If you’re new to the world of sunless tanning, you may think it’s just another cancer inducing process to darken the tone of your skin. But the truth of the matter is that spray tanning solution and other sunless tanning products are a safe and viable alternative to traditional tanning and tanning beds. This may seem too good to be true, but the evidence is overwhelming, and a recent article from the Mayo Clinic reinforces what sunless tanning advocates have been preaching for years.

Sunless tanning products contain DHA, which reacts with the outer layer of your skin to darken it without exposure to detrimental UV radiation. This color gradually fades in about a week as the outermost layer of your skin sloughs off naturally. Most sunless tanning products don’t contain any SPF or other type of sun protection, so even if your skin is darker, you’ll still want to apply sunscreen liberally if you’re going to be catching any rays.