1. You can get a sunless tan even if you can't get a real tan
Sunless tanners don't need your melanocytes to be in working order. The active ingredient in sunless tanners Dihydroxyacetone [DHA] saturates the dead skin cells in the outermost layer of skin, where it turns the protein in the dead cells brown.

2. Sunless tans are completely safe
Back in the 1970s, the FDA added DHA to its list of safe cosmetic ingredients, and there it remains. Unluckily, the belief that sunless tanners are hazardous is not uncommon, possibly due to confusion with tanning pills containing beta carotene or canthaxanthin, which were banned by the FDA many years ago.

3. Sunless tanners are better now than they have ever been
DHA is the same ingredient that embarrassed you at that swimming pool party in the 1970s, yet it can now fool dermatologists, not to mention your mom. Since this first appeared in Coppertone QuickTan in 1960, DHA has made many strides due to improvements in the refining process. Imagine the difference between molasses and white sugar...

4. Sunless tans are temporary
After five to seven days, your sunless tan will be completely gone, although a few small remnants could cling as long as two weeks. Consider a sunless tan is not a long term commitment!

5. Sunless tans take less time than a real tan; you can have a tan tomorrow
You don't have to start "working on your tan" months in advance. A sunless tan may be a spontaneous decision, like trying a new nail polish.

6. Sunless tanners help you keep your resolve to use sun screen every day
Everyone knows they are supposed to use sun screen daily, but few people are fond of the short term effects: pasty white skin. With the sunless tanners, you can have the best of both worlds — a golden brown hue, and no skin damage. Ten years ago, everyone will hide behind you when the camera comes out.

7. You can use a fake tan on specific areas
A sunless tanner can add a glow to just your face, just your legs, just your...well, you get the picture.

8. Conversely, you don't have to worry about tan lines — you can get a fake tan all over
And you won't get arrested for exposing yourself. This can all take place in the privacy of your own bathroom. Thus if you are contemplating wearing those extra short shorts...

9. You don't have to spend a lot of money
Have you been afraid to try inexpensive drugstore brands? You should not be; since all sunless tanners use the same active ingredient, drugstore sunless tanners can be as good as, or even better than, many department store brands.