Potentially Problematic Products and Procedures:
- Do not use anti-acne products that exfoliate or dry the skin - accutane and salicylic acids may cause issues. Skin also peels, which can look unacceptable, especially with a tan. Antibiotics and other medications that affect your skin may also alter your tan.
- Do not use anti-aging products.
- Do not use toners containing Alcohols or Witch Hazel in higher amounts - examine the ingredient list. If either is in the top 3, problems may occur.
- Band-Aid or adhesive tape applied to skin will pull off the tan.
- Do not use bar soaps - especially deodorant or antibacterial varieties.
- Do not use BHA Products - Beta hydroxy acids, salicylic acids.
- Do not use body-hair bleach products.
- Do not use AHA products - Alpha hydroxy acids, glycolic, lactic, malic, citric and tartaric acids.
- Do not use insect spray, perfume, body spray - when applied directly onto skin, these elements can remove or fade the tan. As a substitute, we suggest to either spray clothing directly or disperse a "mist" of spray that you can walk through.
- A woman's tan may develop differently during various hormonal changes; in the course of ovulation, menstruation or pregnancy. It may result as streaky, patchy, fade improperly or produce a lighter - or - no color outcome.
- Curel Lotion can unfavorably affect a sunless tan.
- Dove soap and Dove shower gel can accelerate a tan to fade faster on some customers.
- Do not use facial masks and exfoliating scrubs.
- Hair-inhibiting lotions (Jergens etc.) tend to make a sunless tan turn yellow.
- If you exercise and sweat heavily, your tan may fade more rapidly - especially in arm, knee and between breasts body-fold areas.
- During winter months, skin is often very dry which can make a tan expeditiously fade. We suggest applying Infinity Sun Extender hydrating moisturizer twice daily - directly on damp skin after showering and just before bedtime.
- Do not use wax or depilatory hair removal products (Nair, Veet, Neet etc.).
- Do not use pore type adhesive facial strips or "peel-off" masks.
- People with oily skin tend to develop a lighter tan than people with dry skin. While skin oils can coat the skin, dry skin absorbs products faster and can look darker.
- Retin-A type products (Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac, Tretinoin) will cause faster fading.
- Shaving exfoliates your skin and can fade a tan. Do not use a dull razor, as it scrapes off more skin - and consequently - your tan. If shaving is necessary, we suggest using a sharp, clean razor along with a lubricating product. Hair conditioner works nicely and usually won't interfere with your tan. To finish, wash off the conditioner.
- Do not use makeup-remover cleaning products or oils used to clean away eye makeup.
- Hot tubs or swimming pools contain chlorine that can act to bleach skin - thick, waterproof sunscreen lotions like Bullfrog can help protect skin. Long, hot baths can soften the skin and affect the tan on some people.
- Sweating feet inside footwear or behind knees and arm bends can fade a tan faster, or make the color look greenish or yellowish. Powder those areas with Gold Bond talcum powder.
- Do not bathe or shower using a loofah, scrub brush, exfoliating gloves or any other abrasive body cleansing item. Simply use your hands to gently wash your skin. Friction is a sunless tan killer.
The following products and procedures may not affect everyone equally. Here is an instructions list of factors to consider when a sunless tan goes awry - causing a light, blotchy or quickly fading result.
