Not Medical Advice: Self-tanning products most commonly contain the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a color additive that darkens the skin.
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is obtained by the fermentation of certain sugars, like sugar cane and beet sugars.
The only such agent approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), DHA has been available for use in cosmetics for many years now. Generally speaking, most dermatologists consider this mode of achieving that “sun-kissed glow” much safer than obtaining a tan from the cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) radiation that comes from the sun or tanning booths.
The skin-browning effect is the result of a nontoxic chemical reaction between DHA and the amino acids which are part of the keratinous layer of the skin’s surface, much like the browning effect in food caramelization. The resulting color is called melanoidins, similar in color to the melanins our bodies produce naturally when exposed to UV rays.
Haphazard self-tanner applications may fade, but the pictures will live on Facebook forever. Follow these ten steps to score a faux glow that looks natural shared by Allure.com.