Are self-tanners safe?

We get this question a lot so we figured we would put your mind at ease. The active ingredient in most self-tanners including TanTowel is dihydroxyacetone, commonly called DHA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers DHA safe when applied to your skin. DHA is a natural ingredient derived from sugar that reacts with the dead skin skills in the top layers of your epidermis. This natural reaction results in a darkening of those skin cells that lasts, on average, five to seven days. The rate at which your skin naturally exfoliates directly affects the length of time your new self-tan will last.

In fact, your body replenishes its skin cells completely every 35-45 days. This is why any tan, including a sunless tan, will fade over time. As these dead skin cells slough off, so does your tan. This is why it is recommended you apply your TanTowel every 3-5 days to keep that healthy-looking glow all year round.

Don’t confuse DHA in TanTowels with ingredients found in bronzers. Bronzers are different in that they contain actual dyes that dye your skin darker. Much like makeup, these products only work until they are washed off easily with soap and water. The mess can be awful as well, staining clothes, sheets, or other things. Currently, TanTowel does not use bronzers in any of our products. We only use DHA, which reacts naturally with the skin to give you a natural-looking tan.