Safe Swaps: Self Tanner
Let’s face it…everyone looks better with a tan. It makes you look thinner, more refreshed and awake and also hides cellulite, veins etc. And most of us have probably gone to some pretty serious measures to get that bronzy glow….you know… those sketchy tanning beds in college?
In Georgia, we tend to skip Spring and go straight from Winter to a blazing hot summer… which means it’s time to get that pasty Winter skin ready for sleeveless tops and shorts.
Going for the Bronze
If you are like me, then you probably have a dark history when it comes to tanning (no pun intended). It began in my pre-teen years, where we would use tanning oils with NO SPF. I remember frying and getting so sunburnt but justified it as “I just need to get a base tan first”.
Then things escalated in late high school and college when I learned about tanning beds. I was never a super frequent tanning bed person, but man did it get me DARK. I also found it cleared up my skin and was a super calming experience… if only I had known then the potential damage all of that could cause.
Later in college, self-tanners became a thing. I remember being in a class and strongly smelling of Jergen’s Self Tanning lotion.
These Days…
I am pretty lucky in the sense that I have light/medium skin with olive undertones, so I tan well. This was awesome as a teen and 20 something. Birth control, pregnancy and nursing, however, make my face go NUTS in the sun.. resulting in pretty major Melasma that I will one day have a chemical peel to fade. As it turns out, people with olive undertones are the MOST prone to sun spots…. awesome.
So these days when I go out into the sun, I am dousing myself in physical SPF, reapplying like a maniac and wearing a hat. Hell, I even wear sunscreen on my face on days when I am inside all day. Gone are the days of basking in my oils underneath the blazing sun… but I do still try to get my vitamin D from the sun because that’s important!
Due to my olive undertones however, without a tan I look yellow, a tad “jaundicey”, if you will…#nothot. Self-tanners make the most sense for me.
The Danger of Common Cosmetics
Over the course of the last couple years, I have become super aware of the dangers found in common cosmetics, particularly endocrine disruptors, that alter our hormonal balance. As someone with endometriosis and who struggled viciously with infertility- the LAST thing I want in my body is excess estrogen. Not to mention the other toxic ingredients commonly found in cosmetics linked to cancers. Self tanners contain many of these ingredients- artificial fragrance, preservatives, parabens and more. I want to be tan, but not at the expense of my health…this greatly impacts my decisions on what products I use.
How Self-Tanners Work
But what sets self-tanners apart is the active ingredient that darkens the skin- Dihydroxyacetone or DHA. This is a simple carbohydrate that when applied to the skin reacts with your amino acids, darkening your uppermost skin layer. This creates that tell tale self tanning smell… which is why many are packed with perfumes to cover it (FYI you want to avoid any cosmetic with the one word ingredient “fragrance” as the FDA doesn’t require that companies disclose what chemicals when into making that fragrance- which can be hundreds to thousands ).
DHA can be derived chemically or naturally- from cane sugar or beets. If I am going to use a self-tanner with DHA… I go for the natural route. Shocker, I know.
So…is DHA safe?
So, this is a bit of a vague answer, but it’s the best I can give. The FDA has deemed it safe for use on skin, but should not be inhaled or applied to mucous membranes.
Studies have shown that DHA can increase free radicals when exposed to the sun and lead to oxidative stress in the skin and the body. DHA makes the skin more sensitive to the sun as UV rays make the DHA unstable- thus leading to increased skin damage. Many people avoid DHA altogether, however there are ways to make it safer:
1) combining DHA with antioxidants to counteract any oxidative stress and 2) protect your skin from the sun, especially when using a self-tanner
Many brands are now coming out with “DHA free” tanners, but don’t be fooled- they contain “erythrulose” which is essentially the same thing- just a marketing tactic.
The SAFEST best for sure would be to use a body bronzer that deliver instant color that wash off, like this one or this one. The downside is they wash off….but are great for events, photoshoots etc.!
For years, I was loyal to my St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse in Dark. LOVED it. But, it’s not the safest. In addition to containing fragrance, it has some questionable ingredients including a preservative that is classified as a potential neurotoxin… it was time for a safe swap.
What About During Pregnancy?
While DHA is deemed safe for use during pregnancy, there are a few exceptions- avoid a tan in spray form as the effects of that are unknown, same goes for pill form. Me personally, I use very sparingly during pregnancy- in fact, I didn’t use until halfway through my third trimester. When I use it, I also don’t apply to the belly or breasts. Once the baby is born, I will likely only use on my legs as I will be doing lots of skin to skin and nursing and don’t want her precious little body absorbing any of that.
The Swap
I looked for a self-tanner that:
- contained naturally derived DHA
- was free from parabens, phthalates, sodium laurel sulfates (SLS) and artificial fragrances
- was packed with antioxidants.
- ( I also knew ahead of time that I would make sure to wear a good physical sunscreen like this or this one since DHA makes the skin more sensitive).
I landed on this guy….. Beauty by Earth Self Tanner.
It is made with DHA derived from sugar cane and includes some awesome, safe and organic moisturizers & antioxidants including: organic aloe vera leaf juice, organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, organic jojoba oil and organic argan oil, organic green tea leaf extract, and organic pomegranate and cranberry extracts.
With a 5,908 4.5 star reviews on Amazon and an EWG rating of 1 & Think Dirty rating of 2… this is much safer (and super popular) alternative.
THIS STUFF SMELLS AMAZING thanks to the coconut pulp and vanilla fruit extract- tropical, but not overdone. It is a white lotion that goes on clear. As will all forms of DHA, you will get that self tan smell, but to me it seems much less strong than Jergens or St. Tropez.
They also make one specifically for the face, but full disclosure, I don’t use self tanner on my face because it makes my melasma even darker. For my face, I rely on a good old bronzer.. this being my current favorite that is my instant daily tan.
How to Use
This particular self-tanner is super hydrating, so this will double as a moisturizer, cutting out a step in most peoples’ routine. As with any self-tanner you will get the most bang for your buck following a good exfoliation and a tanning mitt to apply.
Exfoliate
I use my go to exfoliating gloves, but if you want to take it a step further you could use a physcial scrub like this one.
Apply
I then squirt some onto the mitt, and apply. Use sparingly around ankles, elbows and knees. I purchased this one from Amazon, and it’s working great. I rinse after each use.
Let Dry
I like to let it dry completely before getting dressed.
The Results
So this isn’t, at least for me, a dramatic tanning product (like the St Tropez Dark Mousse), but with use 1-3 times a week, it has built a nice gradual tan. I like this because that also means you wont get any dramatic streaking. It’s now a part of my routine- and it works because I exfoliate in the shower about 2-3x a week anyway, so this just follows that step. It doesn’t take anymore time than applying body lotion. I wish I had before and after pics of myself, but I didn’t plan that one out.
And a huge bonus- no transfer onto our white sheets!!!
This, of course, is not the only brand that has clean ingredients and naturally derived DHA, but it’s the only one I’ve tried and I can’t recommend anything I haven’t personally tried and loved.
If you’re curious, some other top rated ones include:
I hope this was helpful, especially as we enter the warmer months and start showing more skin. As for me, I will be nursing a newborn all summer long, and will likely be lookin a hot mess… but at least I’ll be a bronzy one! And let’s face it, in the current Corona Climate, pools likely wont be a thing this summer (unless it’s a private one).. all the more reason for a self tanner.
Stay glowy!
Caroline