How to Get a Perfect Natural Tan
There is a risk of skin cancer associated with tanning your skin, and many reports indicate a higher risk when using a tanning bed. While excessive tanning, outdoor or indoor, will potentially raise your risk of cancer, a perfect natural tan can be attained safely and effectively through patience and careful planning. Working to prolong a tan once you obtain it will help you to limit your exposure to the sun and, likewise, your risk of damaging your skin. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Apply sunblock to your skin and allow it to soak fully into your skin before dressing. Put a small amount in the palm of your hand and rub it evenly all over your skin. Allow it to dry. Pulling clothes or a bathing suit over skin with wet sunblock can remove the sunblock from some areas, causing an uneven tan. Use a sunblock with at least an SPF 30 and blocks both UVA and UVB rays, as these will both damage your skin. This information will be printed on the label on the bottle of sunblock. Reapply the sunblock every hour.
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Lie outside in the sun. However, don't tan longer than three hours at a time.
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Choose the times you tan carefully. The sun's rays are the strongest between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., so avoid those times to sunbathe. Your skin may darken or burn faster than expected during these times.
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Stay awake. Be careful not to fall asleep while tanning because this can cause you to tan more quickly on one side than the other. Turn your body every 20 to 30 minutes to create an even tan. For example, if you're lying on your stomach, flip over to your back in 20 minutes or so.
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Moisturize your skin after tanning with aloe lotions. Apply this lotion the same way you applied the sunblock. This will keep your skin hydrated and avoid dryness or peeling that could upset your perfect tan.
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Drink water. Dehydration can make your skin dry and prone to peeling, so keep a bottle of water with you while you tan and continue drinking at least eight cups of water a day.
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References
- Photo Credit Ralf Nau/Lifesize/Getty Images
