Why Choose Natural Spray Tan Solutions for Your Salon in Australia

Do you have clients with sensitive skin, who are prone to allergies, dermatitis or psoriasis? Or clients concerned about reducing the chemical load on their system and prefer to use natural products on their skin? As Australia’s pioneering developer of natural spray tanning solutions, I understand these concerns. My focus is on natural and organic plant-based ingredients without unnecessary chemicals, harsh preservatives or synthetic fragrances.  In this blog I’ll shed light on the ingredients used in spray tan solutions and why as a West Australian beauty industry veteran, I chose to develop a natural alternative.

Why Oztan Founder, Simone Llewellyn Prefers Natural and Organic Ingredients?

I have always suffered from food and chemical sensitivities and allergies. Preservatives like sulphites in foods and other chemicals in cosmetics like synthetic fragrances can trigger an instant migraine, skin itchiness or full-blown swelling and allergic reaction. Due to these sensitivities, I developed an interest in the ingredients that go into foods and skin care products.

I also had a Basal Cell Carcinoma removed from my forearm about 15 years ago which was a big wake-up call for the importance of being sun smart and sunless tanning instead of sun baking.

My sensitivities combined with my experience as a beauty therapist and interest in natural and organic ingredients led me to formulating products that I could use on myself and benefit other people with similar sensitivities.

I mentioned it to a few colleagues in the beauty industry that I was developing a natural spray tanning product and before I knew it, salons were calling me asking when would it be ready and could they try some? This was the green light that gave me the encouragement to complete the formulation phase and launch the Oztan salon brand of natural self-tanning products including professional spray tan solutions and natural self-tanning products.

My Vision

“In 2006 when we were in the formulating phase, it was my intention to develop natural formulas using natural and organic ingredients without the use of unnecessary petro-chemicals and synthetic fragrances.

I wanted the tanning formula to be hydrating and nourishing to help tan longevity, contain no alcohol (so no lizard like patchiness) and most importantly the colour had to be as authentic as an Aussie Sun kissed tan.”

Oztan became the first to combine certified natural DHA, derived from organic Sugar Beets, with a nutrient rich blend of Australian indigenous ingredients and pure organic essential oils, Kakadu Plum, healing Grass Lily and organic Macadamia Oil.”

Since then, I have received hundreds of emails from customers who thought they were allergic to spray tans because they would break out in an itchy rash, but they told me they can use Oztan without a problem. I believe this is due to not including a few key chemicals that sensitise the skin combined with our natural version of the self-tanning ingredient derived from organic sugar beets.

Tell Me More About the Certified NaturalTanning Ingredient

DHA is the active ingredient in all tanning products that stimulates your skin to produce a sun kissed glow without the sun! There are different varieties and quality of DHA ranging from naturally derived to synthetic. The quality and quantity of DHA within the product ultimately affects the quality of the colour and depth of colour that develops within the skin.

Oztan only uses the highest-grade Eco-certified, naturally derived DHA made from organic Sugar Beets to ensure the most authentic natural olive results are achieved.

How Natural DHA Works

DHA is a sugar crystal derived from organic Sugar Beets. Like regular sugar, DHA is clear when dissolved into water. DHA therefore has no colour when first sprayed onto the skin. However, the DHA stimulates the amino acids within the surface layer (Stratum Corneum) of skin cells to produce brown colour pigments known as Melanoidins.

These pigments start to become visible within as little as 30 minutes and continue to slowly darken for up to 24 hours or even longer. This process continues even after the DHA has been rinsed off. Therefore, clients can shower in a little as 1 – 2 hours after the product application and the tan colour will continue to develop.

Because these colour pigments are produced by the amino acids within the skin, the tan cannot be washed off but fades away slowly as the skin naturally sloughs off. The time this takes varies from person to person but can take between 1 to 2 weeks with the average being around ten days. The tan that developes from a spray tan therefore lasts on average around 10 days.

Because DHA only enters the outer layer of the epidermis and the particle size of DHA is too large to enter the deeper layers of skin where the blood vessels are, it is very safe to use. The only down-side to this is that a spray tan or self-tan does not last as long as long as a regular suntan. The UV rays that stimulate a suntan go much deeper into the skin, stimulating the melanin at a deeper level that therefore takes longer to sluff off.

With our harsh Australian summers and increasing awareness of the dangers and skin ageing effects of too much UV exposure and chemical-laden cosmetics, our natural spray tan solutions and self-tanning products have become a preferred choice for many seeking a healthy glowing tan.

DHA has been approved for cosmetic use by the FDA since the 1970s and is considered safe when applied topically by the Skin Cancer Foundation. 

What Other Ingredients Go into Our Spray Tan Solutions?

Oztan spray tan solutions are formulated in Western Australia with 4 main ingredient categories.

1. Natural Eco certified DHA tanning ingredient made from organic Sugar Beets
2. Food grade cosmetic bronzers to give an initial colour guide
3. Nourishing and hydrating natural and organic indigenous plant extracts
4. Purified Water

Why Do Spray Tan Solutions Contain Cosmetic Bronzers?

Because the active tanning ingredient, DHA, is clear when first sprayed onto the skin, spray-tanning solutions also contain a cosmetic bronzer. This works as a colour guide so the technician can see where she is spraying. It would be difficult to spray the solution evenly onto the skin if the solution was clear. Oztan therefore includes a bronzer that is made from food quality colours that simply rinse off when you shower to reveal the long-term tan developing within the skin that has been stimulated by the active tanning ingredient DHA.

Why Is It Important to Include Nourishing and Hydrating Ingredients with Australian Indigenous Plant Extracts Being an Important Focus

I aim to not only make products that provide a natural tanned glow but believe in giving the skin a whole-body nourishing and hydrating treatment at the same time. This helps the tan to last longer and better shows off your tanned skin with a silky-smooth glow.

As an Australian brand I believe in using our highly nourishing Australian botanicals. Some of the Australian indigenous ingredients used across various products include:

1. Kakadu Plum– is indigenous to Australia and is the world’s richest source of the antioxidant, Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that supports healthy collagen production giving skin it’s firmness. Vitamin C reduces free radical damage to skin cells that result in premature aging.

2. Organic Macadamia Oil –is the base ingredient in all our Self-Tan, Tan Build and Kakadu Plum Moisturisers. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory that also softens the skin, regenerates skin cells and is highly moisturising helping to restore skin barrier function and water loss. Therefore, keeping the skin nicely hydrated for a dewy tanned glow with maximum luminosity.

3. Other Skin Benefiting Ingredients Include:

Allantoin, Cacao Butter, Vitamin E, Avocado Oil, Rose Hip Oil. Apricot Oil and a blend of Organic essential oils including, Frangipani, Rose Geranium, Chamomile, Bergamot and Vanilla.

Why Our Products Are Dermatitis and Sensitive Skin Friendly

I believe the reason our products are so effective is not only due to the meticulous selection of effective natural ingredients, but also due to what we don’t include. For example, we don’t use alcohol or any of the following ingredients in our natural spray tanning solutions.

1. NO Alcohol – This is Important!

This is an important one because although alcohol is an ingredient that is commonly used in skin care in very small amounts. The percentage of alcohol in spray tan solutions is much higher. This amount is very drying and therefore sensitising to the skin. Once the skin becomes dry and sensitised, not only is it more prone to react with other ingredients going onto the skin, but the dryness alone can cause itchiness and a scaley fading process. Especially for people who already have eczema or dry and sensitive skin.

It is thought by formulators that the alcohol is needed to in higher percentages to stop the water-based product from running everywhere.

With my experience in the beauty industry, I have found that when the water-based solution is aerated through an airgun, the alcohol is unnecessary. The solutions spray onto the body in a fine mist that goes on evenly and does not run. The benefit without alcohol is that our products do not overly dehydrate and sensitise the surface layer of skin and are dermatitis and psoriasis friendly. Not only are they suitable for people with dermatitis and other sensitivities but combined with our natural hydrating ingredients they also experience much longer tan longevity with a more gradual and even fading process. In other words, no lizard like scaliness or itchiness!

2. NO Parabens

The most widely used preservatives in personal care products. Some research has indicated that Parabens mimic Oestrogen and may be linked to breast cancer. Oztan has therefore chosen not to include any form of Parabens in our products. Oztan products contain a combination of natural and alternate synthetic preservatives in low quantities. Preservatives are necessary, especially in water-based products to retard the growth of harmful fungus and bacteria thereby providing safety and shelf life to products stored at room temperature.

3. NO Propylene Glycol

Propylene Glycol is a common ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products. It is used to prevent the product from melting or freezing and has been known to be a strong skin and eye irritant.

4. NO Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)

SLS is a synthetic surfactant (detergent) widely used in shampoo, body wash and dish washing liquid. It is an irritant that harshly strips the skin and hair of oils. Oztan Tan Extend Shower Gel 250ml is made from natural plant-based cleansers and is SLS Free to ensure your skin and tan are gently maintained and not stripped away.

5. NO Dimethicone

Dimethicone is a synthetic man-made silicone oil that is very common in hair products, moisturisers and makeup. It gives products a silky sensation of gliding over your skin. The alcohol content within the Dimethicone evaporates quickly giving the sensation that the product has soaked into the skin. Although FDA approved, Dimethicone leaves an artificial silicone coating on the skin that is comedogenic and is non-biodegradable.

6. NO Synthetic Fragrances – Linked to chemical sensitivities and migraines.

7. NO Synthetic DHA – Gives inferior colour development compared to our high-grade natural DHA

Choosing the Right Colour for Your Client

The depth of colour produced by a spray tan or self-tanning productis determined by the amount of DHA tanning ingredient in the product. A low percentage of DHA will produce less depth.The higher the DHA percentage the darker the tan will develop.

Oztan therefore keeps it simple with a variety of five colourdepths available in the natural spray tan solutions.These five colour choices vary from 7% DHA for our lightest shade all the way up to 16% DHA for our darkest shade.

To see all 5 natural spray tan solution shades, you can visit: https://www.oztan.com.au/professional-spray-tanning-solutions/

Similarly, our natural self-tanning products have two shades available. Tan Building Moisturiser is Light – Med and Self-Tanning Moisturiser is Med- Dark.

To learn more about our natural self-tanning: https://www.oztan.com.au/self-tanning-at-home/

Eco-Friendly

Of course, not only is the health of our skin important but the health of the planet as well. That’s why we source natural and certified organic ingredients where possible and our products are packaged in recyclable packaging making them a better choice for environment.

Natural, Australian Made & Cruelty Free

Why Oztan?

• High quality equipment
• Proudly 100% West Australian made and owned
• Not tested on animals
• Free from alcohol, Parabens, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Synthetic DHA and Synthetic fragrance.

Becoming an Oztan Salon Stockist

Oztan is passionately committed to helping our Australian salon partners to establish, nurture and grow their tanning businesses. Not only do we pride ourselves on an outstanding product range and innovative equipment, but customer service, education and industry support are key to ensuring you are equipped to achieve success.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

You can sent mail at [email protected]  or give us a call 08 9840 9978

To Register for Trade Pricing: https://www.oztan.com.au/become-a-stockist/