False tanning is something that intimidates a lot of people (or so I’ve been told). Tanning formulas have evolved out of sight over time, however there’s still a stigma that lingers around with tanning reminding us of the patchy, orange tans we all (I) sported as teenagers.
What changed my approach to false tanning was really understanding HOW fake tan formulas work. In short- the formula consists of both DHA (which is an active ingredient) and cosmetic bronzers. The colour you see getting sprayed onto you is a cosmetic bronzer- a “guide colour” to ensure your tanning technician doesn’t miss a spot. When you have a shower, you’ll wash off that colour but what remains on your skin is DHA, which is an active that turns any dead skin cells darker.
Brazilian Butterfly use Moroccan Tan pro formulas (and yes, this is sponsored, but if you follow me on Instagram you’ll know I am a genuine Brazilian Butterfly customer) which come in a variety of strengths (you can tell the strength of the formula based on the DHA percentage). Once you’ve wrapped your head around this, tanning becomes far less stressful- you are, to an extent, in control of how dark your tan develops based on when you take a shower. Don’t make the mistake of leaving a tan on for longer than advised though- DHA is drying, and the tans come with specific instructions for a reason.
The reason for an orange tan? The base tones. The formulas they use at Brazilian Butterfly are all green or violet based, which means they won’t develop with an orange undertone. The reason for a tan appearing too dark? The DHA percentage. The reason for a patchy tan? Poor skin prep- which you can remedy by having a quick look at Part 1 of this series.
