Faking It: The Difference Between a Developing and an Instant Tan Itâs that time of year when the sky is dull and dreary, and weâre waking up just praying this treacherous weather wonât ruin our morningâs efforts. Weâve little hope of seeing a ray of sunshine, never mind enough to get a tan! So weâve all turned to our winter savior--fake tanning. Even a fake tan isn't problematic in this weather, though! The other night, running late, I slathered on a generous layer of instant tanning lotion, only to head out into a snowstorm and arrive at my destination looking soggy and streaky rather than sun-kissed. If I had applied my normal tan the night before, things probably wouldnât have ended so disastrously. So whatâs the difference between an instant tan and a developing tan? One stays on for days and one washes off instantly; but they look pretty much the same. Why? ![]() The answer: Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) This molecule is used in the majority of developing fake tans but not instant ones. DHA works by producing a temporary stain to the skin, and this process does take a couple of hours to develop (like your tan!). It is a colorless chemical that allows you to achieve the glowing look without all the health risks that come with UV rays. This skin stain doesnât stain the skin in the way you might imagine. It is actually a pretty cool chemical reaction in your stratum corneum (A.K.A the outermost layer of your skin). The reaction is between the DHA and amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) in this skin layer. The result is a temporary colour change to your cells, making them appear as if you have a tan. This reaction is very similar to the Maillard Reaction, which is responsible for processes like the browning of bread. The good news is this reaction has proved to be nonâtoxic, and DHA does not seem to penetrate any deeper than this outer layer of cells, which are only dead cells serving to protect the underlying layers of skin (so no biggie really!). For this reason, it is FSA approved. DHA has rarely been reported to have any adverse affects. Instant tanning products do not have this molecule, and thatâs why we can consider them a bit more like make-up. They tint and stain the skin, but only until they are washed off, acting a bit like a shimmery, bronze foundation. What do we prefer at Beauty by the Geeks? Normally a combination of the two! Instant is fab for covering up any streaks from bad application of your developing tan, and itâs good to have a bit of tan left when you get out of the shower. Both are way better for your skin than any kind of UV exposure, and using most fake tans is considered harmless. However, remember this top tip⦠donât wear instant in the rain. Liked this post? Read more lifestyle articles! Sources http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11701979?dopt=Abstract http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=526657#qundefined http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=526467#qundefined About the Bloggers
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