DIY: Erythrulose self tanner
There are many reasons why I love a good self tanner!
a) It gives me that holiday tan without sizzling in the sun.
b) I don't have to expose my skin to the dangers of UV rays, such as sunburn, brittle skin or even skin cancer.
c) I instantly look more refreshed and less tired.
But self-tanners are not quite as harmless to the skin as you may think. I’ve tried so many different ones, from affordable drug store brands to pricey ones at a beauty store. They all have something in common (even the all natural organic!!) - usually after 1-2 days of application my skin starts to break out.
It really made me cautious and I wanted to research and find out more about the ingredients in self tanners.
Are self tanners safe?
The active ingredient dihydroxyacetone, short DHA, is mainly responsible for darkening the skin. It reacts with the uppermost horny layer of the skin and turns it brown.
This chemical reaction of DHA with the protein building blocks of the skin cells also produces Formaldehyde in very small quantities.
Formaldehyde in cosmetic products is viewed critically. In the past, manufacturers often used it as a preservative. It is responsible for many of the contact allergies in cosmetic products. In the air we breathe, formaldehyde is already classified as carcinogenic. DHA disintegrates when exposed to heat or if it is stored for a long time. However, this period cannot be limited, so that the decay can already begin in the supply chain or in retail. The formaldehyde released is considered to be risky.
DHA has been approved as safe for external application to the skin. However, its been stated that DHA shouldn't be inhaled or applied to areas covered by mucous membranes, including the lips, nose or areas around the eyes because the risks of doing so are unknown.
I think you should consider carefully wether you want to put such ingredients on your skin.
Erythrulose as alternative?
DHA can dry out the skin. Erythrulose doesn’t, so that the tan results in a more even skin tone. It takes up to five days to get the full color (development time is 12-24 hours). DHA wears off after 7-10 days. A tan with Erythrulose can last up to two weeks!
Other advantages of Erythrulose are that the tan doesnt’t become as orange as with DHA and it doesn’t smell.
By the way, DHA and Erythrulose increasingly form free radicals (skin aging) if you are exposed to excessive sunlight within the next 24 hours. So obviously sunbathing should be avoided.
Make your own self tanner with Erythrulose!
Watch full DIY Youtube video here:
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 50 ml aloe vera gel
- 20 ml distilled water
- 3 ml (60 to 90 drops) erythrulose
- clean empty spray bottle (recycle if possible)
OR mix 50ml Rosewater and 80 drops erythrolose
optional:
- a funnel
- ph-stripes
Instructions:
1. Mix water with aloe vera
2. Add Eryhtrulose
3. PH should be between 4.0 - 5.0
4. Place funnel in the bottle and pour mixture in
5. Close and shake well
6. Apply generously all over your body and face
My humble opinion…Erythrulose never looks unnatural to me, even in high doses. You can spray more or less if necessary - this mixture is foolproof. My boyfriend noticed my beautiful bronzed skin already after the first time I’ve tried it!
🖤
Nadia
