"A tanning lotion is not the same as a sunscreen. Whereas the purpose of a sunscreen is to protect skin from the potential harmful effects of the sun, tanning lotion works with your skin in order to create a tanned and beautiful look.
How Does Tanning Lotion Work?
Tanning lotion is able to help you achieve a tanned look because it contains DHA. DHA is a special type of colorless sugar and it has the unique ability to interact with the dead skin cells in the epidermis layer of your skin. When DHA interacts with these dead skin cells, it results in a color change that gives the skin a tan appearance. The first application of a tanning lotion will usually last anywhere from five to seven days at a time.
Understanding the Different Types of Tanning Lotions
As the use of tanning lotions becomes more popular, the choices of available tanning lotions continue to grow. The most popular form of tanning lotion is the bronzer. Bronzers are available in a variety of different formulations. These include:
• Gels
• Lotions
• Powders
Bronzers are able to work immediately at helping to produce darker colored skin, though the color begins to fade the first time you wash your skin. This is because bronzers are made with water soluble dies.
There are also many different brands of tanning lotions available on the market. Companies such as Jergens, Sun Laboratories, Olay, and Lancome Soleil all make taning lotions made with their own unique formulas.
Picking the Right Tanning Lotion
With so many different tanning lotions available on the market, it is worth your effort to compare the pros and cons of each. For example, in addition to helping your skin look darker, the tanning lotion may include moisturizers and other ingredients that are beneficial to your skin. In this way, you can help protect your skin each time you make it darker with your tanning lotion.
It is important to note that there are a few skin types that are not ideal for using tanning lotions. In fact, tanning lotion can produce an uneven color if you have skin that has been sun damaged. If you are older or have freckled skin, the tanning lotion may create an uneven look as well. Furthermore, any scars that you may have will likely color poorly. Therefore, you should take these factors into consideration when choosing a tanning lotion in order to increase your chances of having great results."
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