Now more than ever amidst the miserable January weather, lots of us are dreaming of warmer climates, sandy beaches, and sun-kissed skin. Sigh! Wouldn’t that be blissful right now?
However, due to the new coronavirus variant still posing a risk to travel right now, many of us just aren’t quite ready to take the plunge.
So, if we can’t get a suntan soaking up the rays on a beach in Barbados, we Brits collectively look for the next best thing: sunbeds or tanning agents.
In this article, we explore what tan accelerator is and the secret behind the magic of how it works.
What is tan accelerator?
Before we get into exactly what tan accelerator is we first need to talk about melanin. Melanin is the dark pigmentation released into the skin during prolonged sun exposure. This acts as a natural barrier to UV rays, protecting your skin from sun damage.
Tan accelerators contain a substance called Inositol, which is one of the main vitamins found in our skin’s Melanin. By incorporating this into lotions, when applied to the skin, sun exposure speeds up the production of melanin, which helps to deepen our glow the more sunlight we are exposed to.
What do they work?
Tan accelerators can be used either in natural sunlight or on sunbeds that mimic this by producing UV rays. A quick warning about sunbeds – be sure to do your research before using these. There are medical questions on the safety of sunbeds, due to some links to increased skin cancer for those who use them regularly. Keep in mind it is also illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to use sunbeds in the UK.
A common misconception is that tan accelerator is like fake tan – this is false information! By stimulating the body’s melanin production, this lotion will simply encourage your skin to tan, giving you a deeper glow that is 100% natural. Tan accelerators should not cause any streaks because they don’t contain any fake tanning agents within them. The best tan accelerators should leave your skin feeling silky smooth and well-nourished.
How do I use tan accelerator?
For the best results, most tan accelerators recommend daily use for 2 weeks before going on a sunshine holiday – but they can also be used in tandem with sunbeds. Tan accelerators generally have a much faster effect when used with sunbeds, as although it’s a shorter amount of exposure time to UV light, sunbeds tend to be a lot stronger than natural sunlight, to give you a deeper glow faster.
All in all, whether you’re lucky enough to be going away somewhere tropical, or you’re simply hitting your local tanning salon, tan accelerators are a great way to give you a lasting golden glow that is 100% au naturel.
