How Does Fake Tan Work?

There are even more reasons to start fake tanning now! Proven to improve your wellbeing and happiness both through application and because of its gorgeous tropical scent, our self tan Purity Vitamins range is the key to self-confidence – and we have the science to back it up. So, if you’re wondering ‘how does fake tan work?’, read on. We explain everything below…

Beautiful skin improves self-confidence

• The health of your skin is linked to your emotional wellbeing

To answer the question ‘how does fake tan work?’ and explain why self-tan makes you feel good about yourself, you first need to understand that the health of your skin and your emotional wellbeing are linked. 

Have you ever had a stressful week and noticed that spots start to appear? Or you’ve been losing sleep and your complexion starts to look dull? That’s because our emotional wellbeing affects our skin health (and vice versa).  

• Negative emotions damage your skin

Stress causes your brain to release cortisol, a hormone that helps you to deal with this anxiety. However, this hormone also prevents your skin from producing hyaluronic acid and collagen. It even slows down skin cell renewal and melanin synthesis. Consequently, the more stressed you feel, the more cortisol your brain produces, so the more your skin becomes drier, tighter, duller and less evenly toned. In the long term, it may lead to premature signs of aging. 

• Using skincare improves our happiness levels

There’s no need to worry though, because these effects can be counterbalanced. When you touch your skin delicately (say whilst getting a massage or applying your skincare), the cells that communicate with your brain on the surface of your complexion (neurosensors) start to produce serotonin, a hormone that makes you feel happier. As your mood improves, so will your skin. 

• Healthy skin gives you confidence

Similarly, having beautiful skin can make you feel happier and more self-confident. Using a tanning product that not only gives you a healthy, bronzed glow but one that is infused with skincare actives to improve the texture and appearance of your skin, can have such a positive impact on your mood. 

• 86% of you said using the St.Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water Serum or Body Mist made them feel more confident† 
• 82% said it made them feel happier† 
• 85% said it made them feel good† 

Vitamin D gives you that beautiful skin

We infused our Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water range with vitamin D because this essential vitamin helps to keep your skin hydrated and healthy, which (as shown above) makes you feel healthy and happy too.  

We blended sugar-like molecules with beetroot extract to stimulate the production of Vitamin D in exactly the same way that sunlight does. Myth busting time! – It is a common misconception that you receive Vitamins D from the sun, however that isn’t the case. The sun actually just stimulates the Vitamin D production in your skin, and that is exactly what our product does as well! 

When you apply our Purity Vitamins range, your skin will feel moisturized, which will improve the quality of your tan and make it last longer – and, as we now know, the better your glow, the better you feel. 

A gorgeous scent improves your mood too

In the same way that your skin health and emotions are linked, your sense of smell and your wellbeing are too. Does the fresh, seaside scent transport you to a tropical oasis? That’s because our sense of smell is more closely linked to the brain than any of our other senses.  

At St.Tropez, we wanted to create a scent that would encourage happiness when the product was applied. We used brain mapping and mood profiling techniques with the help of our psychologists and fragrance partner, Givaudan, to design our signature scent that would make you feel good and transport you to that tropical paradise (because, let’s face it, fake tan doesn’t always smell great and here at St.Tropez we want that gone). 

A skincare routine is the key to a happier you

To make the most of that feel-good emotion every day, sticking to a healthy routine is best. It’s no secret that routines are important for mental wellbeing and our brains naturally enjoy the ritualistic repetition of it. As such, applying skincare or putting on self-tan regularly can make you feel calmer and boost your mood.  

So, how does fake tan work? The science behind self tan is this: looking good is about feeling good, and a steady tanning and skincare regime with high quality, beautifully-fragranced products gives you the feel-good factor you need to be happier and more confident. 

To achieve that confidence-boosting, bronzed glow that fills you with happiness, explore our full Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water range now! 

†based on consumer studies of 202 people who used either St.Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water Serum or Body Mist for 4 weeks.