Coppertone's Endless Summer Self-Tanning Lotion Versus Clinique Self-Sun Body Self Tanning Lotion

When I was younger I used to spend hours in the sun in search of the perfect tan. I assumed being tan meant I looked sexier, healthier and more appealing. As I became older, I learned more about the dangers of tanning and how UV rays can age and damage my skin and even cause cancer. Still, I was reluctant to give up my golden glow ... so I began my adventure into the world of "sunless tanning".

Sunless tanning is a process usually involving lotions or sprays which are applied to the skin to give it a "tan" look. In the most basic terms these products temporarily change the color of your skin. These products contain a variety of ingredients, including: beta carotene, canthaxanthin, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), erythrulose, mahakanni, melanotan, melanX, Melasyn®, psoralens, pTpT (thymidine dinucleotide) and tyrosine to name a few.

I decided to start simple, and chose to try Coppertone's Endless Summer Self-Tanning Lotion (Light/Medium). (After all Coppertone lead the self-tanning movement by introducing the first self-tanning product in 1960.) The first thing I noticed when I opened the bottle - was the smell. Coppertone's Endless Summer Self-Tanning Lotion has a strong "chemical" smell which is slow to dissipate.

As I applied the lotion, I read the bottle and noticed the main ingredient was a product which speeds up the body's production of DHA - dihydroxyacetone. This patented ingredient and process helps the body generate a dark brown/bronze color. However, this process happens so quickly, the color remains on the surface of the skin and is not absorbed within the 45 minutes Coppertone recommends you leave it on. The result is a "stain" which can rub off on fabrics and clothes. I learned this the hard way - the product stained my favorite shirt and no amount of bleach or stain remover could get it off.

On the positive side, the color appeared within a half an hour and lasted for several days. The color Coppertone's Endless Summer Self-Tanning Lotion produced was realistic in appearance and many people were surprised to learn I had used a self-tanner.