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TANNING FACTS: Tanning Products

• Tanning Pills

• Sunless Tanners

Tanning Pills

(The following information has been extracted from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) web site [Accessed on 15 May 2010] [1]).

You may have seen ads that promise to give you a too-good-to-be-true golden glow just by swallowing a pill. These so-called tanning pills are unsafe and none are approved by the FDA.

Some tanning pills contain the color additive canthaxanthin. When large amounts of canthaxanthin are ingested, it can turn the skin a range of colors from orange to brown. It can also cause serious health problems including liver damage; hives; and an eye disorder called canthaxanthin retinopathy, in which yellow deposits form in the retinas.

Sunless Tanners

Sunless tanners often contain a range of ingredients that are harmful. The various ingredients they contain can be linked to cancer, various developmental and reproductive effects, allergies, immunotoxicity etc.

Following are some examples of the highest hazard ranking sunless tanners according to an independent environmental group 'Skin Deep' Cosmetics' Safety Database.

Example #1:

BANANA BOAT SUMMER COLOR SUNLESS LOTION, LIGHT/MEDIUM

Ingredients in this product are linked to:

	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, Restrictions & Warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Skin Deep Hazard Ranking: 9 (out of 10)

Better Products: "94% of sunless tannings have lower concerns." [2]

Example #2:

DIOR DIOR BRONZE SUN POWDER SPRAY

Ingredients in this product are linked to:

	Cancer
	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, Restrictions & Warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Skin Deep Hazard Ranking: 9 (out of 10)

Better Products:: "94% of sunless tannings have lower concerns." [3]

Example #3:

LANCASTER SELF TAN FACE, ULTRA NATURAL BRONZE CARE, SPF 6

Ingredients in this product are linked to:

	Cancer
	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, Restrictions & Warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Skin Deep Hazard Ranking: 10 (out of 10)

Better Products: "99% of sunless tannings have lower concerns." [4]

Example #4:

NEUTROGENA MOISTURE RICH SUNLESS TANNING LOTION SPF 20 MEDIUM

Ingredients in this product are linked to:

	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, Restrictions & Warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Skin Deep Hazard Ranking: 8 (out of 10)

Better Products: "83% of sunless tannings have lower concerns." [5]

Example #5:

TANTOWEL TOTAL BODY SELF-TAN TOWELETTE

Ingredients in this product are linked to:

	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, Restrictions & Warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Skin Deep Hazard Ranking: 7 (out of 10)

Better Products:"59% of sunless tannings have lower concerns." [6]

Example #6:

L'ORéAL SUBLIME BRONZE SELF-TANNING LOTION, LIGHT-MEDIUM, SPF 15

Ingredients in this product are linked to:

	Cancer
	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, Restrictions & Warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Skin Deep Hazard Ranking: 9 (out of 10)

Better Products: "97% of sunless tannings have lower concerns." [7]

 

Safe Tanning Alternatives Thankfully, there are safe alternatives to obtaining a beautiful tan without the consequences of harmful health effects. Liquid Sun® is a unique modern product which offers this safe alternative and meets the following criteria: 99.9% NATURAL & ORGANIC Professional Spa Formula*, AFFORDABLE PRACTICAL *(Includes Ecocert Approved DHA (certified organic)) « Back »

References:

1. [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/Tanning/ucm116434.htm#3]
   
   
2. Skin Deep Review Cosmetic Safety Database [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product/162651/Banana_Boat_Summer_Color_Sunless_Lotion%2C_Light%3B%3BMedium/]
   
   
3. Skin Deep Review Cosmetic Safety Database [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product/247147/Dior_Dior_Bronze_Sun_Powder_Spray/]
   
   
4. Skin Deep Review Cosmetic Safety Database [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product/226703/Lancaster_Self_Tan_Face%2C_Ultra_Natural_Bronze_Care%2C_SPF_6/]
   
   
5. Skin Deep Review Cosmetic Safety Database [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=100681]
   
   
6. Skin Deep Review Cosmetic Safety Database [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product/234302/Tantowel_Total_Body_Self-Tan_Towelette/]
   
   
7. Skin Deep Review Cosmetic Safety Database [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product/30920/L%27Or%26%23233%3Bal_Sublime_Bronze_Self-Tanning_Lotion%2C_Light-Medium%2C_SPF_15/: