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A smiling, tanned person standing in a yellow bathroom holds up a bottle of Artistry Studio Bottle of Sunshine Tanning Water near her face.

How to Self-Tan: What is Self-Tanning Water?

Wondering how to self tan without the sun? We’ve got some sunless alternatives so you can save your skin.

July 6, 2022

A smiling, tanned person standing in a yellow bathroom holds up a bottle of Artistry Studio Bottle of Sunshine Tanning Water near her face.

How to Self-Tan: What is Self-Tanning Water?

Wondering how to self tan without the sun? We’ve got some sunless alternatives so you can save your skin.

July 6, 2022

A smiling, tanned person standing in a yellow bathroom holds up a bottle of Artistry Studio Bottle of Sunshine Tanning Water near her face.

How to Self-Tan: What is Self-Tanning Water?

Wondering how to self tan without the sun? We’ve got some sunless alternatives so you can save your skin.

July 6, 2022

Self-tanning vs. sun tanning

The summer sun can bring out the darker tones of our skin that some of us love! And if you live in a northern climate, the opportunity to get that natural glow from head to toe only comes a few months a year. (Not many people ski in swimsuits!)

But did you know that those darker tones are actually visible signs of skin damage, accelerating the aging process of your skin? Yup! An estimated 90 percent of skin aging is caused by the sun.

As we become more aware of the dangers of soaking up those rays, a growing number of sunless, self-tanning options are being introduced as safer alternatives to the real thing.

Wondering how to self-tan?

Fortunately, there are plenty of self-tanning methods that don’t carry the potential for skin damage like the sun does.

You can go to a professional for a spray tan or an airbrush tan. Or you can try the plethora of DIY self-tanning options, which range from bronzers and mousses to self-tanning lotions and self-tanning waters.

They all have their pros and cons. Some work faster, some last longer. Some have the potential to transfer their color to your clothing or bed linens while others stay put. Some products might have an unpleasant odor while different options feature an amazing scent. The trick is to find the one that works best for you.

Spray tan vs. tanning bed

There are professional salons where you can get tan without stepping into the sun, including spray tanning or airbrush tanning as well as tanning beds or tanning booths.

You might think you’re escaping the danger of the sun’s rays by basking in the lamps of a tanning bed, but the reality is that those lamps deliver the same skin-damaging rays as nature does.

Spray tanning and airbrush tanning, on the other hand, apply a coat of dihydroxyacetone (DHA) onto your skin. Bethany Kaczanowski, an associate research scientist for skin care products at Amway, said DHA is a simple carbohydrate, usually sourced from plants such as sugarcane, sugar beets or through glycerol fermentation.

“DHA works by interacting with the amino acids in dead skin cells on the surface of your skin to give a tanned appearance,” she said.

Depending on several factors, the tan from DHA lasts from 3-10 days. Warning: Some of those solutions carry a vegetable-like smell and both spray and airbrush tans have the potential to transfer to your clothes, linens or furniture. So take care with your favorite items! 

Self-tanning mist: The easiest self-tan for beginners

Self-tanning water, or self-tanning mist, is one of the latest products to enter the self-tanning lineup. It is the easiest self-tan for beginners and carries a lower price tag than a professional salon tan. Many include DHA and when used properly can yield results similar to a professional spray or airbrush application.

“Artistry Studio Bottle of Sunshine Self-Tanning Water – Hydrating + Healthy Glow, for example, uses DHA and provides a natural, bronzed glow to your face and body with no orange tones,” said Kaczanowski, who worked on the formula for the product.

Application of tanning waters is super easy. For Bottle of Sunshine, exfoliate and moisturize your skin 12 hours ahead of time and then generously mist the tanning water on and blend it in. You’ll see color in a few hours that will last for days.

“Once dry, the product is transfer-resistant and water-resistant and there is no unpleasant odor,” Kaczanowski said. “You can reapply it daily to darken your tone or every few days to maintain your color.”

Bonus: Each time you reapply, you’re also giving your skin a mist of hydration.

How does self-tanning lotion work?

If you’re wondering about self-tanning lotions or how to self-tan with mousse, they work very much like self-tanning waters and self-tanning mists in that they often use DHA. They are the OG self-tanners.

One difference is in their application. Self-tanning waters are sprayed or misted onto your skin, helping to achieve an even color when blended. Lotions and mousses are applied by hand. That puts you at risk for streaks or splotches of darker color.

Also, many lotions and mousses have what’s called “guide bronzers,” a color to help you see where you have applied them, Kaczanowski said.

“That is where the real danger of color transferring to clothing or other items comes in,” she said. “Tanning waters, including Artistry Studio Bottle of Sunshine Self-Tanning Water, typically have no guide bronzers to transfer.”

Vitamin D: The sun’s not all bad

While the safest way to achieve that summer glow is by using a sunless-tanning method, it’s important to recognize the benefits of sun exposure, including vitamin D. Vitamin D is one of the essential nutrients to form and maintain strong bones. 

Sunshine generates vitamin D in your skin. The National Institutes of Health recommends 5 to 30 minutes of sun on our skin between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at least twice a week.

So don’t be afraid of the sun! Just be mindful about how much time you spend in it, and always make sure you’re wearing sunscreen when out for extended periods.

“Remember that sunless tanning, despite the darkening of the skin, does not protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays,” Kaczanowski said.