2012 Beauty Breakthroughs

Photo by: David Cook

St. Tropez Self Tan Dark line

Orange is lovely for sunsets and Hermès boxes, but it's unfortunate on skin-and unavoidable for many self-tanner users. Indeed, some people are destined to turn into pumpkins because that's the way the amino acids in their skin react to DHA, the active ingredient in most tanners. St. Tropez's new formula solves this problem, ensuring that everyone can turn a dark, perfectly even shade of ... more 

Photo by: David Cook

St. Tropez Self Tan Dark line

Orange is lovely for sunsets and Hermès boxes, but it's unfortunate on skin-and unavoidable for many self-tanner users. Indeed, some people are destined to turn into pumpkins because that's the way the amino acids in their skin react to DHA, the active ingredient in most tanners. St. Tropez's new formula solves this problem, ensuring that everyone can turn a dark, perfectly even shade of brown.

HOW IT WORKS: By now, everyone knows the ways to achieve an even fake tan: exfoliate, moisturize, apply painstakingly. But there is one variable we can't control-the amino acids in our skin. "Each person has a unique makeup, and it's only those people with high levels of two amino acids, histidine and glycine, that get the best results from DHA," says Jacqueline Burchell, global product development director for PZ Cussons Beauty, the company that owns St. Tropez. If it bonds to other amino acids, DHA produces the dreaded Oompa-Loompa look. To solve this problem, chemists at St. Tropez created a pigment the color of skin's natural melanin and bonded it to the otherwise clear DHA molecules. No matter which amino acids the DHA reacts with, the pigment is able to counteract any orange and add a rich, tawny cast, like a color corrector for your tan. The result is a natural-looking, deep bronze for even the fairest skin. One note: It's best to slather this stuff on at night. The guide color looked less