How do self-tanning products work?
The tan you get from using self-tanning products comes from ingredients that react naturally with proteins in the upper layer of the skin. The results are temporary as the outer layer of your skin (or dead layer) is continually sloughing off. The active ingredient used in most self-tanning products is called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). The tanning effect from this ingredient is gradual. The color will begin to develop after about an hour and will continue for several hours until your skin achieves a natural looking tan.
