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You don’t have to live in Miami or spend your time on a tanning bed to have sun-kissed skin all year round. Tinting lotions, or self-tanning lotions, give you the darker glow you desire with the need to expose yourself to harmful UVA and UVB rays. A bad tinting lotion can give you the appearance of an overbaked carrot, so it’s worth the time to find a good product.
What to Look For
The best tinting lotions come with the ingredient dihydroxyacetone, or DHA. DHA is a type of sugar that interacts with the top layer of your skin and makes it turn darker. While on the hunt for a tinting lotion, look for a product that offers gradual change in the hue of your skin. To ensure an even application, look for a lotion with a lightweight formula. MediciNet recommends using a tinting lotion at night. However, if you plan to wear the lotion during the day, look for a product that offers protection from the sun’s rays.
Types of Tinting Lotions
You can find tinting lotions in the form of a cream, foam or spray-on product. Tinting creams are similar to body lotion and come in squeeze bottles or bottles with pumps. Tinting sprays come in aerosol canisters that apply a sheer, lightweight tinting gel on your body. Tinting sprays are not the same as the spray tanners you find at a salon. Tinting foams come in bottles that look similar to hair mousse. The foam contains a lightweight lotion that you smooth over your skin. When shopping for a tinting lotion, choose the type that is simplest for you to apply and contains the ingredient DHA.
Common Pitfalls
Patience is as virtue when it comes to tinting lotions. Tinting lotions that promise to give you an immediate sun-kissed glow are generally the ones that give your skin an embarrassing orange tint. While the DHA is the prime ingredient to look for in a lotion, some have a sickly sweet smell. With some products, the smell only lasts a few minutes while the lotion dries. Depending on the brand, you may find that the scent lingers all day. If you’re sensitive to scents, test the product first. Tinting lotions can also stain your clothes, especially if you put them on before the product dries.
Applying Tinting Lotions
The week before you start using a tinting lotion, prepare your skin by moisturizing it every day. On the fourth day of the week, start exfoliating your skin while you’re in the shower. This routine will help the lotion glide onto your skin smoothly and make the product last longer, according to MedicineNet. Before you apply the lotion, go into a room that isn’t steamy from the shower because the steam can make you sweat, which can make the tint look streaky. After you apply the lotion, wash your hands and wait until the lotion is dry, which can take up to 15 minutes. MedicineNet recommends using a tinting lotion at night and wearing old pajamas that you don’t mind getting stained.
