Get a Good Tan Without Getting Sunburned

Skin with a warm, sun-kissed tan can look radiant, sexy and attractive. At the same time, you want to be careful to avoid getting sunburned, and you want to minimize any risks associated with tanning. This article will provide you with guidance for sun tanning, spray tanning and self tanning that will help you to look great and avoid sunburns.

Steps

Tan Safely When You're Outdoors

  1. Wear sunscreen instead of sunblock. Sunscreens allow some of the sun's rays to penetrate, giving you some tanning action while shielding you from many harmful UVA and UVB rays.
  2. Choose water-resistant sunscreen. Before start sweating or swimming, wait about 15 minutes to give your sunscreen a chance to bind to your skin.
  3. Avoid peak hours. Do not lay out between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The sun's rays are strongest during those hours, and you're more likely to get a sunburn.
  4. Build up your time in the sun slowly. Start by laying out for 15 minutes and add 5 minutes or so per week. Your tan will progress more gradually, but you'll avoid getting burned.

Give Yourself a Spray Tan

  1. Exfoliate before you start. Use a body scrub and a loofah to get rid of dead surface skin cells, or you'll come out of your tanning session looking speckled.
  2. Put moisturizer on your fingernails, toenails, feet and eyebrows. Otherwise, they may end up turning dark brown or orange.
  3. Choose a tinted aerosol if you're doing your spray tan at home. When you use clear aerosols, you may have a difficult time telling how much spray tan you've applied to your skin.
  4. Put a towel down on the base of your shower. Get into your shower and close the curtain so that you don't accidentally spray tanning product onto other bathroom surfaces.
  5. Go easy on dry areas. Put extra moisturizer on your knees and elbows, and spray them lightly compared to other areas.
  6. Use a special technique to spray your back. Spray product into the air and step back into it as you would if you were applying perfume. Do this 2 to 3 times to make sure that you get enough product on your back.
  7. Correct mistakes with a sponge brush. You can also buy a specially designed tanner remover to take off dark spots, streaks or other application errors.
  8. Get a salon airbrush tan if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. Expect to pay between $80 and $100.

Apply Self-Tanning Mousse or Gel

  1. Exfoliate your skin with a body scrub and a loofah. Apply your tanning mousse or gel immediately after you prep your skin to ensure the smoothest coat possible.
  2. Apply a moisturizer that contains a gradual tanner.
    • Make sure that the product is formulated to work with DHA, which is the active ingredient in most self-tanners.
    • The moisturizer will do double-duty for you by providing coverage for spots you may miss when you apply mousse or gel.
  3. Start at the bottom of your body and work your way up. Working this way will keep you from creasing your skin when you bend over to apply the self-tanner.
  4. Ask a partner to help you. You may need assistance applying a mousse or gel to your back and other hard-to-reach areas.



Tips

  • Make sure to use a product on your lips to prevent sunburn. You can wear a lip tint with SPF 15 and then apply sunscreen to the rest of your face.
  • If you do get a sunburn, apply moist towels to your skin or take a cool bath. Apply aloe vera, and avoid breaking any blisters. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help with any aches.
  • A tan looks great, but don't overdo it. A burned body is not a healthy one.
  • When you exfoliate prior to applying a tanning product, choose a body scrub with spherical man-made beads (as opposed to granular beads). Also, choose a scrub that is oil-free so that you don't place a barrier between your skin and your tanning product.
  • Skip the pre-vacation "base tan." Getting a tan at a tanning bed before you go on vacation won't make you less likely to get a sunburn. In fact, people tend to skip sunscreen when they go on vacation after pre-tanning, which makes sunburn even more likely.
  • Apply sunscreen that is of a thin quantity.
  • If you're one of those people who never seem to get a tan these are some tips:
    • Make sure you put sunscreen on so it prevents burns but allows for healthy exposure.
    • You don't have to sunbathe to get a tan, just run around in the sun with sun cream on and pretend you're not that bothered about getting a tan. Enjoy yourself outside and the next thing you know you have a tan.
    • If these tips fail, remember that pale skin is beautiful too. Having healthy fair skin is much more attractive than having itchy, peeling red skin. If you take care of your skin now in the long term you can avoid wrinkles spots and damage that comes from over exposure. Try to be comfortable in your own skin!

Warnings

  • Indoor tanning is more likely to cause melanoma than outdoor tanning, according to the American Cancer Society. Young women are especially vulnerable to melanoma development if they tan indoors as teenagers. For these reasons, skip the tanning salon. If you feel compelled to tan indoors, then limit yourself to 3 sessions per week.

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Sources and Citations

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