avoid Makeup, Deodorant, and Perfume Some products may prevent the tanning solution from working with skin and others can even turn your skin to turn green.

There's no known bad side effects in using DHA however it is only permitted to be used externally by FDA, now in the case of tanning booths, FDA advise consumers to protect their eyes, mouths and nose to prevent inhalation of the substance.

Instant Tan with a Bronzer!

There are a lot of ways to get the best tan besides baking under the sun. Sometimes you can get an instant but temporary washable tan by using a bronzer.

Bronzer is actually a make up that tints the skin and washes off with water, although some product comes with sweat or light water resistant.

It's very easy to apply and you can easily adjust the shade of tan that you like. However bronzers can rub off to your dress so you should avoid applying on areas which will be covered by your dress.

And wait till you shower, my room mate almost freaked out when she accidentally opened the bathroom door while I was taking a shower and washing off my bronzer, it was like a screen from a horror movie, my bathroom floor was a tint of darkbrown, maroon-ish, blood-like.

When you apply your bronzer, make sure your skin is oil free, to make extra sure, it's best to apply it after shower when your skin is clean. If you are using a powder form bronzer, it's advisable to apply a little powder in the area that you're going to work on, it will serve as a base and to make sure that the area is oil free. Some bronzers come in cream or mousse form that you can latter into your skin like make up.

Bronzer is a nice and easy way to achieve your desired tan, this fake tanning method is quick and safe

Best Tan Lines

Most People associates the absence of tan lines with fake tanning. And that if you do have tan lines then you must have some good ole time on the beach. :)

I remember some 10 years ago, when I was just a teeny-bop, I would specifically buy a swimsuit top that has strings crossing at the back to have that cute tan line. So what is the best tan lines for you?

Is it the BRA LINE. I love this tan line. I would wear a tube top just so I can flaunt that difference in skin tone. I also ask some male friends and this is on the top of there favorite tan lines in woman. Maybe it's their imaginations working when they see the marks of what could have been a very sexy swim suit.

Or do you prefer THONG LINES/ BIKINI LINES. That thong-to-thong-thong-thong! A real sexy tan line to show off. Flaunt it by wearing a low rise shorts or pants and a chest high top... Smoking?!?

WRIST WATCH LINE. The boring line. I almost always have this because I'm someone who always checks the time of day therefore is always wearing a watch. It's not really sexy but it does accentuate my summer look.

WORD LINES. If you are like my brother, he loves using masking tapes to spell out words on his back or chest for word tan lines. Cute and funny but can also be sexy depending on the word/s.

That's about the best tan lines I've had, next time I'll talk about the worst tan lines.

L-Tyrosine in Tanning Pills

L-tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid (protein building block) that the body synthesizes from phenylalanine, another amino acid.

It is found in many protein containing foods, such as meats, dairy products, fish, wheat and oats.

Phenylalanine and L-tyrosine are sometimes prescribed as antidepressants, usually in combination with other nutrients and herbs that have mood elevating properties. Some doctors also recommend these amino acids for appetite control for weight loss.

L-tyrosine produced by skin cells are made into melanin. Although there hasn't been any scientific evidence that L-tyrosine can help you get the best tan without some UV Rays exposure. Remember that only UV Rays exposure triggers our skin to produce melanin.

According to my research, there are no known serious side effects. It is not known, however, whether or not long term use of L-tyrosine, most especially in large amount of more than 1,000 mg is safe, so you should seek advise from your doctor.

L-tyrosine alone may not give you the shade of tan you'll want, actually it may not give you a noticeable tan at all. So if you're taking L-tyrosine as a supplement which contain pure L-tyrosine, you might not notice a difference in your skin. I recommend an L-tyrosine tanning pill with copper and beta carotene.

My personal take on L-tyrosine, it alone does not give you the best tan, it does not produce melanin because our skin only produce melanin when exposed to the UV rays, however I strongly believe that it is a good tanning accelerator so you must use it in combination of other other chemicals, vitamins or lotions or a bit of sun tanning.

DHA in Tanning Lotions

Tanning lotion can probably give you the best tan because it's safe and it nourishes you're skin at the same time unlike the real tanning process that actually damages your skin.

Tanning lotion does not give you an instant tan, your skin color will change gradually by repeated and prolonged use.

The most effective fake tanning lotions are those that contain DHA or dihydroxyacetone. DHA are approved by the FDA to be safe.

When DHA comes in contact with the skin, a browning reaction occurs, DHA turns into a sugar that combines with the skin's amino acid to form the chemical compound melaninoid which are color brown.

Remeber that fake tan does not protect you from the sun, so choose a tanning lotion that has SPH or apply another lotion with SPH to protect your skin from dangerous UVR of the sun.