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Its possible to have a natural looking tan, without damaging your skin from the sun, by a using sunless tanning lotion. There are many to choose from on the market. And you can control just how much darker you want your skin to appear, even in the dead of winter.

The variety and brand names can seem endless. And while all of them do the same thing -- provide you with a lovely tan appearance -- there are some variations to the products. Some have lovely smells like coconuts or perfume. Some contain special moisturizing ingredients and sun screen to protect from the inevitable exposure to the sun even if youre not laying out. And others, still, include calming ingredients like aloe vera, just in case you end up out in the sun a little longer than you expected.

It might be wise to sample a product by rubbing it into a small patch of your skin. Like with anything, its possible to have an allergic reaction. So better to test it in a little area rather than to find out the hard choice with a full body rash. But usually the products are quite safe with no ill effects. Youll notice a difference in skin color within hours of your first application. The more frequently you apply it, the darker your skin will be.

Its important to apply the lotion evenly to avoid streaking. Some suggest sponging it on for the most even application. Remember that it will absorb into the palms of your hands, too, so if youre rubbing it in with your hands you may want to wear gloves. Palms dont naturally tan from the sun, so it will appear quite unnatural if they are tanned from the lotion. The same goes for the underarm areas.

You can find tanning lotions made especially for the face. Just as the face often requires different types of moisturizing and cleansing products than the rest of the body, face-specific tanning products can be useful too.

When you use a sunless tanning lotion, you are essentially dying your skin. The effect isnt permanent, but it will last a while. Keep that in mind and use caution if you wear your bathing suit or other clothing while applying the lotion, because it will stain the fabric. Also, because the dye binds to the dead skin cells, be sure to cleanse and thoroughly scrub your skin before using the lotion. Otherwise, the dryer skin areas will absorb more of it and end up darker than the other parts of your body.

Luckily the products on the market today are much more natural looking than the ones available ten or fifteen years ago. In the beginning, people who used the products that were first available had a noticeable orange hue. It made you wonder if theyd overdosed on carrot juice. Its not the case anymore. The manufacturers have refined the products and there are many choices out there that will give you satisfying results.

Paying more for a sunless tanning lotion wont mean that you end up with a better result. There are some inexpensively priced products on the market that have shown excellent results, so be sure to do your research and shop around.