In our guide to fake tan you’ll discover how easy it is to achieve a tan without exposure to harmful UV rays. You’ll also find tips on the best ways to apply fake tan and transparent insights into how self tan ingredients work with the amino acids in your skin to produce a healthy and safe sunless tan.
What are the different types of fake tan?
If you want sun-kissed skin but are concerned about sun safety, the best way to get a streak-free sunless tan is to use an organic self tan.
Self tans can come in several formats and include:
- Tanning drops
- Tanning water
- Tanning lotion
- Tanning mousse
Here is our range of natural and organic fake tans:
How does fake tan work?
Tanning products work by deepening the colour of top layer of skin cells on your epidermis. This self-tanning process is easy to do at home and within hours of applying a self tan, the shade of your skin will temporarily deepen.
This sunless tanning effect is produced by a chemical reaction between amino acids in the top layer of your skin and the self-tanning agent used in your fake tan.
The sunless tanning agents that we use in our organic self tans are made from sugar and are called Dihydroxacetone (DHA) and Erythrulose. DHA is derived from sugarcane, whilst Erythrulose is obtained from a sugar found in red berries.
Widely considered safe self-tanning ingredients, these only come into contact with the outer skin cells, our self tans are pregnancy-safe and pose little risk of allergy or skin irritation.
When applied to the skin, our tanning agents work with amino acids in the surface skin cells to produce a tan-like substance called 'melanoidin'.
Melonoidin is has a very similar chemical make-up to melanin, a skin-tanning dark pigment that the skin produces in reaction to sun exposure, and generates a ‘tan-like’ colour on the skin surface. This usually only last a matter of days or until your skin naturally sheds the self-tanned cells.
What is the best fake tan product?
The best fake tan product to use really is a matter of personal choice because it depends where you are tanning and how much control you want over the depth of tan. All our organic fake tan products can be applied to the body and to the face and are an easy and convenient way to tan the skin at home.
If you are tanning your face or are unsure how deep you’d like your tan, we’d advise starting with our Liquid Gold Tanning Drops. These allow you to control how much tanning agent you apply to the skin and are ideal for building up your confidence in using an at-home fake tan, or tanning small areas, such as the face or the feet.
Age Defy+ Liquid Gold Tanning Drops 30ml
Glow from head to toe with our scent-free certified organic tanning drops
£38.00
If you are tanning a larger area of skin, for example your legs, torso and arms, our Self Tan Lotion is just as easy to apply but may be a more cost-effective way of tanning the body at home.
Self Tan Lotion 150ml
Tan easily at home with this natural and organic self tan lotion
£27.00
Did you know? Our self tans are great for generating a healthy skin glow, but can also be used to minimise the appearance of stretchmarks, Vitiligo and leg spider veins.
All Green People self tanners are certified organic, safe to use in pregnancy and suitable for vegans and those with sensitive skin. Our fake tans do not offer SPF protection and we always advise applying sun cream to protect skin from sun burn, skin ageing and other UV damage.
How long does fake tan last?
Melonoidin only affects surface cells and this this is why fake tan fades once your skin rejuvenates and sheds its surface cells. Typically, our fake tans provide a 3-5 day-long tan. The tan generated by our organic self tan drops can last a little longer, but will typically fade within a week.
Lots of factors can influence how deep a self tan appears and how long it lasts for. These factors can include:
- The volume of tanning product that you apply
- The frequency that you bathe or shower
- Your complexion/skin type
- The self tan method and products you use
To maintain a consistent tan, reapply your preferred fake tanner at least once a week.
How to get the perfect at-home fake tan
Self-tanning is easy to do at home.
Whether you are tanning the skin with a self tan lotion or drops, it is a good idea to first prepare the skin with thorough cleansing, then exfoliating thoroughly.
If tanning at home, we would advise investing in a tanning mitt and a good moisturiser and a body scrub exfoliator, a loofah or body brush.
To exfoliate your face, use a facial micro-fibre cloth or a gentle facial scrub. Our Fruit Scrub Exfoliator can be used on the face and the helps to avoid uneven colour application by creating smooth base for you to apply your tanning products to.
How to apply self tan lotion
- Cleanse and exfoliate your skin, applying moisturiser whilst the skin is still slight damp
- Once the skin is soft and dry, apply Self Tan Lotion to your skin in thin layers
- Use a damp flannel to remove excess product from bony areas such as elbows, ankles, heels and knees and wash your hands immediately afterwards
We advise allowing half an hour for our skin to dry and 24 hours for your tan to fully develop. We also advise taking great care around clothing and linen fabrics whilst it is drying as fake tans can stain some fabrics.
How to apply self tan drops
Blend 1-5 drops of Liquid Gold Tanning Drops with your favourite face cream or 6-10 drops with your body lotion and smooth into the skin. The more drops you add, the deeper your tan will be. Allow to dry for 10 minutes before applying clothing and then want for your sun-kissed glow to emerge.
Would you like us to choose a natural self tanner that’s tailored to your skin’s needs? Our UK customer care team is happy to help and can be contacted on 01403 740350.
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