By Brandon Cardinal, Norvell Sunless

Naturally, everyone loves a spray tan. As an industry, we all understand the pressures that have been placed on, above and over UV tanning. But the constant pressures  of all-natural, organic and healthy ingredients continue to loom over sunless and spray tanning. What are you advertising to your customers about the solution you spray? Let’s review what these common terms say to your customers, so you’re giving an accurate description of your sunless services:

Organic, Natural and Gluten Free

Do you currently tell your customers that the product they’re receiving is fully and 100 percent organic? Have you done the research on the particular product that you supply? There is still no product on the market that is 100 percent organic, but many claim to be 100 percent organic and eco-certified. Don’t fall into this trap, and make sure you’re advertising accurately what is and isn’t indeed organic.

With that being said, since organic is off the table, you can look to products that are natural. Many consumers today do not know the full weight and definition of the terms their products are made up of, so they appreciate when you offer natural products they can wrap their head around.

And chances are, you know someone with a gluten allergy. Therefore, it’s also important to incorporate gluten-free options in your salon. A product that is gluten-free excludes gluten, a protein composite found in wheat, barley, rye and all other species and hybrids. Many of your customers may have a wheat allergy and can produce symptoms if they use a product with gluten – make sure you pay attention to what you’re selling and to who.

Vegan, Paraben-Free and Nut Allergies

In our ever-evolving world, there has to be something for everyone. That’s why you need to keep diets and allergies in mind when selecting sunless products. Veganism is both the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. Your sunless products are deemed vegan if they contain absolutely no animal products in their ingredients.

Although most of us know that parabens are a bad thing, to what extent does it truly matter, and does it make a difference? Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetics and personal care products such as soap, moisturizers, underarm deodorant and shaving cream. Companies use parabens to extend the shelf-life of products and prevent growth of bacteria. Most parabens are a compound formed from a mixture of acid and alcohol. I think we can agree discerning clients are looking for products without these factors.

There are more and more consumers today with a nut allergy than just five to 10 years ago. Selling around your customers’ allergies can be a daunting task. Nut allergies are becoming more commonplace then you would think. Providing a high-quality product that is nut allergy free will allow these consumers the freedom to purchase and enjoy their sunless tan.

As you can see, this short list of terms will help you in conversations with your clients regarding your sunless products. Doing a little research to find out what it is that you are really spraying can go a long way with your customers. And before you make claims as to what you or your product will deliver, make sure you not only read the labels but dissect the ingredients.