Australia has always been at the forefront of the tanning movement, and it’s one of the fastest-growing sectors in beauty in both the USA and UK. This year alone, the makers of bronzing lotions and sprays in America are expecting sale increases of 18.1 per cent. With increasing concerns surrounding skin cancer and tanning beds, fake tans are on the rise, but how much do you really know about the bronzing biz? Here’s everything you need to know about the tanning industry:
A – Accelerators - Tan accelerators help speed up the tanning process so you get more colour with less time spent in the sun. Accelerators are designed to increase your body’s natural production of melanin – making your skin appear darker. There are some concerns with accelerators as, because they react with UV light, many users opt to tan unprotected to maximise their effectiveness. That being said, you don’t need to stay out for as long! Try Lendan Sun Expert Tanning Accelerator.
B – Body tools – While creams, lotions and oils are the first items that come to mind with pre-tanning preparation, there are also a few tools that come in handy. is a long-handled wooden brush that has soft cactus bristles used to massage and exfoliate the skin – perfect for tan prep. Another option is that includes two full body exfoliation rollers that remove dead skin prior to tanning. The rollers fit into the brand’s PediSmooth unit.
C – Canthaxanthin – Some tanning pills contain canthaxanthin, an ingredient most commonly used as a colour additive in certain foods. After consumption, canthaxanthin is deposited throughout the body including the layer of fat below the skin, which turns an orange-brown colour. Just be careful though, there have been warnings about its use by the US Food and Drug Administration.
D – Dihydroxyacetone – The only US Food and Drug Administration approved self-tanning active, DHA is derived from plant sources such as sugar beets and sugar cane or vegetable derived glycerine. It is deemed the safest self-tanning active as it doesn’t penetrate the skin’s outer layer. It is non-toxic, does not damage the skin and is ideal for those with sensitive skin. is just one of the many tanning products that uses DHA.
E – Erythrulose – This biotechnologically produced self-tanning agent works with DHA to develop a natural, deep and even tan. While DHA alone may sometimes create an orange tone and stripes, when mixed with erythrulose, it develops without streaks. Erythrulose also prolongs the tan and leaves the skin less dry. While DHA develops in two to six hours, the tanning effect from erythrulose appears in two to three days. Fake Bake products feature both DHA and erythrulose, as does Invisible Zinc’s Jet Set Tan.
F – Face tanners – When it comes to tanning your face, it’s important you use fake tan products especially designed for that area as body tanners will be too thick for the skin of your face and will come out too dark. Facial fake tans also tend to have softer ingredients than those used for the body. Good options include Guniot’s Auto Bronzant Visage D’été Summer Radiance Self-tan For Face, Self Tanning Hydrating Facial Skincare, , Xen-Tan Face Tanner and Great Face Tan Without Sun.
G – Gradual tanner – Featuring less DHA than traditional tans and more moisturising agents, gradual tanners are great for beginner tanners as they are less likely to streak, need no prepping and can be slathered on. Brands offering gradual tanners include , Sun-Kissed Glow Gradual Tan Lotion, St Tropez’s Everyday Gradual Tan Mousse, Palmer’s Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser and .
H – Hydration – These days a lot of self-tanners include hydrating qualities within them, so you’re not only getting a tan but you’re moisturising at the same time. To keep skin hydrated, is enriched with aloe vera water and soybean oil, Self Tanning System Everyday Radiance uses cocoa butter and honey and includes essential oils of rose, geranium and lavender.
I – Illuminators – Spotted across the international fashion weeks, illuminators are a great way of shedding a little extra light on skin. Give your body an extra shine with , or that is infused with golden pearl shimmer to instantly illuminate the skin.
J – John Harvey Kellogg – The man of Corn Flakes fame created the first sun bed back in 1891, using the infrared and visible light to help cure gout and skin conditions such as eczema. His revolutionary Incandescent Light Bath became popular after Edward VII requested a couple for Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
K – Key areas – Begin tanning with the large areas of the body first, including the limbs, stomach and back. Next, target the feet, ankles, knees and neck.
L – Longer – Want to prolong the length of your tan by a day or two? Try using a tan extender product. These are moisturisers that include enough of a percentage of DHA to keep your tan going strong for a little longer. Products to try include the Tuscan Tan Tinted Tan Extender, and After Sun & Tan Extender.
M – Melanin – Self-tanners using technology related to melanin not only match your skin tone perfectly, but they last longer than other fake tans as it is your own skin producing the colour. contains Melatime®, a tanning accelerator peptide which boosts the skin’s melanin production with reduced exposure to natural sunlight to deliver a gradual tan. Likewise, has unique ingredients which stimulate melanin synthesis that leads to melanin formation – with or without sun exposure.
N – No, nos – There are some definite things to avoid when it comes to pro-longing the length of your tan. Avoid all exfoliating products, chlorine, body wash with SLS as it strips the skin, skin renewal acids such as alfa hydroxy and salicylic as they will exfoliate your tan. Retin-A products will cause fast fading, while witch hazel and alcohol can lighten your tan. Also, avoid all hair removal options including shaving, waxing and depilatory creams as they will strip the colour.
O – Organic – Scared of the host of chemicals that could potentially be hiding in your fake tan products? Some brands are now offering products made with all natural and organic ingredients. St. Tropez’s Naturals range uses plant-derived tanning agent Vegetan that is certified organic, U Little Beauty’s Organic Self Tan is made from 100 per cent certified organic and natural ingredients, is certified organic and contains no nasties such as parabens and sulphates and Santorini Sun Organic's products are formulated from organic oils and use 100 per cent natural and certified organic ingredients.
P – Prepping – To get the most out of your tan, everyone knows you must first properly prep your skin. Shaving should be done the day before, with a body scrub or polish then needed to exfoliate the skin, ensuring it is smooth and removing any trace of dead cells, excess oil, grime and make-up. Good options to try include the , , Guinot Gentle Exfoliating Cream Gommage Grain D’Eclat, Marshmallow Sugar Crystal Body Scrub, The Aromatherapy Company Therapy DIY Body Scrub, Botáni Organic Spirulina Salt Scrub and Self Tanning System Pre-Tan Scrub.
Q – QT – The bronzing business was revolutionised in 1960 when Coppertone launched its Quick Tan, commonly known as QT, which was formulated using DHA.
R – Removal – To avoid a patchy end to your tan or if you’ve accidentally gone too dark, it’s good to know there are some quick removal tricks. While typical household goods such as lemon juice, liquid bleach or baking soda are all clever removal tactics, a good old-fashioned exfoliation is the best method. For specific removal products, try Tuscan Tan’s Tan Rmoval Mitt that removes any fake tan residue or TAN REMOVER, which contains fine micro-salt particles to dissolve the self-tan.
S – Skincare – With society all about multi-functional products, it’s little surprise that tanning products have begun to include other benefits – such as skincare. An example of this is , which is rich in amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants. It has ingredients that help stimulate the skin’s natural repair process, delays skin ageing and protects skin from environmental stress factors. Santorini Sun Organics Self Tan also includes anti-ageing and skin firming benefits.
T – Tanning mitts – Smooth application for an even, flawless tan and no chance of your hands getting a dirty brown tint - what’s not to love about tanning mitts?! Put on the shopping list 1000 Hour Tanning Mitt, Fake Bake Dual Purpose Mitt, , Xen-Tan Deluxe Tanning Mitt and Great Tanning Mitt.
U – UVA and UVB rays – With the discovery that increased rates of skin cancer were being linked back to tanning, the first SPF15 was introduced in 1986. While knowledge about the sun’s damage was still relatively scarce, as education increased over the years, so did the popularity of fake tanning.
V – Vitamin D – While sun tanning has been likened to devil worshipping in recent times, some experts believe that controlled sun exposure is in fact good for boosting overall health. With Gwyneth Paltrow admitting she suffers from low bone density due to a vitamin D deficiency, maybe Dr Michael F. Holick is on to something with his book The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problem.
W – Wafts - Not a fan of that nasty strong smell associated with self-tanning? Xen-Tan’s Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe uses Scent Secure to lock out self-tanning odours, while Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Bronze Sunless Tanner & Instant Bronzer SPF 15 provides its signature scent of cocoa butter.
X – Xanthoderma – Women of the Renaissance and Elizabethan eras were so against xanthoderma, or yellow colouring of the skin, that they would use lead-based white paints to whiten their faces.
Y – Your shade – While we all might get a little excited about the prospect of going as brown as possible, it’s important not to get too carried away when choosing your shade or it will end up looking fake. Experts recommend that fair-skinned people do a few applications of a light-to-medium shade rather than going straight for the dark tan.
Z – Zen – The perfect fake tan makes everyone feel better about themselves, a bit of a spray and voila! - an instant boost of self-confidence.