Not everyone wants to sunbathe, and so not everybody needs the safe sunscreen and sun creams, which we covered in our last post.
However, many like to bring a little colour to their skin. The EU / UK have banned methylisothiazolinone in leave-on products — including fake tanning lotions — but it may still be found in the US and Australia. Here are some safe options.
Alba Botanica Sunless Golden Tanning Lotion (US)
Promises ‘golden tanning without the sun’. Also free from parabens, phthalates, gluten. Vegetarian friendly. Preserved with phenoxyethanol, among other ingredients.
Eco Tan / Eco by Sonya (Australia)
An Australian brand, with a number of certified organic products, some available more widely internationally. Different products are for different skin tones (eg Winter Skin is for fair to medium, and Invisible Tan for medium to olive). Free from petrochemicals, PEGs, phenoxyethanol, parabens, synthetics and of course MI / MCI. The signature product is probably the Eco by Sonya Invisible Tan, which has won a couple of international awards. Available via Amazon US and Amazon UK for overseas customers.
Green People Natural Self Tan
A British product — the first certified organic one in the UK — from a well-known and highly regarded natural cosmetics company. Vegan ingredients. Manufacturers say suitable for those prone to eczema and psoriasis, and may also help to conceal blue veins on legs. Also available from Amazon US.
Just Nutritive / Just Natural Tanning Lotions (US)
A selection of all-natural products to tan safely without sun exposure and to extend and protect sun-achieved / sunbed-achieved tans.
Lavera Self Tanning Lotion
German MI-free brand’s very popular tanning lotion, which is vegan, and free from parabens, formaldehyde donors, gluten, synthetic colours and petroleum derivatives. Contains soya, macadamia and sunflower oils. It’s also available in the UK at Suvarna (use ALLERGY15 for 15% discount), and they also stock a face lotion too. In Australia, the product is available via Nourished Life.
Nature’s Gate Sunless Tanner (US)
This is an MI-free brand. They use mostly natural preservation. Natural caramel is used as a colorant in this product.
Proceed with Caution
Beauty by Earth Self Tanner (US)
Scrutiny of the ingredients would suggest this product is safely MI / MCI free, but the brand has failed to respond to several requests to confirm as such.
St Moriz (UK)
As a EU company, this brand’s self-tanning lotions and mousse products should be safely MI / MCI-free, but we have been unable to confirm this. American shoppers can buy it through Amazon US.
NOT SAFE
Maui Babe told us that their products contain MI and MCI.
No response
Australian Gold, Fake Bake, Millennium Tanning Products Skinerals, Sun Laboratories and Tanceuticals have not yet responded to our enquiries.
Hi there,
Just wondering is the fake tan product nickel free?
Many thanks
If you tell me which one you’re interested in, I’ll look at the ingredients, but it’s not always easy to tell and impossible to guarantee.
Funnily enough, I’m looking into this subject for my other blog Allergy Insight (www.allergy-insight.com) which I hope to publish soon.
Best wishes, alex.