Self-tanning dihydroxyacetone formulations having improved stability and providing enhanced delivery

A composition is provided which is useful for self-tanning skin coloring and is characterized by improved stability, which comprises from about 0.5% to about 20.0% by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of a self-tanning skin coloring agent subject to chemical instability, which is preferably dihydroxyacetone; from about 2.0% to about 40.0% by weight of a polyethoxyglycol, which is preferably ethoxydiglycol; and from about 0.1% to about 15.0% by weight of a polyol comprising a polyhydric compound having at least three hydroxyl groups and at least three carbon atoms, which is preferably D-sorbitol. The self-tanning composition may further optionally contain from about 0.1% to about 8.0% by weight of a water soluble dihydroxyl compound having at least two, and up to eight carbon atoms, which is preferably ethylene glycol; and the self-tanning composition may still further optionally contain an acidifying agent in amount sufficient to maintain the pH of said total composition at from about 3.5 to about 4.5, which is preferably sorbic acid. Cosmetologic products and methods of tanning are also provided.