What's in fake tan?
Fake tan products have massively improved over the last few years in line with scientific breakthroughs and discoveries. Long gone are the days when fake tan actually looked fake - today's lotions and creams have been designed to look natural, last for longer and fade gradually.
The active ingredient in sunless tanning products is Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This substance reacts with the open air and the amino acids on the surface of the skin causing the dermis to darken; similar to the way the flesh of an apple will darken when exposed to the air.
Just the right concentration of DHA will result in a fake tan that looks as natural as possible, however you can also layer it up to create a darker overall colour. It's up to you how dark you want your skin to appear and because DHA is non toxic it is completely safe to apply a series of treatments. The more applications you layer up the darker the end result will be. You should leave the product on your skin for about four hours so that it can be absorbed into the body properly and then wash it off in the shower - the colour that remains will be the final hue you will be left with.
A variety of natural ingredients can also be found in many brands of fake tan, which boost circulation, improve radiance and increase the elasticity of the skin. Components like aloe vear, gingko, shea butter and avocado extract help to add moisture to the body and rehydrate dull skin cells, helping the skin to appear healthier and firmer.