The self-tanner is a really useful product for those who want to obtain a natural and luminous tan in a very short time. Find out how to use it, the precautions to take into consideration and when it is better to put it aside!
When the summer comes, there are those who are lucky enough to turn into a charcoal in no time and those who keep their skin as white as milk even after prolonged exposure to the sun.
Fortunately, they exist self-tanners: products that help to have a golden and shiny skin without the need to leave the house.
Find out with us when to use it and when it is better to be satisfied with the complexion that mother nature has given you.
How self-tanner works
A self-tanner gives an amber complexion to the skin thanks to a chemical reaction that differs from the process that leads to natural tanning.
This product, in fact, thanks to an active ingredient (the dihydroxyacetone DHA), i.e. a natural sugar that derives from chestnut peel, causes a reaction with the keratin of the skin which leads to formation of pigments which cause darkening of the skin.
Based on the more or less abundant concentration of the product in DHA, a more or less intense tan is obtained.
How to apply the product correctly
- Before proceeding with the self-tanner application, do a peeling to eliminate dead cells. In this way you will be able to obtain a homogeneous color and avoid unsightly stains.
- Roll out a generous amount of moisturizing cream based on the type of your skin.
- Remember to use the tanner exclusively on the clean skin ed dry.
- Smear the self-tanner by carrying out small light massages.
- On the delicate areas such as eyebrows, hair roots, elbows and heels, blend the self-tanner using a damp cotton ball.
- As the elbows and knees have a thicker layer of skin, remember to spread with even more attention to the product in these areas.
- Let the tanner work for a few hours, after which wash your hands thoroughly first. Avoid Furthermore of shave 24 hours before application of the product, so as not to subject the skin to stress and irritation.
- Before get dressed, wait at least about 15 minutes (a few hours would be better) to understand the intensity of the color. Fortunately, there are removers to fix any damage, otherwise a home remedy is represented by the solution of hot water and lemon.
When to use this product
The self-tanner is a truly versatile product that lends itself to a variety of uses:
- when you want to get a quick tan fromnatural effect, but without exposing yourself to the sun or making lamps. If you have fair skin, in fact, you will have to take a sunbed or shower in a solarium several times.
- If you do not want risk getting burned spending a shorter or longer period of time under UV rays.
- For get ready for a tan, avoiding to show up at the sea, in the pool or in the mountains with a white complexion like mozzarella. By applying a little self-tanner, in fact, you can give a light color to your skin, which will then be dyed once exposed to UV rays.
- To give your skin some color during the winter season, when days on the beach are a … pale memory. However, in this case, try to do this in moderation. Too artificial an effect is worse than a natural pallor!
Duration of self-tanning effects
The self-tanner allows you to maintain your tan even after the holidays, also making it luminous and intense.
The duration of the tan obtained through the application of this product is variable and depends on its characteristics and usually above all on its composition in terms of ingredients.
Usually, the effects are noticeable 7 to 15 days starting a few hours after application. It must be specified, however, that there are also products for obtaining a very short tan, i.e. one day only. In this case, the application is perfect if you need to prepare for a special occasion like a wedding or a party.
The color obtained through the self-tanner fades slowly both with washes and scrubs. For this reason, one application is often not enough.
On the body you can use it a couple of times a week, while on the face you can act once every two days. However, remember to immediately observe the effects obtained and to resort to caution: an orange and dyed skin in a very artificial way is certainly not the best!
When self-tanner is not effective
Unfortunately, the self-tanner it does not produce the same effect on all skin types. The substances contained in these products are represented by sugar molecules that react with the proteins and amino acids of the skin. In a percentage that fluctuates between 10 and 15%, these elements are not present in the epidermal tissue. In this case, the coloring does not take place and the self-tanner is perfectly ineffective.
We must also dispel a recurring myth, that is, the one that leads us to think that self-tanner is bad for the skin. The contraindications they exist, of course, but they are due to allergies to specific components. Furthermore, it is necessary to avoid applying the product on wounds or dermatosis.
The only real precaution that should never be overlooked is that, once the bronzer has been applied, the skin it is not immune from the effects caused by exposure to the sun, indeed. For this reason, remember to apply protection, even if you plan to spend most of your time in the shade.
