Can You Still Tan With Self Tanner On?
Are you currently using a self-tanner and wondering if you’ll still be able to achieve a natural tan?
Curious if it’s dangerous to wear a self-tanner in the sun, or perhaps wondering if you’ll burn faster?
Well, in this article, we’ll talk about exactly how self-tanner works, how natural tanning works, and why you can indeed combine the two for the ideal summer glow.
Can you still tan with self-tanner on?
Yes, self-tanners and sunbathing darken the skin in different ways, and one will not affect the other. Just be sure to wear sunscreen when you are out in the sun, as a self-tanner usually does not contain it.
Ok, let’s get into this in a bit more detail.
Can You Still Get Naturally Tan From The Sun While Self-Tanning?
Yes! Self-tanners simply artificially, and temporarily, darken the skin. Natural sunbathing causes pigments to form and rise to the surface, also darkening the skin, but for a much longer period.
Most quality sunless tanners (Like my favorite from St. Tropez) work through a chemical called dihydroxyacetone, or DHA. DHA reacts with the amino acids in the dead skin cells on the upper layer of your skin, called the epidermis. This reaction causes the skin to darken, simulating a tan.
The epidermis has two layers: the stratum basale, the deepest layer, and the stratum corneum, the outermost layer where chemical reactions from self-tanning products occur.
So, sunless products and natural sunbathing both darken and brown the skin, but in different ways, and they occur at different layers of the skin.
Since the dead skin cells gradually release from your skin during the constant and healthy cell renewal process, the fake tan you achieve from self-tanning products will also disappear.
That is why you need to reapply self-tanner fairly often (see my comprehensive guide on this).
With self-tanning, nothing actually happens with the pigment in the skin; it just colors the outermost layer of the skin due to a chemical reaction.
When you tan either from tanning beds or from the sun, the pigment of your skin actually develops a color.
When your skin is exposed to UV light, pigment develops in the stratum basale, the innermost layer of the epidermis.
This pigment slowly works its way to the surface of your skin, which is why tans slowly develop even after you’re out of the sun.
Melanin in the pigment is what actually browns the skin, and this does offer some protection from UV rays.
Although it only provides protection equivalent to an SPF 2 or 3, don’t think your skin is safe!
Is It Safe To Sunbathe With Self-Tanner or Fake Tan?
No.
Self-tanner will not make sunbathing or tanning at a tanning salon any more dangerous.
However, unfortunately, the browning from self-tanner provides absolutely no protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
The vast majority of self-tanners also don’t contain any sort of SPF sunscreen (unless they happen to specifically state that they do), so tanning while wearing fake tan will not provide you with any protection.
Even if the self-tanner claims to contain some SPF, it should not be used as a substitute for a genuine protective sunscreen.
If you are going to sunbathe while wearing self-tanner, be sure to apply sunscreen with at least SPF 20 after the self-tanner has had a chance to dry.
Since self-tanner and natural sunbathing tan different parts of the skin, you can actually obtain a very nice, natural-looking glow.
However, it’s really important to remember to use a quality sunscreen with both UV-A and UV-B protection.
This will protect you from burning and premature aging, keeping your skin looking fresh and healthy.
Will Sunless Tanner Affect Tanning At A Salon?
Tanning in a bed, although not exactly the same as lying out under the sun, changes your skin color through the same mechanisms.
So no, self-tanner will not impact your ability to get a tan from a tanning bed. Just remember that the primary reason people opt for sunless tanners is that they are much safer for your skin.
Tanning beds, like being out in the sun without sunscreen, can cause premature aging and increase your chances of developing skin cancer.
Transitioning From Fake Tan To Natural Tan
It’s very common for people to apply self-tanner early on in the year so that they already have some fantastic color before summer even begins.
However, as you are able to get sun (be sure to wear sunscreen) and a natural tan begins to develop, how do you make sure you don’t have patchy or streaky skin during the transition?
Well, there are two really easy things you can do to make this a seamless transition:
- Be sure to keep your skin well-moisturized, as dry skin will shed skin cells unevenly, often resulting in a patch that looks tan and is difficult to correct.
- Use a quality tan accelerator specifically designed for use in the sun (I particularly like this one, available on Amazon). This will help you to develop a beautiful, natural tan quickly and bypass any awkward phase between a fake tan and a natural one.
Final Thoughts
Using self-tanner has numerous benefits, including avoiding the damage associated with tanning and achieving a more even color more quickly.
It is perfectly fine to use self-tanner and work towards obtaining a tan from the sun.
Just be sure to use a high-quality sunscreen when you are in the sun, and choose a quality self-tanner, such as my favorite, St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse, which is available on Amazon.
I’d encourage you to add the self-application tanning mitt for a small additional cost.
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