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Whether you’re longing for a vacation and a mai tai but don’t have warm travel plans or just want a tan without burning in the sun’s harmful UV rays, this The best self tanners on the market will be your new best friend. But as anyone who’s accidentally turned into a streaky, orange version of themselves knows, achieving believably shiny limbs can involve some pretty risky experimentation. The reason it’s harder to achieve a fake glow than, say, finding the perfect shade of foundation is because self-tanners rely on dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a sugar that is sure to darken skin.
As cosmetic chemist Ginger King explains, DHA reacts with the amino acids on the top layer of skin to create a gradual tan. The problem? It can be difficult to stabilize, hence the dreaded tangerine color, cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller previously said Beckon. Luckily, self-tanners have come a long way, and many of today’s options give you a “tan” that’s indistinguishable from the real thing — and a much healthier habit in the short and long term.
One of the golden rules of self-tanning starts with skin care: Exfoliate first. Spray tanner Anna Stankiewicz of Louise O’Connor Salon in New York City suggests removing dead skin with an oil-free cleanser laced with glycolic or salicylic acid. Just make sure you remove any residue before proceeding so you can start with a clean, dry, product-free slate that will maximize your self-tanning results. This is a crucial step, since oils “could disrupt the binding of DHA to the stratum corneum,” according to New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, and lead to uneven development.
To save you from playing chicken with a million formulas, we’ve rounded up the best self-tanners in mousses, lotions, wipes — and even tanning mists — that will have your friends wondering where you got that streak-free tan without cum to a tropical destination. Stick to these expert-approved tips and your favorite sunscreen for a healthy, UV-damaging tan — and thank us later.
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