In part I of this 2 part series, we'll talk about why you should try a facial self tanner.  Facial self tanners are specially formulated to be noncomedogenic, and a little less darkening in their depth. After all, who wants to have an orange-y tan on their face?  We'll focus on what self tanners actually do and how they work in part I and then get into the different versions of self tanner you can buy in Part II.

If you haven’t discovered the youth-giving power of a little healthy-looking color, then you will be pleasantly surprised when you first try it out. Not a fan of the sun? Try to keep your skin from baking in the sun’s rays out of caution against skin cancer or photo-aging? Related: Health and Mood Benefits of Sun Exposure

Self-Tanner to the Rescue

My earliest experience with self-tanning agents was actually all the way back in middle school. For me that means some time around the late eighties. Believe it or not, self-tanners were around back then! They just weren’t as widely used or talked about. Plus, they weren’t as advanced as they are now, although they actually still used the same active ingredient “DHA” which is short for “dihydroxyacetone”.

This chemical is actually a derivative of sugar, and works by interacting with the chemistry of the skin over the course of a few hours, creating a darker appearance. This darker appearance, much like a ‘real’ tan, fades after a few days depending on your skin type.

Another ingredient used in more modern self-tanners, in conjunction with DHA, is “erythrulose”. This is another sugar derivative, and is used to help lessen the orange effect that self tanners can have if they’re not tempered with this additional ingredient. Related: How to Apply Foundation for a Flawless Finish

Instant Anti-Aging Effect

Most that use self-tanners can attest, they tend to make you look younger. Especially when used on the facial and neck areas, which are two areas on the body that tend to outwardly show the signs of aging most prevalently due to their higher exposure to aging elements like the sun.

Having a healthy looking complexion often boils down to the color and tone of the skin. Tanning the skin can really go a long way in the perception of a healthy complexion. It also helps to camouflage skin discolorations and fine lines which can go a long way in reversing the appearance of aging.

Go With the Specialized Formula for Face 

While using a self-tanner on the face can be a daunting task, you really can’t go wrong if you use self tanners specifically formulated for the facial skin. Or you can always opt for a lower concentration “slow-build” tan that will allow you to customize the depth of color by layering to your desired color over a period of a few days.

What you don’t want to do when it comes to tanning the face is used a dark formula. You can easily end up with a look that’s much darker or less natural looking than you’d like, and it’s a lot harder to hide that on such a prominent part of your body. Related: Is There a Way to Safely Tan?

If you must use a dark formula, make sure you dilute it quite a bit with a lotion or other noncomedogenic (non-pore clogging) moisturizer so you don’t get the full concentration of color. This will allow you to customize the depth of color much more efficiently. 

Also be sure to cover your neck and decollete area as well. Otherwise, unless you're wearing a turtleneck, you could look pretty mismatched if your face is golden and your chest is pale.  In our next post, look for the different types of self tanners that are out there and what the benefits of each type are.