It’s possible to have a natural looking tan, without damaging your skin from the sun, by a using sunless tanning lotion. There are many to choose from on the market. And you can control just how much darker you want your skin to appear, even in the dead of winter.[youtube:M8K9imluqT8?version=3;[link:Best Self Tan];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8K9imluqT8?version=3&feature=related]
Some of them are fragranced and some of them are not. You can find certain brands that can be sprayed on or rubbed on like any regular lotion. Sometimes they include special conditioners for your skin, like aloe vera, to soothe the sting that comes from the sun, just in case you’re also getting tanned by the sun. Many also have level of sun block, for added protection.
Often you can notice a difference after one application. Your skin will already appear darker within a few hours. The more, and more often, you apply the product, the deeper the resulting skin tone. If you’re trying a new product for the first time, or if you have especially sensitive skin, you might want to use a small amount on a discreet test area of your body. It’s best to play it safe and make sure you’re not allergic.

It’s important to apply the lotion evenly to avoid streaking. Some suggest sponging it on for the most even application. Remember that it will absorb into the palms of your hands, too, so if you’re rubbing it in with your hands you may want to wear gloves. Palms don’t naturally tan from the sun, so it will appear quite unnatural if they are tanned from the lotion. The same goes for the underarm areas.
You can find tanning lotions made especially for the face. Just as the face often requires different types of moisturizing and cleansing products than the rest of the body, face-specific tanning products can be useful too.
The tanning ingredient is basically a dye, so be careful not to get it on your bathing suit when you apply it. It may not wash out so easily. Some suggest wearing the same bathing suit each time you use it, for consistent tan lines. Also, because the dye has the greatest effect on the dead skin cells, be sure to scrub your skin well before applying to sluff off the particularly dry skin areas. Otherwise, those areas will be darker than other parts of the body.
Luckily the products on the market today are much more natural looking than the ones available ten or fifteen years ago. In the beginning, people who used the products that were first available had a noticeable orange hue. It made you wonder if they’d overdosed on carrot juice. It’s not the case anymore. The manufacturers have refined the products and there are many choices out there that will give you satisfying results.
The prices of sunless tanning lotion can vary widely, but paying more doesn’t necessarily guarantee a better product. It could pay off to comparison shop.