Products giving people artificial tans have been around since the 1960′s. However, these early products did not work very well, and tended to produce tans that were orange and streaky. Finally, products are easily found today that give you a much more natural looking tan. Thankfully, a tanned look is available without the exposure of UV rays. Available now are the following sunless tanning products which are quite compelling. Tanning accelerators, whose active ingredient is tyrosine, can be used to speed up the tanning process. The amino acids in these products help your body create more melanin, so you tan faster. These products can be either lotions or pills. After you use a tanning accelerator, you then have to make sure you do something that will make you tan, as these products don’t work by themselves. Keep in mind, though, that these products can make your life easier and also reduce the risks of the sun, as you won’t have to expose yourself to either sunlight or the tanning lamp for nearly as long as you otherwise would. But these products won’t give you a tan automatically, they just speed up the process. You may see products advertised that promise to give you a tan simply by swallowing some pills. If you read the ingredients contained in tanning pills, you’ll probably see canthaxanthin, which is an additive used to color foods. The FDA has never approved this substance for use in tanning pills. The safety of such tanning pills has never been established, and research has linked them to serious health problems such as hepatitis. Therefore, tanning pills are not the best option if you’re looking for a tanning solution that’s safer than the sun or a tanning salon. Always shop for your own skin type when you purchase any sunless tanning products. In general, you’ll find that these products are made in three variations -for skin that’s light, medium or dark. If you are someone whose skin is very light, you naturally need the variety made for light skin. It’s important to choose a product marked “dark” if your skin tone is darker, or you won’t get the results you want. Many people are in between and should choose “medium.” If you find even more possibilities, such as “medium-light” you may have to experiment to find the one that’s just right for you. So always read the label carefully to make sure you ‘re picking the product that’s right for you. When you look for sunless tanning products, such as the ones mentioned above, make sure you study the labels and get something that’s right for you. Some products make different formulas for different skin types, so be sure that you choose the correct one. If you’re seeking a sun tanning product that doubles as sunscreen or a moisturizer, be sure you choose one that lists these benefits. If you want a great tan that’s easy and safe to maintain, you may as well take advantage of the many sunless tanning options that are available.

This article was written and submitted by Plastic Surgery California