How to Hide Acne With Tanning
If you have acne, you might think it's a good idea to use tanning to hide the red spots. However, this is not necessarily a safe method of camouflaging acne. Dr. Lawrence E. Gibson of the Mayo Clinic says UV radiation from the sun's rays and tanning beds both pose potential risks to your skin.
Getting a tan on your face doesn't actually get rid of acne; it simply turns your skin tone darker so as to allow the red marks to blend in a little better with the rest of your skin. Use these tanning tips to get the best results from coloring your skin and hiding acne.
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Things You'll Need
- Oil-free moisturizer with SPF 15 sunscreen
- Liquid foundation with SPF 15 sunscreen
- Mineral makeup
- Mineral makeup application brush
- Non-comedogenic sunless tanning lotion
Instructions
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How to Hide Acne Using Makeup Before Tanning
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Apply oil-free moisturizer to your face. It's important to use the oil-free moisture as opposed to regular moisturizers, as these cause acne to multiply and become irritated.
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Apply SPF 15 liquid foundation to your face at least 15 minutes before entering sunlight. Since your face is one of the most sensitive parts of your body, it's important to not let it be exposed to direct sunlight for more than 10 minutes at a time.
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Mineral makeup can be used on its own as a sunscreen for your face or as added coverage on top of liquid foundation. Simply take a mineral makeup application brush and apply mineral makeup all over your face at least 10 minutes before going outside into direct sunlight.
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Go outside and allow your face to be exposed to sunlight. If you're just working outside, you needn't worry about reapplying sunscreen for a while, but if you want to lay down and get a tan, make sure you rotate often and tan for no longer than 30 minutes at a time, as exposure to direct sunlight will not only damage your skin, it will also cause it to wrinkle prematurely.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't want to expose your skin to direct sunlight, use a sunless tanning lotion instead. Apply it all over your body so your face doesn't look off-color when compared to the rest of your skin.
Never use acne products like benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, salicylic acid, or a retinol cream of any kind before going out in direct sunlight. These products can discolor skin when mixed with UV rays. Consult a dermatologist or physician if you have any questions about products you're using and the effect they have when exposed to sunlight.
