A sun-kissed appearance has continued to grow in popularity in Europe and America over the last 100 years, with designer Coco Chanel accidentally setting off a tanning trend in the early 1920s.
Having a tanned complexion is often seen as a way to improve your appearance and enhance your mood, with a survey by Imedeen recording that 57% of women felt more confident, attractive and slimmer when they had a tan.
Skin damage and skin cancer risk
We’re all becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of sun exposure and UV radiation, and the associated risks of developing skin cancer – whether it’s from sunbathing or sunbeds. Therefore, it’s no surprise that many consumers are actively making the switch from a natural sun tan to sunless, UV-free alternatives.
The European trend for sunless, UV-free tanning products
According to Stellar Market Research, in 2021 the self-tanning products market was dominated by Europe, which had a market share of over 35%. The company’s analysis identified that many European consumers were taking a significant shift away from natural tanning, with a higher demand now placed on sunless, UV-free alternatives. These types of tanning products are likely to continue to contribute to the development of the self-tanning products market, with the European market predicted to grow at a CAGR of over 4% by 2027.
Sunsafe-DHA tanning agent
As its name suggests, Sunsafe-DHA by Uniproma is a sunless tanning agent, which is by far the most popular agent of its type – and the only one currently approved by the FDA. This successful ingredient has been used in self-tanning formulations for the last 50 years and works by creating a Maillard reaction with the amines, peptides and free amino acids in the skin; therefore producing a brown pigment and a sun-tanned appearance. It’s water soluble and originates from a natural source, as DHA is a 3-carbon sugar that’s involved in the carbohydrate metabolism of animals and higher plants.
Key properties:
- INCI name: Dihydroxyacetone
- Chemical structure:
- Suitable for bronze emulsion, bronze concealer and self-tanning spray applications
- Comes in a white powder
- Purity of 98% min
- Water soluble
- Dosage of 3-5%
For further in-depth information regarding Sunsafe-DHA, please visit the Uniproma website.
Get in touch about formulating with Sunsafe-DHA
Considering formulating with Sunsafe-DHA? Then simply fill out the contact form below and a member of our team will be in touch! We have well-stocked and competitively priced Sunsafe-DHA available for a variety of sunless tanning formulations, and our experienced technical team are on hand to offer advice or recommendations relating to your specific formulations.
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