Designer Skin™
A collection of
the most
Frequently
Asked
Questions!
© 1999-2006 Designer Skin™ All Rights Reserved ● www.designerskin.com ● Phone: 877●756●3337 Fax: 480●966●6520
Designer Skin FAQ’s
How are Designer Skin lotions better than what I can purchase at the drugstore or
supermarket?
Over-the-counter lotions do not contain the necessary ingredients that will maximize your
tanning results and extend the life of your tan. Moreover, mass market products do not
replenish as effectively any lost moisturization that occurs during the tanning process.
Designer Skin lotions are “bio-engineered” specifically for indoor tanning.
I think I tan better without a lotion. So why should I use one?
This erroneous belief can be easily rectified once clients actually understand the tanning
process. For example, indoor tanning and UV exposure can be dehydrating to the skin.
Designer Skin lotions will help to replenish any moisture that has been depleted during the
tanning session, thereby improving your results. Not only will you get a darker tan, you will
tan more quickly and it will last longer. In addition, Designer Skin lotions contain specific
ingredients that promote tanning and melanin synthesis.
What are these dry, white patches on my back, chest, and/or arms?
This is called “tinea versicolor”. It is a yeast type of skin fungus present on normal skin,
similar to dandruff. This is very common and harmless. The “white patches” usually are not
noticeable until you start tanning because they do not tan. An over the counter antifungal ointment will usually clear up the symptoms…even dandruff shampoo may work.
Sometimes the symptoms may clear up without any treatment. If symptoms worsen or
become bothersome, consult your dermatologist.
I can’t feel the “tingle” anymore from my lotion. Why is that?
If you are an avid tingle tanner, oftentimes your skin acclimates to the tingle and you
won’t feel the sensation anymore. Despite this fact, the tingle is still working even if you
are not feeling the heat. As with hair care products, we recommend switching products
from time to time to “jump start” your skin.
Can I use Designer Skin lotion outdoors?
It is not recommended to use Designer Skin lotion outdoors simply because they do not
contain an SPF. Indoor tanning is a controlled environment unlike outdoor exposure. We
highly recommend using sun protection when tanning outdoors.
Moreover, we particularly advise clients against using tingle products outdoors. Due to
extreme heat, the tingle effects can be much more intense and uncomfortable when
tanning outdoors.
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Designer Skin FAQ’s
What exactly is the UVB Inhibitor SPF 4 in Halo, Soul, and Amazing Face and what does it
do?
The UVB Inhibitor SPF 4 utilized in our Halo, Soul, and Amazing Face is different from most
SPF’s present in outdoor tanning lotions. Most mass market SPF lotions offer broad, full
spectrum UV protection. The active ingredient in our SPF 4 inhibitor is “octinoxiate” which
only filters the UVB rays, otherwise known as the burning rays, thereby maximizing the
browning rays. The resulting color is a gorgeous, golden bronze tan.
How does Ray of Light make you look up to 10 lbs. thinner?
As you know, it is a commonly held perception that people look more slender and fit
when they are tan than when they are not. To test this theory, Designer Skin developed
an indoor tanning product specifically targeting this ideology…Ray of Light Dark Tanning
Dual Bronzer. In addition to being a dual action bronzer, this specialty product also
contains anticellulite and slimming ingredients to further augment its purpose.
Specifically, these active slimming and body contouring ingredients smooth and improve
skin’s texture by reducing the appearance of “orange-peel” skin and unsightly cellulite.
Therefore, individuals receive the dual benefit of a deep, dark tanning bronzer as well as
skincare ingredients that improve the texture and firmness of their skin.
An independent study conducted by Creative Consumer Research evaluated the
accuracy of the claim “Look Up to 10 lbs. Thinner” when test subjects tanned with Ray of
Light Dark Tanning Dual Bronzer. When shown before and after tanning photographs,
respondents gave a significantly more positive rating to the after photos in looking
thinner …on the average 11 pounds thinner. Moreover, respondents also gave
significantly more positive ratings to the subjects being more successful, healthier and
more physically fit. It appears that people attribute a wealth of positive characteristics to
a tanned person in addition to just being thinner...it yielded a more positive overall
lifestyle rating as well.
Ray of Light has exceeded the company’s expectation in not only supporting the
marketing claim of “Look Up to 10 lbs, Thinner” but the efficacy of the formula has
garnered tremendous consumer response. It is Designer Skin’s number one selling
product for the 2005 season.
How does tingle work? What does it do?
Tingle products deliver a warming, reddening effect on the skin. The active ingredient in
Designer Skin’s tingle lotions is Benzyl Nicotinate. Tingle products increase the skin cell’s
microcirculation and oxygenation to produce deep, dark tanning results. Tingles are for
your advanced tanners and are not recommend for beginning tanners or individuals with
sensitive skin. Tingle products are also effective on hard-to-tan areas such as women’s
legs.
Tingle Advisory When Handling Infants: As with all tingle products, extra care should be
taken when handling children as the reddening effect could be transferred to skin even
hours after use.
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Designer Skin FAQ’s
How does a dual bronzer work?
Dual bronzers provide bronze gratification from immediate cosmetic bronzers such as
caramel and walnut extract as well as from DHA sunless tanning agents, which oxidize
over a few hours with the natural proteins in the skin to develop even deeper, darker
results. It recommended waiting at least 4 hours after tanning with any bronzer to ensure
results
How can I stop the tingle action on the skin?
If you do not carry a “stop action” type product in your salon, you may try using Angel
Daily Moisturizer to mitigate the heat sensation. This will not stop the tingle, but it will
alleviate it to a certain extent. Taking a shower with “cool” water and mild soap will also
help ease the tingle. Never use warm or hot water as this will open up the pores and
cause an even greater, intense tingle sensation.
Why do I have these circles on my shoulders, buttocks, and/or lower waist that won’t tan?
These are called “pressure points”, where the most amount of pressure is on your body
when reclining in the bed. The blood flow is constricted in those areas and that is why
they don’t seem to tan at all. Your best bet is to alternate your positions when tanning.
I can’t pump the rest of my Angel moisturizer out of the bottle.
Our Angel/Undercover Angel moisturizers have a luxurious, creamy viscosity due to the
decadent skincare ingredients. This creaminess may result in the lotion adhering to the
curves on the side of the bottle. To alleviate this, simply tap the base of the bottle a few
times. We do not want to alter this number-one selling formula or make it thinner like
other lotions in the industry because it would drastically change its efficacy. Consumers’
love the way their skin feels and that is a direct result of the formula’s richness.
What is a good lotion to recommend for the male clients?
Some of Designer Skin’s most popular sellers among the male clientele have been Secret
Rapture, Tao, Sheer Wisdom, Worship, Veritas, and Shrine. These lotions seem to appeal
to our male clients as well because of the unisex packaging and fragrances.
How do I explain “bronzers” to a customer who is hesitant because they are afraid of
turning “orange”?
Unlike Designer Skin products, there are some bronzers in the marketplace that contain
too high a percentage of DHA, or even contain low quality bronzing agents that
produce unnatural and unattractive tanning results. Reassure your customer that
Designer Skin bronzers are “low-maintenance”, meaning they utilize the purest quality of
DHA in conjunction with the perfect amount of bronzing agents to enhance the natural
level of tan without staining or streaking or developing into an “unnatural” orange color.
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Designer Skin FAQ’s
How do I know which lotion to recommend for my customer?
Ask this question, “Are you happy with the level of color your body naturally produces
with a tan?” Their answer will help you determine the “type” of lotion to suggest. If their
answer to this question is “no”, you can assume they would like to be darker. A bronzer
would be ideal since bronzing lotions “boost” the natural tan. Offer a couple of
selections of that “type” of lotion to your customer. They will then choose based on
preferred fragrance, skin care benefits, or even which packaging appeals to them most.
What is the benefit of using a lotion that contains Hemp Seed Oil?
Hemp Seed Oil is a humectant that pulls moisture from the air to the surface of the skin. It
is a skin care ingredient that provides powerful hydration. This is a wonderful ingredient in
a tanning lotion because UV exposure can be dehydrating to the skin. In addition,
Hemp Seed Oil contains essential fatty acids which help ingredients penetrate into the
lipid layers of the skin for increased efficacy.
Will I fail a drug test using a lotion that contains Hemp Seed Oil?
No. The Hemp Seed Oil used in Designer Skin lotions are THC / drug-free. The Hemp Seed
Oil used in indoor tanning lotions is a non-psychoactive industrial hemp variety of the
cannabis sativa plant. There are no known cases of a positive drug test from the topical
application of Hemp Seed Oil tanning lotions.
What should I say to a customer who is using an “outdoor” tanning lotion/baby oil in the
bed?
Simply tell them that mass market lotions are prohibited in the salon due to the damage
they cause to the tanning equipment. In addition to giving inferior tanning results,
outdoor tanning lotions contain ingredients such as mineral oil that actually damage the
acrylics.
Can I use the lotion on my face?
The facial area is much more delicate and more likely to have allergic reactions in
comparison to the rest of the body. In fact, fragrance is one of the most common
reasons for cosmetic allergic reactions on the face. That is why we recommend using
products specifically designed for the delicate facial area. Designer Skin does have
facial accelerators and bronzers that are fragrance free and/or hypoallergenic that is
specifically designed for the face.
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Designer Skin FAQ’s
How do I get the excess tingle lotion of my acrylics?
Sometimes tingle lotions can remain on the acrylics after tanning. Wipe the surface of the
acrylic with a towel to get as much excess lotion off as possible. Spray sanitizer on the
acrylic and let it sit for a minute, then wipe thoroughly again with the unused portion of
the towel.
What is that “burnt skin” smell from tanning? What causes it?
Foremost, it is not “burnt skin”. That smell is known as the “after tan odor” and it is caused
by friendly bacteria on the surface of the skin. The smell is the result from the bacteria
when your body/skin gets hot from a tanning bed. Designer Skin lotions contain specific
antibacterial ingredients to eliminate that “after tan odor”. Moreover, Design Skin
products contain wonderful fragrances that further mitigate the after tan odor and
enhance your tanning session.
Does Showering Affect A Tan?
Some clients have been misinformed about taking a shower after tanning. They were led
to believe that, somehow, their tan would get washed down the drain. A shower, like a
tanning session, may tend to dry out the skin. While you can't necessarily wash your tan
off, moist skin tans and retains a tan better than dry skin. On the pH scale of 0-14, the skin
registers slightly acidic (about 5.6). Most soaps are well above the neutral pH, or about 7
on the scale. Using a typical over-the-counter soap with this higher alkaline pH can strip
your skin of its essential acidic oils. Those oils lock in your skin's moisture. Shower gels are
usually less harsh than regular bar soap. Always apply a good quality moisturizer after a
shower to help preserve your tan.
Showering after a session tends to dry out the skin, but there is evidence that showering
before a tanning session may actually enhance tanning results. First, the heat from a
shower opens your pores, enabling the skin to breathe and take in oxygen vital to the
tanning process. Second, a shower will wash away dirt and dead skin cells that may
impede ultraviolet penetration when you tan. Removing those dead cells also allows the
active ingredients in lotions to work there way into the live skin cells more easily.
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Designer Skin FAQ’s
What Causes An Itch After Tanning?
A number of skin irritations may accompany indoor tanning at one time or another.
Among these are rashes, itches, dry skin or white spots. An itch may occur from a
reduced rate of melanin production in a particular area of the body, usually the
stomach, chest, or other areas that have had minimal exposure to sunlight or tanning for
a prolonged period. This may occur between the 3rd and 5th tanning session for most
people, is normally temporary, and more of a nuisance than a real problem. This is usually
a result of over stimulation of the nerve endings.
It is best to tan no more than every other day and build up tanning exposure time
gradually, to give the skins' melanin, in normally unexposed areas, time to catch up with
those areas always exposed outside, like the face and hands. Use a good aloe product
for relief from itching.
Over dry skin caused by the light and heat from the tanning system may also cause
itching. It is important to use a good moisturizing product regularly, after tanning, to
prevent the skin from drying and replenish moisture loss from the tanning process. Certain
chemicals or ingredients found in cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, and cleaners used on
tanning beds, may also potential causes of itching.
Rashes related to indoor tanning may result from two different factors: Heat build-up or
an overdose of UVA. If you develop a rash, stop tanning for a few days, then resume
tanning at a lower level. Most people will eventually build up immunities to these rashes.
If you have a light sensitivity disorder or have taken photo sensitizers to tan faster, you
could also develop a rash. The only times these can be severe is if you are phototoxic or
have a sunlight-induced disease.
White spots can be caused by a medication you may be taking, a genetic disposition to
tanning unevenly, a lack of pigment in that area, or scar tissue from acne, psoriasis, or a
fungus. In the event you are tanning in a bed, white spots can be a result of a lack of
oxygen to your pressure points that come in contact with the tanning bed acrylic.
How Do I Protect A Fresh Tattoo?
It is important not to expose a fresh tattoo to sunlight or indoor tanning equipment, while
the tattoo is still healing, since chemicals sensitive to UV exposure have been injected
into the skin. Cover the tattooed area completely or don't tan until the skin has healed.
After the skin has healed the chemicals have lost their sensitivity to UV, but continue to
take moderate protective measures. Tattoos will continue to lose their brilliancy with
exposure to UV light, whether it comes from indoors or from outdoors.
Use a good lip balm, like Un-petroleum with an SPF 18, to protect and preserve the
brilliancy of your tattoo. Un-petroleum lip balm is also good protection for sensitive areas
of the body, like nipples, that generally don't see a lot of sun, and nails, to prevent
yellowing.
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Designer Skin FAQ’s
Can I Take Medications While Tanning?
Certain drugs, foods, perfumes, and cosmetics may contain ingredients that could make
your skin super-sensitive when exposed to ultraviolet light, whether tanning indoors or
outdoors in the sun. It is usually best to remove cosmetics and perfumes before tanning.
Before starting a new medication or changing a prescription, it is always best to refer to
the guidelines or consult with your physician or pharmacist regarding potential effects of
the medication when exposed to sunlight or tanning lamps. Some medications may
contain "photosensitizing" agents that, when exposed to ultraviolet light, could cause a
skin irritation or rash. Tetracycline and Retin-A, drugs widely used for the treatment of
acne and some birth control pills are a few of the medications known to have the
potential to be photosensitive. While you may not necessarily experience a reaction from
the medication, it is always best to be aware that a reaction could exist.
How does the Sunless tanning process happen?
Our Supernatural Sunless works by creating a response with the top layers of skin.
Specially formulated Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) sugars, bronzer blend, aloe and
moisturizers are finely misted on to the skin, which then reacts naturally with the protein in
the top layers of the skin creating a golden bronze, healthy and soft, streak-free color.
What is DHA?
Dihydroxyacetone is derived from a vegetable source, most likely sugar beets. Some
German scientists in the 1920’s were experimenting with DHA [it's used in the X-ray
process] and noticed that it turned the skin brown. In 1960, Coppertone introduced QT or
Quick Tanning, a product that almost single-handedly destroyed the market for
decades. In the 1970’s the Food and Drug Administration added DHA to their list of
approved cosmetic ingredients. Then, sometime in the 1980’s, the cosmetic companies
found a way to produce better results [browner, less orange] with DHA. The secret: better
refining processes now produce higher quality, more predictable DHA.
Does the Sunless turn the skin orange?
No! In the past, self-tanners gave many individuals an unnatural orange glow and
caused streaking. Most of these undesirable results were caused by improper or
ineffective application techniques. Applying creams and lotions by hand usually results in
excessive amounts being absorbed in the skin. Excessive amounts applied in a single
application can give an orange glow to the skin. Unnatural dark spots may also appear
in dry or thick-skinned areas such as elbows, knees, and knuckles because these areas
have a tendency to absorb more of the creams. Our Supernatural Sunless solution
assures that all areas of the body get a uniform coating of the solution in the exact
quantity required in producing a golden brown tan.
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Designer Skin FAQ’s
What about people with fair skin that has never been able to tan?
Our Sunless Spray was designed specifically for individuals who can't or don't want to tan
conventionally.
Will it make the user feel sticky like lotions do?
No. Once the user has left the booth or has been airbrushed and dries off, their skin will
feel soft and pliable because of the moisturizing components. It will not feel sticky.
Does the mist leave an unpleasant odor on the user?
No. our Supernatural Sunless has a specially formulated solution that has pleasant odor,
Kiwi Watermelon.
Does this system cause freckles in people who usually freckle when tanning?
No. There is nothing in the solution that will cause more freckles to break out. In fact, in
most cases, freckles and blemishes become less pronounced because the lighter skin
areas will darken and reduce the color differentiation between the blemishes and the
rest of the skin.
Will the user get a better tan if they tan twice in the same day?
Yes. Tanning twice in the same day will create a darker tan, but we do not recommend
back-to-back sessions. Tanning back to back does not give the DHA a chance to set
between tans, and increases the chance that your tan may have an orange glow.
Waiting 12 to 24 hours between tans will eliminate this potential problem.
How soon after the tanning session can the user shower?
We recommend that the user wait at least 3 hours after tanning and 6 hours after
spraying to give the DHA enough time to fully set. If they shower earlier, they may
diminish the intensity of the tan. When they do shower the initial tan created by the
bronzer will wash off, but the DHA will remain and create a long-term tan.
© 1999-2006 Designer Skin™ All Rights Reserved ● www.designerskin.com ● Phone 877●756●3337 Fax ● 480●966●6520
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