THE WHAT? The UK’s supply of fake-tan products is at risk due to a shortage in supply of ingredient solvent ethoxydiglycol, according to the Guardian. 

THE DETAILS Sunjunkie, a self-tan manufacturer, has struggled to source the ingredient due to the global supply chain crisis, with company Director Diane Higham stating that many suppliers in the UK and EU don’t have it in stock. 

She said, “It’s a total nightmare. It’s a product that goes into a lot of things and you just don’t think that you’re suddenly not going to be able to obtain it anywhere.”

Other ingredients are also said to be hard to obtain, including DHA and erythrulose. 

Chemical distribution firm Ascot International has also stated that the import price of ethoxydiglycol has risen by 30 percent, with Managing Director Nitin Sethi stating he has only been able to source it in ‘dribs and drabs.’ 

THE WHY? Used extensively in high street and premium skincare products, experts have also blamed the rapid growth of the beauty industry in China as a catalyst for the UK shortage. 

Higham continued, “You can just see the product line suddenly coming to a halt if we haven’t got these major ingredients.”