At Last - The Truth About Self Tanners

How do sunless tanning lotions actually work?  Are these things dyes that will eventually harm my skin?  Are these products approved by the FDA? How long should I expect my tan to last?   And most of all;  How do I apply them, and look normal?

      First you have to know where the whole idea of self tanning came from.  It came from the meat packing industry!

      Let me explain.  All self tanning lotions (STL) contain an ingredient called DHA, that’s short for Dihydroxyacetone.  DHA was a discovery made in the meat packing industry in the late sixties.

    Mainly used for pre-packaged meats, DHA works simply by reacting with protein in the meat to enhance the color.  Giving it a more desirable image on supermarket shelves. 

     These clever marketers found out by trial and error that there was one key factor in getting DHA to produce a natural look.

 

Why most Self Tanners

 Don’t Work...

 

     DHA is a pH sensitive ingredient.  The pH scale runs from 1-14, and in order for DHA to produce an edible color in meat, the pH must fall no lower than 3 and no higher than 6.

    A pH over 6, resulted in meat that developed a high orange color.  Under 3, and DHA wouldn’t even work. 

     Meat treated with DHA, at a  pH level of 5 to 5.5, experienced record sales!  The perfect color for a piece of premium priced meat!

     But this meat couldn’t  have been the orange color I had turned, or no one would have wanted to eat it.   There had to be more!

    As it turned out, there wasn’t.   The pH level is the single factor that determines how brown or orange you will be, from the STL you use.  It’s that simple! 

     But how could I tell what the pH was, just by looking at the package?   Easy.  There are three ingredients that should never be present in any STL.      

     They are NOT compatible with DHA.    Yet almost every self  tanner on the market has one of these three ingredients in them.  They are Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, and Mineral Oil.  All of these ingredients have a naturally high pH.  Over 6.  And remember, a pH over 6 = orange!

      So check that label!  If you see one of these ingredients, don’t spend your money!  It’s a waste!

     With that settled, I had a few more concerns.  Was DHA approved by the FDA?  DHA is classified as a sugar, which are totally edible.  So yes, it is approved.

    What you may not know is that any non-drug product doesn’t require FDA approval!  Despite what huge cosmetic companies lead you to believe.  Only over the counter medications and prescription drugs require approval!

     OK.  But now I wanted to know if  DHA was a dye?  No, it’s technically a sugar.  Dyes are permanent.  DHA is temporary, and gradually fades away just like a real tan.  Never causing a threat to your health.    

     Now that you know what makes an excellent self tanning lotion, and how to spot one, let me tell you how to get your hands on one that may work for you! 

 

Not quite the sun in a bottle,

but clearly a better alternative...

 

     This product uses the pH technology I just told you about to give you a believable tan.

     I’m not advocating that this is the end-all, do-all product, because there’s no such thing.  A huge mistake is to believe that any self tanner is the sun in a bottle. Nor will I trick you into believing this product was developed to replace suntanning.

     It was developed to enhance an existing tan or give people who can’t or don’t tan a more youthful  color. 

     It’s not meant to be caked on either.  This defeats the purpose. You want to look like you have a natural, beautiful tan.  More is NOT better when it comes to sunless tanning lotions!

     But how do you achieve a realistic, natural look?   

     Simple!  Apply Famous Dave's Self Tanner twice the first day.  It doesn’t matter when.  This should be just the right amount for you to see how much darker you want to be.    To  maintain this color, wait one day, then use it again.  To be lighter, use it every two days.  It doesn’t get easier than that!

     Famous Dave's Self Tanner is also fragrance free.  Added fragrance amplifies the developing odor of DHA.  Being fragrance free virtually eliminates the smell of DHA on your skin, clothes, and in your bed!!        And because Famous Dave's Self Tanner is loaded with natural lubricants and moisturizers, you will experience smooth, even rub  in.  Especially right after a shower.

     Characteristic of self tanning,  avoid applying directly to your knees, elbows, wrist and ankles.  Your skin is heavily textured in these areas and can  trap Famous Dave's Self Tanner.  This causes an uneven tan.  Don’t gob it on.   Instead,  apply lightly to your body, and use the excess on your hands to lightly wipe over these areas for an even tan.  

     Also, use the excess on your hands and apply to your face.  You’ll want a well tanned face to match your body!

     One last tip:  The bottle also tells you how to use it, but wash your hands thoroughly after each use with soap.  Lathering for no less than 30 seconds before rinsing.  This will break the bond fresh DHA forms with the protein in your skin. If you’ve ever seen or had tanned palms from a self-tanner, you know what I mean!

     Self-tanners DO NOT have brains— they will tan you wherever you put them.  If your application is haphazard and uneven, your tan will be too.

     And remember, even if you don’t use Famous Dave's Self Tanner, the pH measurement is the single factor that determines whether you turn orange or brown.  So check those label for the three ingredients I told you about earlier, so your not wasting you money.