Let us be honest: sun-kissed skin is not heading anywhere.
However, you might not be a fan of fake tanning things that make it seem as if someone got sunburn on their skin, or their face does not look the same color as the rest of the body. In that case, tan accelerators are the right solution for you in case you want to get that sweet skin that lasts for as long as possible.
You might not know much about using tan accelerators. You might even be wondering if they can be useful as sunscreen, or whether they give you the same protection. In this article, we seek to answer those questions and give you a clearer idea of what tan accelerators entail.
Yes, You should use tan accelerators with sunscreen. A tan accelerator does not give you sun protection while sunscreen does.
What are tan accelerators?
Similar to tanning lotions in terms of its consistency, tanning accelerators are cream-based formulas that give the skin a more luxurious feel when you head in for a tanning session.
They work through increasing the rate of the natural tanning process in your skin, which means you get bronze glows faster than if you were using a normal tanning lotion. The ingredients encourage the cells in your skin to produce melanin, and the good news is that it is safe to use on various skin tones. The more melanin the skin generates, the darker your skin eventually becomes.
They have numerous advantages for the entire tanning process, which includes:
- They do not leave you with streaks, or leave the skin orange. This is because they lack DHA pigments or color.
- They hydrate the skin very well through their ingredients. This helps to reduce flaking, dehydration and peeling. These ingredients include coconut and carrot oils, aloe vera, almond, olive and wheat germ oils, henna, and cocoa butter.
- The effects last longer than a fake tan, since it stimulates the actual production off melanin that results in a gentle, more natural glow of the skin.
Why use sunscreen separately?
There are numerous differences between these two, and you should not assume tanning accelerators guarantee you sun protection.
Tanning accelerators are always designed for use with indoor tanning beds, and they spread UV rays all over your skin – which reduces the process it takes for the skin to develop a golden glow. There are numerous types of tanning accelerators, which are:
- Maximizer and accelerator lotions
- Bronzers (the most popular)
- Tingle lotions
What is the difference between these two?
Sunscreen and accelerator tanning lotions have the following differences:
- A sunscreen is meant to give you protection from UVB rays (the 2rays of the sun that cause sunburn), and the more powerful ones can protect you from UVA (the most powerful, penetrates deep in the skin and leads to premature aging).
- Suntan lotions can have ingredients such as aloe vera and Vitamin E, which allows the skin to absorb them faster. Sunscreens however, have a thicker texture due to ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Final thoughts
When it comes to protecting your skin from the sun, you are better off using an actual sunscreen instead of a tanning accelerator. For accelerators, screening UV rays is not a major part of their functions, although both of them play a role in ensuring your skin remains healthy.
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