When you hear the word “bronzer” you probably think about the makeup you put on your face or body to give your skin a healthy glow.
But there’s such a thing as a tanning bronzer which can help you to get a glorious body tan.
What’s a tanning bronzer?
This is basically a product that improves how well you’ll be able to tan when you go out into the sun or it produces a tan without any UV rays being required.
There is a range of different tanning bronzers out there to suit your needs. So, if you’re keen on having the most glow-worthy tan, here’s everything you need to know about tanning bronzers.
Types Of Tanning Bronzers
Here are various types of tanning bronzers and how they work.
Immediate Bronzer
An immediate bronzer is sometimes also called a cosmetic bronzer or natural bronzer. It makes use of natural ingredients such as riboflavin, which provide more color to the skin.
This type of tan is useful if you want a quick and easy bronzer that will last for a day or two, such as if you’re going on a mini-holiday. It can also encourage a base tan to take effect, as a tan can take up to two days to develop fully.
The natural ingredients found in immediate bronzers have other benefits for the skin besides for producing a tan, such as keeping it beautifully moisturized and nourished so it can look its best.
Delayed Bronzer
This type of bronzer is sometimes called DHA, due to the dihydroxyacetone that it contains. What is DHA?
It’s a carbohydrate that produces brown melaninoids in your skin because of how it reacts with amino acids. This reaction helps to darken the skin’s proteins. It takes a few hours for one to see the results of this type of bronzer, but it’s a useful option if you want your tan to last a bit longer.
Another benefit of DHA tans is that you don’t have to expose your skin to the sun. That said, since DHA can dry out the skin, it’s worth making use of a tan extender that offers skin hydration.
The bronze color produced by a Delayed Bronzer tan is formed in the dead layers of the skin. After about five to seven days, your tan will fade.
Tan-Activating Bronzer
If you have very pale skin, this type of bronzer can help to boost your skin’s melanin so that the UV light from the sun will be able to take effect.
This type of bronzer is sometimes called a melanin-boosting bronzer or intensifier. It’s valuable for giving you an even tan and one with enhanced color.
These bronzers can be applied to the skin in a cream or oil consistency, but of course their drawback is that you need the sun to activate them.
However, that does mean you don’t have to worry about ensuring you apply them perfectly to the skin to prevent imperfections like streaking, as with other types of tans.
White Tanning Bronzer
A white bronzer doesn’t have any color. That might sound strange considering we’re talking about tanning bronzers, but this type of bronzer allows for your tan to last a long time and achieve a high amount of color.
White bronzer tanning lotions usually contain DHA but they can also contain natural bronzer ingredients. They need to be applied accurately – in a circular motion – so that streaks are avoided, which can make your tan less than attractive.
One of the biggest benefits of white bronzers is that they don’t have any color so they won’t transfer onto clothing.
What About Melanin Injections?
You might wonder if melanin injections are safe for use when you want to achieve a golden, luxurious tan. These injections, known as melanotan 1 and melanotan 2 are unregulated and sometimes sold illegally online.
They’re illegal in countries such as the U.S. and U.K., and since they’re unregulated you don’t have guarantees that they’re safe. Their long-term safety is still unknown (via Healthline).
How they work is as follows: both tanning injections copy alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormones in the body.
This can have unpleasant side effects. Melanotan 2, for example, binds with more receptors in the body than melanotan 1 does and crosses the blood-brain barrier which can lead to side effects such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and sexual dysfunction.
Related Questions
Should you exfoliate your skin before using a tanning lotion?
You should always exfoliate your skin in order to remove dry, dead skin cells and produce a smoother layer of skin for the tanning product. That said, keep your skin dry as applying oils to your skin can interfere with the tanning process.
What are the benefits of tanning bronzers?
They allow your skin to remain hydrated while giving you a quick and easy tan without you having to spend time under the harsh UV rays.
Does pale skin tan?
If you have pale skin, you’ll need to tan for many short periods of time in order to allow the tan to build up. You could also end up burning instead of tanning, which is why sunscreen is required to keep you safe.
Conclusion
If you want to eliminate your pale skin, such as because you’re going to an event or on holiday, using a tanning bronzer can work wonders.
It can also be useful if you have the type of skin that doesn’t tan very easily or you just don’t like lying under the harsh UV rays. In this article we’ve provided you with different types of tanning bronzers to make your skin glow.
