Sunless Tanning Products: Opinions and Classification

The self and proper controlling facility of the self tanning process is a great convenience for self tanners. The best self tanning products are those responsive to the consumers’ demands. Regardless of brand or manufacturer, all self tanning products have the same active substance in common: the well known DHA. The other ingredients packed with DHA result in differences of tone, smell, texture, color, moisture.

According to www.sunless.com, there are six skin types:

1. type I — “always burns, never tans” (David Caruso)
2. type II — “burns easily, tans minimally” (Drew Barrymore, Brad Pitt)
3. type III — “burns moderately, tans gradually to light brown”: Brigitte Bardot, here at age 52. Her face is messed up by plenty of wrinkles, because of the overexposure to UV rays, in late 60’s, before knowing that UV rays are a serious threat for skin
4. type IV — “burns minimally, always tans well to moderately brown” (Lucy Liu)
5. type V — “rarely burns, tans profusely to dark brown” (Halle Berry, Denzel Washington)
6. type VI — “never burns, deeply pigmented, insensitive” (Wesley Snipes, for instance)

Online guides are available not only for tanners, but also for manufacturers. The following are the best sunless tanning products, according to sunless.com. These products are in great demand, as the sales reflect.

The Ten Best Drugstore Sunless Tanning Products

1. Bain de Soleil Mega Tan Inexpensive, easy to apply, with a genderless suntan lotion scent. Best for skin type II.
2. Bain de Soleil Streakguarde Mousse Its strong floral scent fades rapidly, leaving a surprisingly long lasting sunless tan. Both Medium and Dark perform well. Best for skin type I – III.
3. Banana Boat Sunless Tanning Creme in Soft Medium Blend and Deep Dark Blend
   Spotted on Mya’s dressing table, the Soft Medium Blend Creme is great for hands and feet, areas that can darken too much, and for all skin types.
4. Coppertone Oil Free Effortless Color Sunless Tanning Lotion
   The light/medium for skin type I or II; the dark for skin type III. Works well on the face. Is also sold under the name Oil Free with Vanishing Tint.
5. Coppertone Self Tanner Non-aerosol Spray in Dark
   Best for skin type II – III.
6. Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Sunless Self Tanning Cream Medium to Dark
   Unscented and oil free; best for skin type II – III.
7. Neutrogena Instant Bronzing Foam in Medium.
   Just introduced by Neutrogena, this product is the only drugstore product that has a color guide dark enough to prevent application mistakes.
8. Neutrogena Sunless Tanning Foam in Deep and Extra Deep
   One of the few drugstore brands that works well for skin type III – IV.
9. No-Ad Sunless Tanning Lotion in Medium/Dark and Deep Dark
   This product has been recognized as one of the best sunless tanners by the editors of Allure magazine
10. Ocean Potion Weekly Sunless Potion
    This new formula from Ocean Potion features an almost gel like consistency for easy application. New packaging has a groovy bronze color.

The Environmental Working Group, ewg.orgconstantly informs the American population and people all over the world about the compounds of the tanning oils. The ingredients are public and there are warnings in case of dangerous compounds.

Sunscreen/Tanning Oils – Better Choices

Based on the government and industry sources we have reviewed, these Sunscreen/Tanning Oils contain less toxic ingredients.

Sunscreen/Tanning Oils You May Want to Avoid:

A review of cosmetic industry assessments show that the following Sunscreen/Tanning Oils present the greatest potential risks to consumers (ewg.org):