The main reason behind the popularity of sunless tanning is that there are several people who live in a place where constant sunshine is not available and most of the people cannot afford such a vacation every month to top up their tans. Another reason why people are more attracted with sunless tanning is that the regular and constant exposure to the sun rays increases the chances of contracting skin cancer. Sunless tanning offers several harmless and easy ways for people to achieve the desired result.

Sunless tanning can take the form of tanning lotions, tanning sprays, tanning beds, and tanning pills. The results and efficiency of these methods differs from one another. Let us look on the four main sunless tanning methods:

Sunless Tanning Lotion

Majority of the sunless tanning lotions come with the bronzing ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is a colorless sugar which can interact with dead skin cells resulting in a color change to that skin. Generally this change in color lasts for five to seven days from the initial application. Using sunless tanning lotions is a well liked method for sunless tanning. However, the only drawback is that, getting an even tan is very difficult. 

Spray tanning is also the same as tanning lotion; the only difference is that tanning solution used here is a spray. Spray tanning can be done manually by a spray gun. If you wish to use it automatically then you can go for a tanning booth. A recent development in spray tanning is the colorless tanning solution. The solution does not have bronzer and affords a less streaky, more even tan.

Tanning beds, also known as sunbeds, feature fluorescent tubesto tan the applicants’ skin by emitting UV (Ultraviolet) Rays. Though, tanning beds are considered as an efficient sunless tanning method, continuous use of this method can cause skin cancer and skin aging.

Tanning Pills

Tanning pills usually comes in three varieties – pills which contain caretenoid pigments, pills which contain tyrosine, and pills with no active ingredients. Tanning pills which contain caretenoid pigments when consumed internally saturates the fat layers just below the skin, which results in the change in skin color. The other two varieties of tanning pills are not proven to have any desired effect on the color of the skin.

The cost of sunless tanning methods differs from just a few bucks to $100 or even more for one or more visit in a tanning salon. However, with sunless tanning you can easily achieve that beautiful bronzed look without damaging your skin.