How to Tan Fair Skin

There was a time when pale, fair skin was a sign of good breeding and social status. Real ladies didn't have a tan; that was for peasants who worked in the fields. How times have changed. Now a tan is a status symbol, a sign of health and fitness. Many people with fair skin desire a tan. There are ways for those with fair skin to get a tan. It's just a matter of patience, care and being aware of your skin type.

Things You'll Need

• Loofah or exfoliating scrub Moisturizer SPF 30 sunscreen Self-tanning lotion

Instructions

1. Exfoliate your skin well in the shower every morning using a loofah or exfoliating scrub. Whether tanning in the sun, in a tanning bed or with self-tanning lotions, exfoliated skin provides a smooth, even surface for tanning.

2. Keep your skin well moisturized. Moisturizing regularly is a key to healthy skin; even more critical if you're going to expose your skin to the sun.

3. Prepare for lying in the sun by applying a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 half an hour before lying in the sun. This gives the chemicals in the sunscreen time to absorb.

4. Avoid the sun during the peak hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sun's rays are most damaging then; try to limit your tanning time to mid morning and late afternoon. Fair-skinned people should spend no more than half an hour to an hour in the sun initially. This gives you time to build a base or see if your skin will tan at all. If you feel the sun's rays getting too intense, get out of the sun no matter how long you've been out. Very light-skinned people can burn after only minutes in the sun.

5. Apply self-tanner or visit a spray-tan booth at a tanning salon. This can be your only method of tanning or a supplement to time spent in the sun. Either way, it provides fair-skinned people a darker tan than they might be able to achieve naturally. Spray-on or self tanners are a great alternative for people who are unable to tan in the sun at all, or simply want to avoid sun damage but desire a tan.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have the type of skin that burns while you're walking to the grocery store, it's probably best to utilize self tanners or spray tan as your only method of tanning.

• If you burn in the sun, you will burn in a tanning bed as well.

Resources

• The American Cancer Society's Sun Safety page
• Consumer Reports Sunscreen Dos and Donts