Sunless Tanners
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I have studied the ingredients of numerous self-tanners and consider Beauty by Earth tanners safer than others. As a tanning ingredient, only ECOCERT DHA is used, and the concentration amount does not exceed 10% per EU regulations. In addition, the extracts and oils are organic. SIGN UP for an email with the reviews of many more other self-tanning products! For more information, read below. Shop now for Beauty by Earth self-tanners with the IREAD12 discount code.
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Here, you will find sunless tanners that I consider the worst, bad, better, and best. After studying the ingredients of numerous self-tanners, I have found one that I believe is safer than others.
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To begin with, the ingredients used in sunless tanners that CAUSE THE TANNED COLOR of the skin include:
❌Petroleum dyes (e.g., Blue 1, Yellow 5, Red 40, Red 4, Ext. Violet 2): contamination concerns including carcinogenic contaminants; may also cause allergic reaction and sensitization (learn more here and here)
⚠️Erythrulose: not very well studied for safety
✅Dihydroxyacetone (DHA): the safest option in tanners, yet not perfect; per EU, not more than 10% should be used; on rare occasions, it may still cause allergic reactions (learn more here)
First, some of the WORST sunless tanners, in my opinion, are Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tan Liquid and Jergens® Natural Glow® Instant Sun™ Light Bronze Sunless Tanning Mousse. They both contain petroleum dyes, ethoxylated ingredients (learn more here), fragrance (learn more here), and erythrulose. Additionally, Jergens® contains methylparaben that is currently being assessed for endocrine disruption by the European Chemicals Agency. And Fake Bake self-tanner has coumarin, a potential allergen and sensitizer (learn more here).
Second, one of the BAD self-tanners in my opinion is Tanceuticals CC Self Tanning Body Lotion, Dark. The good news about it is that it contains no petroleum dyes. However, it has ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, and methylisothiazolinone, a potential allergen and sensitizer (learn more here and here).
Third, some of the BETTER sunless tanners, in my opinion, are Salty Face and Eco by Sonya. They didn’t make it into the BEST category because the former contains erythrulose, and the latter has parfum (natural botanical blend), a mixture of undisclosed ingredients may (learn more in my blog post about natural fragrance).
Finally, the BEST option among self-tanners, in my opinion, is Beauty by Earth tanners. They carry SIX different non-toxic sunless tanning products. In all of them, as a tanning ingredient, only ECOCERT DHA is used. I verified that the concentration amount does not exceed 10% per EU regulations.
In addition, the extracts and oils are organic, and one of the safest preservatives is used, which is radish root ferment filtrate. Plus, the product uses some of the safest emulsifiers, which are cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. For your information, they are not true drying alcohols; they are waxes. Every cream and lotion must contain emulsifiers that mix oils and water.
By the way, Beauty by Earth carries a variety of skincare and personal care products (use iread12 code), and in my opinion, they are all safe. They are also vegan and cruelty-free.
For example, check out popular Beauty by Earth Mineral Body Sunscreen and Beauty by Earth Mineral Sunscreen Stick.
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