Depending on the dose and formulation, tanning supplements have two primary functions: to boost a suntan by ‘prepping’ the skin for exposure to the sun (preparatory capsules), or to colour the skin without necessarily requiring UV exposure to do so (self-tanning capsules).
By directly influencing the mechanisms responsible for skin pigmentation, these supplements help to enhance the complexion by producing a gradual, natural, and lasting tan. A genuine ‘just back from holiday’ look!
Take care though: while some manufacturers might suggest otherwise, these tanning supplements do not protect the skin against UV damage such as sunburn. They do not, therefore, provide appropriate sun protection.
What do bright orange carrots, sunshine yellow corn and vibrant red tomatoes have in common? In each case, the radiance they bring to our supermarket shelves comes from their carotenoids, coloured pigments involved in photosynthesis. In plants, the role of carotenoids is primarily to harvest light energy from the sun, while at the same time exerting a photoprotective effect (1). There are more than 600 known carotenoids, including beta-carotene, astaxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin.
Consumed regularly, these substances give the skin an attractive golden glow (2). Supplementing with carotenoids (such as the powerful product Carottol, which combines alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and astaxanthin) will thus help to restore colour to your skin.
To prepare for and stimulate the tanning process, add grapefruit to your shopping list, its pinky-red flesh reflecting the fruit’s lycopene content. It’s also popular for its skin-purifying and skin-regenerating properties. Positive effects on individual sensitivity to UV have been observed from a combination of grapefruit and rosemary (3).
While it does not in itself initiate tanning, borage is great for preparing dry skin for the sun, mainly because of the richness of its oil in omega-6 fatty acids (4).
Though UV rays might bring a welcome golden shimmer to our skin, they also generate free radicals which damage cell integrity. Over time, this manifests in the skin as the much-dreaded signs of photoageing like liver (ageing) spots and wrinkles (5).
In helping to protect cells against oxidative stress and maintain normal skin, vitamin C acts like a a natural parasol (6). An excellent reason to load up your shopping trolley with citrus fruit, peppers, kiwi fruit and broccoli in the months before you head off to the sun-lounger!
And to supercharge your intake, it’s worth considering supplementing with vitamin C (protected from gastric juices by a phospholipid layer, the vitamin C in the supplement Liposomal Vitamin C offers optimal uptake).
If you want to accelerate or intensify your tan, choose keratin hydrolysate, the most effective tanning supplement around. Obtained from black sheep wool, this complex combines exceptional nutrients with tanning precursors (7). It’s notable for its high content of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour.
As you know, melanin, ultraviolet rays and tanning are all intrinsically linked. In deeply penetrating the dermis, UVA rays activate the melanin already present in the skin, producing an immediate tanning effect. Meanwhile, a small amount of UVB rays cross the epidermal barrier, stimulating the production of new melanin by melanocytes, and this produces a subsequent tanning effect (which generally appears 24 to 72 hours after exposure) (8).
A number of studies have highlighted keratin hydrolysate’s efficacy in relation to both immediate and subsequent pigmentation, and it thus helps you achieve a deeper, longer-lasting tan with each exposure to the sun. To get the most out of your sunbathing sessions, try taking supplements that contain keratin hydrolysate (such as Tan-Aid, based on the patented ingredient Melaline®, supported by several clinical studies).
As we’ve said, tanning accelerators are not designed to protect your skin from the sun. So if you want to go brown safely (without peeling or burning), adopt the following common-sense measures:
References
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Reliable delivery. Good product.
Viva
34 Days
Great service
cl
36 Days
Received product promptly and its early days but seems to have improved my daughters alertness.
Anandi
46 Days
Amazing, great product!
ALEX Sinclair
50 Days
Good products and Swift handling
Trusted
55 Days
I trust the company's products, the quality is trustworthy and the speed of delivery is also appreciated.
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55 Days
This company is serious when it comes to serving it's customers. They are fast to send out the orders. Their site is great and easy. Also, they treat their return customers with great deals and discounts. Keep up the good work.
ABDULQADER Jehad
56 Days
I know frech ( level 3 of 6) and can read your messages, but since order are official documents I'd like to have this in english. Merci Ursula Mathes
Ursula Mathes
60 Days
Box was intact, content correct but delivery time was 12 days. I started to worry!
VIITANEN Esa
62 Days
The company has provided the required product efficiently with no complications.
OldBear
64 Days
Supersmart sell a lot of interesting stuff. More than jut the usual vitamins though they do all those as well. Ordering pretty straightforward - you may need to try a couple of times to get the offers to apply but they do work. I queried something and had a fairly quick sensible reply. Postage takes a couple if days but you do get good progress information. Very well packed. Bought from Supersmart a few times and will do so again.
AT Griffin
17 Days
On m'a mis bien.
cliente
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qualité des produits et services
denis riegel
22 Days
Nehme das Produkt noch zu kurz um eine Bewertung abgeben zu können
Ermelinde
22 Days
J'apprécie la facilité de navigation sur le site, le suivi des commandes, et bien sûr, la qualité des compléments alimentaires.
LE COUR SERGE