subject: Avoid Orange Sunless Spray Tans: Know The Causes [print this page] Did your last sunless tan leave you looking like a carrot with legs? Well, you are not alone in your orangeness - many people using sunless tanning methods have been left orange skinned. While sunless tanning can be an effective way of achieving the best tans without exposing yourself to the harsh sun, if not used properly, the ingredients used in sunless spray tanning solutions can leave you with orange skinned. In order to avoid such sunless tanning accidents, you must first understand the causes responsible for turning your skin orange. Here in this article we will take a look at the various causes of orange sunless tans, to help you avoid them.
Orange Sunless Tans: The Causes
The main active ingredient used in sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone, also known as DHA. The DHA in these sunless tanning products reacts with the cells in the outermost layer of the skin to produce a natural looking tan. However, when the DHA reacts adversely with the skin cells, instead of a tan you might end up with orange skin. Here are the major causes of this undesirable effect.
Overuse - Overuse of sunless tanning products is one of the major causes for the orange tint. Even high quality sunless tanning products, when overused can leave you looking like an orange instead of the bronzed look you had in mind. Also, going for a second coat too soon after the first one may also leave you with an orange hue. One way to avoid overuse is opting for a good sunless tanning booth which applies the optimum amount of coats required for the perfect sun-kissed glow. If you are using self sunless tanning products, always make sure you test the product on a small patch of your skin before applying it all over.
Neglecting Exfoliation - Not exfoliating the skin properly before your sunless tanning sessions may also result in an orange skin tone. To ensure the best tanning results, exfoliating the skin thoroughly before the sunless tanning session is an absolute must. Sometimes not exfoliating before going for a second coat may also leave you orange skinned.
Wrong Shade - For the best sunless tanning results you must use a tanning solution with a shade that suits your skin tone and type. Using a sunless tanning solution that is too dark for your natural skin color may leave your skin tinted orange. Make sure that you never use sunless tanning shades which are dark as compared to your natural tan.
Make sure you keep these things in mind to avoid orange sunless tans.