The invention relates to the use of compounds of the formula (I), where R1 and R2 may be identical or different and stand for H, OH, OCH3, CH3, CH2OH or CH2OCH3, R3 stands for H or straight-chain or branched C1- to C20-alkyl groups, R4 stands for H or OR8, R5 and R6 may be identical or different and are selected from —H, —OH, straight-chain or branched C1 to C20-alkyl groups, straight-chain or branched C3- to C20-alkenyl groups, straight-chain or branched C1- to C20-hydroxyalkyl groups, where the hydroxyl group may be bonded to a primary or secondary carbon atom of the chain, and furthermore the allyl chain may also be interrupted by oxygen, and R8 stands for H or straight-chain or branched C1- to C20-alkyl groups, with the proviso that R2 does not denote H if R1 denotes CH3, as self-tanning agents, and to compounds and the preparation thereof.