How To Store Your Sunless Tanner

A common debate in the beauty industry evolves around the proper storage of sunless tanner: should you refrigerate it to make it last longer or is that actually counterproductive?

As every self-tanner knows, sunless formulas usually have storage instructions on the bottle, often with standard industry recommendations. But does refrigerating the tanner extend its shelf life even further?

To Refrigerate?

The concept behind refrigerating sunless tanner may have developed from an exaggeration of the directions for the tanning solution. Since the product suggests storing it in cool conditions, it’s likely that someone decided that taking it a step further, and keeping the sunless solution in much colder conditions, would then amplify the shelf life. The thought process behind this notion is clever, but does it actually have any real-world basis? Well, it’s actually taking it a step too far.

Refrigerating the tanner will create a situation in which the solution will be in a continuous rotation of temperatures. Although heat and direct sunlight will break down the DHA, the ingredient that gives you that amazing colour, the lack of a consistent temp can also result in the breakdown of DHA.

Not to Refrigerate!

The refrigeration theory may have been created out of good intentions, but the end result is actually counterproductive. The absolute best way to get the most out of your sunless tanner is to do exactly what the product packaging suggests.

To keep the solution from being compromised, protect the DHA from heat, sunlight and extreme temperature changes. A perfect place to store the sunless tanner is in the vanity, under the sink or in the medicine cabinet.

It’s also important to choose sunless tanner based on ingredients. Common components of self-tanners include ingredients that do most of the work for you in terms of sunless tanner preservation, such as Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin. Be sure to look for these when purchasing tanning products.