Top 5 Reasons to use Tanning Lotion
• Clean, moist skin tans best
• Indoor tanning lotions offer better magnification to maximize results
• Moisturized skin absorbs UV light; dry skin reflects it
• Can achieve up to 70% better results tanning with a lotion than without
• Indoor tanning can be dehydrating to the skin; lotions will help replenish any moisture that has been depleted during the tanning session
Tan accelerators contain amino acids such as psoralen which helps your skin produce more melanin, making your tan appear faster and helping achieve a darker tan quicker. Skin reacts to the suns UV rays causing your body to produce more melanin and thus giving you that golden glow.
If you are in a hurry to get that bronze glow of a great suntan, using a tan accelerator lotion helps it to appear faster by increasing the amount of melanin you produce. Psoralen is taken from citrus oils and other fruits.
“Tingle” or “Hot Action” products are extremely popular. They contain an ingredient called Benzyl or Methyl Nicotinate, a substance often found in muscle rubs that are recommended by doctors for muscle soreness. This ingredient creates a reddening and warming or “tingle” effect, as a result of increased microcirculation – opening of the blood vessels – in the epidermis layer of the skin, increasing blood flow and oxygenation of the skin cells. This oxygenation also aids in the delivery of required nutrients throughout the skin, speeding up the skin's natural growth and maintenance processes. The more oxygen your skin gets during tanning, the better your results.
The reddening and warming effects produced by this type of lotion are a result of the increase in blood flow, similar to the flush you feel when your body's blood flow rises as you begin exercising. It is a temporary effect, and its duration will depend on the intensity of the “tingle” or “hot action” product and the sensitivity of each individual's skin.
Unlike a sunburn, tingle products do not cause any damage to skin cells and, in fact, actually help these cells function more efficiently. The tingle response usually starts fairly quickly after the product is applied to the skin and will last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
“Tingle” or “hot action” products are not recommended for tanners with sensitive skin, as they are likely to find the reddening and heating effects uncomfortable. It is also recommended that all tanners begin with a mild hot action product and work their way up in intensity based on their own comfort level.
A. Tanning products that contain bronzing agents are also very popular. These special ingredients deliver a colored appearance to the skin for an instant "temporary tan.”
A bronzing lotion can either contain a temporary bronze tint that can be washed off with soap and water, or it can contain a small percentage of DHA (Dihydroxyacetone), which is a widely used self-tanning ingredient that causes the skin to brown on the surface, mimicking a natural tan that will last for 3-5 days. There are some products that contain both, allowing the bronzing tint to act like a guide for applying the self-tanning lotion.
