Ditch that Tell-Tale Tanner Smell
It's winter and I am pale. Any outfit I try on makes me look washed out. I shake in fear at the thought of removing my leather jacket when I am on a date, knowing my bare, pasty arms will scare off potential suitors. As I stare at my pallid complexion in the mirror, I run through a list of options. I don't have any tropical vacations lined up in the next few months, so getting a real tan is not going to happen. I can't justify going to a tanning bed—because 1) skin cancer and 2) ew. I know I can use self-tanner and fake a glow—especially now that there are so many options available that don't turn your skin an orange Jersey Shore hue. But as I go to pump the brown sunless tanning mousse into my palm, I am hit with a wave of that chemical, burnt toast smell. I gag, check the mirror again, and wonder, is smelling like three day old Indian food actually worth the glow?
The smell of fake tanner haunts me. I know that as soon as I apply, my skin, my clothes, my sheets, and anything else I touch will reek of that horrible smell. I used to think it was something only I noticed, that people nearby were blissfully unaware of the stench that wafted up from my newly tanned chest to my nose only. But that illusion was shattered when I was told by one of my male friends that he not only immediately noticed the fake tanner smell on a girl , but also (accurately) found it "disgusting". So, are we pale girls resigned to wearing long sleeves and pants all winter to cover up our starchy skin? Are we supposed to launch a GoFundMe page to raise donations for an emergency beach vacation? Are we fated to simply accept the fact that for the next four months we are going to look somewhat corpse-like? As I rinse the mousse off my hand and pull on an outfit that covers all signs of my dough-colored flesh, I think, well, it's better to be pale than smelly, right?
Fed up with this issue, and knowing that I could not be the only one who felt this way, I delved into researching why self-tanner creates a smell and if anyone had come up with a solution to remedy it. I discovered that the smell of sunless tanner is thanks to Dihydroxyacetone or DHA. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, DHA is a colorless chemical derived from glycerin that interacts with the amino acids in dead skin cells resulting in the tan color—and the smell. Since these dead skin cells are constantly being shed, the color change produced by DHA usually lasts about five to seven days. I also found out that since DHA is a naturally colorless chemical—companies dye it brown to help you see where you are applying (preventing streaks or missing a spot) and the brown dye gives you a more immediate tan color (and a more immediately satisfied customer). But DHA takes 6-8 hours to develop on your skin, and the brown dye washes off in the shower (or transfers onto your white clothes, sheets, etc.)
Ok, now you're educated. But to address my second and more important question, has anyone figured out a way to get rid of the DHA smell? And for that matter, has anyone figured out how to prevent brown-dyed DHA from staining my clothes and white sheets? To my happy surprise, the answer is YES.
I found a few colorless and "smell-free" sunless tanner options when I was searching the web, but so far I can only speak to the effectiveness of one: NKD SKN Gradual Glow Daily Tan Moisturiser. While applying the odorless, creamy white lotion to my body, I was skeptical, expecting the smell to develop as the DHA did its magic. Since it's a gradual sunless tanner, I knew it would take 2-3 applications for me to notice any color change. While the lotion is definitely colorless, I still use a tanning mitt for application, as it helps with more even application and prevents my hands from being darker than the rest of my body.
After a few months of use, I can testify to the fact that this sunless tanner does not have any smell—hallelujah! It moisturizes my skin like a regular body lotion and develops a subtle, natural tan glow after 2 to 3 days of use. Like other sunless tanners, NKD SKN suggests that you wait 4-8 hours to shower after applying to help the color develop. As an added bonus, the lotion contains skin softening ingredients like Aloe Vera, Shea butter, Lychee, and Vitamin C. This product is a win in my book. I have gone through two tubes of the sunless tanner so far (I know, it's only the first week of December) and I plan to repurchase until Manhattan warms up again (or at least until I can save up enough money for a quick trip to St. Lucia).
P.S. A product I like to use to add some color to my face (you use such a small amount of the product, it does not create a noticeable smell) is CLARINS Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster. Mix a few drops with your usual face moisturizer and apply in the morning as needed. I use it 2-3 times a week to develop a subtle tan color and it has not created any breakouts or skin reactions on my face.
