How to Get a Good Tan Outside

Mind the sun while you tan

A good tan can be a wonderful thing. A nice, golden, healthy tan can make you feel better and can even create the illusion of a thinner body. For many people, lying by a pool or on a beach while getting that tan is an enjoyable, relaxing experience. While skin cancer and sun damage have caused many people to have some reservations about tanning, if you are smart and careful you can get a good outdoor tan. This means ditching the baby oil, using a sunscreen with SPF, and limiting your time in the sun. It may sound counterintuitive, but it's just smart tanning.

Things You'll Need

• Exfoliating skin cream or loofah Moisturizer Sunscreen with SPF of at least 15

Instructions

1. Exfoliate your skin in the shower before heading to the pool or beach. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, and creates a smooth, even surface for tanning.

2. Moisturize your skin after your shower. Moisturizing helps maintain healthy skin, which is important, especially when you're tanning.

3. Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. If you have fair skin that burns easily the SPF should be even higher; 30 or more. Use your judgment and knowledge of your skin type to choose a sunscreen, but keep in mind that even the darkest-skinned people need some level of SPF in their sunscreen. Reapply sunscreen every 20 to 30 minutes, or after going swimming.

4. Move around regularly, adjusting your body to stay in line with the direction of the sun. Flip every 20 to 30 minutes to ensure front and back are tanned evenly. If you don't want strap marks, move your swimsuit straps off your neck or shoulders.

5. Limit your time in the sun to no more than two or three hours each day. Very light-skinned people may want to limit daily suntanning to as little as half an hour. Build a base gradually rather than trying to get the perfect tan by spending a full day in the sun, which will more than likely lead to sunburn.

6. Shower and then moisturize well after tanning. This helps keep your skin healthy and soft, prolonging the life of your tan.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware of your skin type and color. Some skin types just don't tan, no matter what. If your skin does tan, don't try to get your ultimate summer tan in one day. Slow and gradual is the safest way to a good tan.

• Know your limits. Don't try to spend too long in the sun if you know you have a tendency to burn easily.

Resources

• An MSNBC report on sunscreens
• The American Cancer Society's page on sun safety