sunless tanning

Exposure to the sun's UV rays can increase the risk of skin cancer. That healthy tan you get from baking in the sun is in reality a sign of skin damage from sun exposure and in the long run, might lead to skin cancer. That's why self tanners are more popular these days. You get the color without the danger.

Also, in summer, when everyone else is tan, you might feel self conscious wearing shorts that show pale legs. Put on a sunless tanning lotion and build a tan indoors days before you show up on the beach and that problem would be eliminated.

Sunless tanning alternatives

There are tanning pills that are available but are they safe in the first place? Apparently, these pills often contain canthaxanthin which can cause jaundice or liver damage. Is that worth the risk?

Another alternative is the self tanning lotions which are everywhere these days.

Golden Tan Sunless Tanning Lotion SPF15, 4 oz, Alba Botanica
Alba Golden Tan Sunless Tanning Lotion Get Tan without Tanning. Natural looking safe golden tan. For all skin types. Though a golden, glowing tan makes you look healthy and vibrant, we all know that extensive tanning isn't good for us. Besides, during the winter months there's little chance to absorb those golden rays even if we want to. Use our Self-Tanning Lotion to give yourself a healthy glow without exposing your skin to the damaging rays of the sun. An infusion of aloe vera, chamomile, ginkgo biloba, and green tea soothes and repairs, protecting sensitive skin against the free radical damage. A golden tan year-round for face and body. Easy to use, non-streaking formula absorbs quickly for natural looking color in less than 3 hours. Light textured and fast absorbing lotion enriched with vitamins, certified organics herbs and pure plant proteins for optimum benefits.

Banana Boat Sunless Summer Color Self Tanning Lotion, Deep Dark
Banana Boat Sunless Summer Color

Tantowel Self Tan Towelette Packets, Fair to Medium Skin Tones
Tantowel

Coppertone Continuous Gradual Tan, Continuous Spray
Coppertone Continuous

Neutrogena Instant Bronze, Sunless Tanner and Bronzer In One, Medium
Neutrogena

How does a sunless tanning lotion work?
Sunless tanning works by changing the color of the dead cells on the surface of the skin, giving you that fake tan. This is done typically through the use of Dihydroxyacetone or DHA, a sugar that reacts with keratin on the surface of the skin to give that tan color.

Gone are the days when that tan in the bottle produced orange streaks that screamed FAKE TAN! These days, the best sunless tanners develop an even color that looks like a real tan. The best part about the modern sunless tanning products is that you can actually build up the tan to the intensity you want.

Solerra Sunless Silk, Sunless Tanning Lotion
Solerra

Solerra Sunless Tanning Mit
Solerra

Neutrogena Build-A-Tan for Faces Sunless Tanning SPF 15
Neutrogena

Neutrogena MicroMist Tanning, Sunless Spray Deep
Neutrogena

Coppertone Continuous Sunless Tanning, Light/Medium
Coppertone Continuous

Take note that the color you get from sunless tanning lotions would not offer you real protection from the sun. Melanin is formed from natural tanning but not from these fake tans. You need to apply a sunblock over your fake tan when you go out in the sun.

best sunless tanners

Here are some of the best self tanners available online. Get one of these and have sun-kissed skin without sun damage.