X-TAN Tanning Accelerator
Tanning Accelerator · Vanilla · 200ml
The detail
Everything else worth knowing
Description
X-TAN is a professional grade tanning accelerator built for one job: getting deeper colour out of the sessions you are already doing.
It is not a fake tan. There is no DHA and no bronzer in it, so nothing sits on the surface of your skin and nothing washes off on a towel. What you end up with is your own colour, developed faster and held for longer.
How it works
Melanin production does not begin when the lamps come on. It begins with tyrosine, the amino acid your skin converts into pigment. X-TAN delivers a stable form of it at 2%, alongside Vitex Agnus Castus, so your skin goes into a session with the raw material already in place rather than starting from zero.
The second half of the formula keeps skin saturated through exposure. Hydrated skin holds tone. Dry skin reflects light and sheds colour within days, which is why so many people find a tan fades almost as fast as it appears.
Key actives
- Acetyl Tyrosine at 2%, the amino acid melanin is built from
- Vitex Agnus Castus, a botanical extract that works alongside it
- Niacinamide to support the skin barrier so colour develops evenly
- Hyaluronic acid, squalane, jojoba and meadowfoam for hydration that lasts through a session
- Vitamins C and E as antioxidants
- Hydrolyzed collagen and panthenol to leave skin comfortable rather than tight
How to use
Apply a thin layer to clean dry skin two minutes before UV exposure.
There is no need to reapply afterwards. The actives keep working for up to 48 hours, so colour carries on developing well after you have left the salon.
The detail
200ml. Vanilla scented. Absorbs in around thirty seconds with no tackiness and no transfer. Suitable for use with sunbeds or natural sunlight. One tube covers roughly four to six weeks of regular use.
Contains no SPF and is not a sunscreen. Follow the exposure guidance for your skin type and the session limits set by your salon. Patch test before first use.
How to use
Apply a thin layer to clean dry skin two minutes before you go under UV.
There is no need to reapply afterwards. The actives keep working for up to 48 hours, so colour carries on developing after your session.
Scent and texture
A vanilla-scented cream that absorbs in around thirty seconds and leaves no tackiness. Nothing transfers onto clothes, sheets or the bed.
Size and how long it lasts
200ml per tube. With a thin layer each session, expect roughly four to six weeks of regular use from one tube.
Delivery and returns
Orders placed before 12pm are dispatched the same day. Express shipping is free on orders over 40 pounds.
Unopened products can be returned within 14 days. Return postage is not covered, so get in touch first and we will talk you through it.
Safety
This product contains no SPF and is not a sunscreen. Follow the exposure guidance for your skin type and the session limits set by your salon.
Patch test before first use. Keep away from eyes. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. The full ingredient list is further down this page.
The real reason
You're not doing sunbeds wrong. You're going in unprepared.
- Colour takes four or five sessions to show up
- It fades within days of stopping
- Dry skin reflects light instead of holding tone
- You burn before you brown
Melanin production doesn't start when the lamps come on. It starts with the amino acid your skin builds pigment from. X-TAN loads it in before you go.
How it works
Two jobs, one tube
Before UV
Prime the pigment
Acetyl Tyrosine and Vitex give your skin the raw material for melanin, so the first session starts from a head start instead of from zero.
During UV
Hold the colour
Hyaluronic acid, squalane and jojoba keep skin saturated through exposure. Hydrated skin holds tone, dry skin sheds it.
How to use it
Your X-TAN routine
Two minutes before
Apply a thin layer to clean dry skin two minutes before you go under UV. A thin layer does the trick.
After your session
No need to reapply. The actives keep working for up to 48 hours, so colour carries on developing long after the lamps go off.
From across the range
What Back2Black customers say
Charlotte C.
★★★★★The best results. I'm a very pale person and no matter how many sunbeds I used I couldn't get my desired colour. Now I'm darker than I thought my skin could ever get. I love it, will continue purchasing without a doubt.
Verified purchase
Daniel M.
★★★★★As a natural ginger who's normally white as a ghost, I honestly didn't think I'd ever have a tan. I've only had 3 sessions and I actually have tan lines already. I'm so happy with the results.
Verified purchase
Hannah S.
★★★★★Fantastic, gone from see through to a lovely tan in only a month.
Verified purchase
What's actually in it
The actives doing the work
Melanin
Acetyl Tyrosine
The amino acid your skin converts into melanin. The engine of the formula.
Extract
Vitex Agnus Castus
Supports the tanning pathway alongside tyrosine.
Barrier
Niacinamide
Keeps the skin barrier intact so colour develops evenly.
Hydration
Hyaluronic + Squalane
Saturated skin holds tone. Dry skin sheds it.
Antioxidant
Vitamin C & E
Defends skin through UV exposure.
Condition
Collagen + Panthenol
Leaves skin smooth rather than tight after sessions.
No DHA · No bronzer · No parabens · No mineral oil
Full transparency
Every ingredient, and what it does
The complete list, in order of quantity. Search for anything you know you react to, or filter by what it is there to do.
Aqua Formulation
Purified water. The base every other ingredient is carried in.
Glycerin Hydration
A humectant that pulls moisture into the skin and holds it there. Hydrated skin holds colour for longer.
Isododecane Formulation
A light, fast-evaporating emollient. It is why the cream sinks in quickly instead of sitting on the surface.
Acetyl Tyrosine Actives
A stable form of the amino acid your skin uses to build melanin. This is the engine of the formula.
Glyceryl Stearate Formulation
An emulsifier that keeps the oil and water phases blended so the cream stays stable.
PEG-100 Stearate Formulation
Works with the emulsifier above to give the cream its texture.
Niacinamide Skin support
Vitamin B3. Supports the skin barrier, which helps colour develop evenly rather than patchily.
Tocopheryl Acetate Protection
A stable form of vitamin E. An antioxidant that helps defend skin through UV exposure.
Phenoxyethanol Formulation
Preservative. Keeps the product safe to use for its full shelf life.
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract Actives
A botanical extract used alongside tyrosine to support the tanning pathway.
Panthenol Skin support
Provitamin B5. Soothing and hydrating, and helps skin feel comfortable after a session.
Ascorbic Acid Protection
Vitamin C. An antioxidant included for its defensive role.
Squalane Hydration
A lightweight emollient close to what skin produces naturally. Softens without greasiness.
Parfum Formulation
The vanilla scent. Nothing more.
Sodium Metabisulfite Formulation
A stabiliser that stops the vitamin C oxidising and turning the cream brown.
Xanthan Gum Formulation
A natural thickener. Gives the cream its body so it spreads evenly.
Ethylhexylglycerin Formulation
Works with the preservative and conditions the skin slightly as it does so.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Skin support
Derived from licorice root. Calming, and useful for skin that gets warm under UV.
Hydrolyzed Collagen Skin support
Broken down into small enough fragments to sit on the skin surface and hold water there.
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil Hydration
A light oil that absorbs readily and helps keep skin supple.
Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil Hydration
A stable oil that helps lock moisture in without a heavy finish.
Sodium Hyaluronate Hydration
The salt form of hyaluronic acid. Holds many times its own weight in water.
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Hydration
A conditioning oil high in vitamin E.
Beta-Carotene Skin support
An antioxidant pigment, included at a trace level. It is not there to colour the skin.
Tocopherol Protection
Natural vitamin E. Antioxidant, and helps keep the oils in the formula fresh.
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Listed in order of quantity, highest first. Formulations can change, so always check the carton before use.
Before you buy
X-TAN questions
Is it safe to use on sunbeds?
Will it stain the bed, my clothes or my sheets?
Do I need to reapply after my session?
How long does a tube last?
Can I use it alongside the Tanning Spray?
Do I still need this if I already tan easily?
Is it suitable for sensitive skin?
Still unsure? Message us and a real person will answer.
Straight comparison
X-TAN vs a standard lotion
| X-TAN | Others | |
|---|---|---|
| Melanin activation before UV | ||
| Works during exposure too | ||
| Built for people who struggle to tan | ||
| No DHA, no fake colour | ||
| Hyaluronic acid + squalane | ||
| No parabens or mineral oil |
