Chasing the sun for a tan has been going out of style since the 1980s when scientific reports began revealing that overexposure to increased ultraviolet (UV) activity in the atmosphere could be damaging to the skin and cause cancer. 

Awareness of the effects of UV radiation from tanning beds has also grown, thanks to campaigns such as the Skin Cancer Foundation’s “Go With Your Own Glow”, which stresses the beauty of our natural skin color. Despite the fact that indoor UV tanners are 75 percent more likely to develop melanoma than those that have never tanned indoors, the desire for a “kissed by the sun” appearance persists. According to the American Cancer Society, this is reflected in soaring melanoma figures that are now six times higher for young adults than they were in 1974.

Many wise individuals seeking a sunless bronzed glow without risking their health are turning to today’s much-improved sunless tanners that are now available in creams, lotions, gels, pump sprays, aerosol and wipes. However, the most advanced offering is the botanical, cosmeceutical-grade spray tanning that offers a safe, natural-looking color without the notorious orange streaks of yesteryear, toxic chemicals, dyes or artificial colors.

The solution is made with ingredients such as purified water; dihydroxyacetone, a simple carbohydrate compound approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that is derived from plant sources such as sugar beets and cane sugar; whole leaf aloe vera (Barbadensis) extract; sodium benzoate (benzoic acid), a naturally occurring compound with antimicrobial properties found in cranberries, prunes, greengage plums, cinnamon, ripe cloves and apples; and potassium sorbate (sorbic acid), derived from the oil of the unripe rowan berry.

All ingredients, when applied in the right concentration, cause a natural tanning of the skin without skin damage. The tan lasts for seven to 10 days, depending on the body’s natural exfoliation cycle. For best results, exfoliation with a loofah or salt or sugar scrub is recommended prior to spray tanning.