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Are Self-Tanners Right for You? The Pros and Cons of Self-Tanning

A lot of women spend hours under the sun to get a tan. However, too much exposure to the sun can damage your skin. The good news is that you can get a golden complexion without leaving your home. A self-tanner is a great product for those who want to get a natural-looking tan in a short period. However, are self-tanners right for you? To answer this question, here are the pros and cons of self-tanning.

How Self-Tanners Work?

As mentioned, a self-tanner can give your skin a tan without spending hours under the sun. This effect is due to the active ingredient of this product, which is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This compound is derived from the chestnut peel. When it reacts with your skin’s keratin, the reaction leads to a dark complexion. The intensity of the tan that you can obtain will depend on the concentration of DHA in the product.

The Pros and Cons of Self-Tanning

The Pros:

1. Less Sun Damage

Keep in mind that it is not safe to expose your body to the sun for a long period. Remember, the darkening of your skin’s natural color is an indication of sun damage. To be specific, it means that the UV rays produced by the sun have caused your skin’s protective mechanism to produce more melanin to shield your skin from more damage.

Fortunately, you can get a tan without going outside. A sunless tan is possible by using a self-tanner. As such, self-tanning can cause lesser damage to your skin.

2. Hydrates Your Skin

Another advantage of using a self-tanner is it hydrates your skin. As you know, sun tanning can dry your skin. Aside from that, it also triggers breakouts, especially if you have oily or acne-prone skin. The reason is that excessive sun exposure can remove the moisture and natural oils of your skin. As a result, your skin will produce more oil, leading to pimples.

On the other hand, a high-quality self-tanner can keep your skin hydrated while giving you beautiful bronze skin. Plus, it can make your skin smooth and supple. However, not all self-tanners can provide this effect; thus, it is recommended that you use high-quality products.

The Cons:

1. You Need to Reapply It

One disadvantage of a self-tanner is that you have to reapply it if you want to maintain a tan for the whole summer.

Ideally, you have to apply the product once a week to maintain your tan. On the other hand, you have to apply a self-tanner more frequently if you’re trying to build a tan. Some products would require you to use them daily. Once you’re satisfied with the tan, you can reduce usage to once a week.

2. Provides Little Sun Protection

Aside from those pros and cons of self-tanning, another downside of a self-tanner is that it provides little to no sun protection. Remember, an SPF of more than 15 is recommended to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging effects. Unfortunately, only a few self-tanners have an SPF of two or four. Nevertheless, you can protect your skin by applying sunscreen before going outside. Also, you have to reapply the sunscreen every two hours for optimum protection.

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