Everyone likes to keep that healthy summer glow all year long, but not everyone has the time or the money to visit a tanning salon week after week. And lying out in the sun all day can result in skin damage, premature aging or even skin cancer. Fortunately, there is a better way to achieve that healthy bronze look without the sun. Sunless tanning can help you keep that tan and healthy look long after the summer months have faded.

Many people have tried sunless tanning products in the past and been unhappy with the results. The frequent complaints about sunless tanning products of old included unnatural coloration, streaking, blotching and uneven coverage.

The sunless tanning products on the market today, however, are a world away from those old products. The sunless tanning products available today can provide excellent and consistent coverage, with little or none of the streaking and blotching that marred previous products.

Sunless tanning products can be particularly useful for providing an excellent base tan before a cruise or winter vacation. Having a good base tan before a vacation not only makes you look better in your bathing suit, but it can provide some protection from the damaging rays of the sun as well.

Of course, it is still very important to use a good quality sunscreen with a high SPF rating, even when using a sunless tanning product. While many varieties of sunless tanning products have a built in sunscreen, most of these do not provide adequate protection for repeated or lengthy sun exposure.

How do sunless tanning products work?
While there are many different sunless tanning products on the market, they all work in basically the same way. The most common active ingredient in sunless tanning products is a chemical compound with the scientific name of dihydroxyacetone (DHA). It is important to look for DHA on the label as you shop for sunless tanning products, since dihydroxyacetone (DHA) has the ability to react with the amino acids in the skin to produce that wonderful bronze look without the sun. Repeated applications of a good quality sunless tanning product containing DHA will make the skin darker and provide a beautiful look no matter what the season.

What brand of sunless tanning lotion or spray is best?
Unfortunately the answer to that question will vary with skin type and pigment level, so there is no one sunless tanner that will be perfect for everyone. The most important thing is to look for a product that contains DHA, in addition to a skin moisturizer or conditioner.

Are spray on sunless tanning solutions better than gels or lotions?
In general, spray on sunless tanning products are easier to use and faster to apply than gels or lotions. In addition, some sunless tanning gels can be drying to the skin, so if you do use a gel be sure that it includes a good quality moisturizer.

No matter what type of sunless tanning product you choose, it is important to apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area of skin before applying it all over your body. Doing this type of patch test is a good way to test for allergic reactions and discoloration problems. Once you have found the perfect sunless tanning product, you can enjoy a deep dark all over tan whenever the mood strikes you.