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Prior to going to the beach or just outdoors, prepare your skin by gently exfoliating to remove dead skin cells.
Before showering, go over your skin with a dry, natural-bristle brush. This removes the topmost layer of skin, sloughing off dead skin cells. Shower and cleanse with a gentle soap. Take one-quart cup of plain baking soda and use as an all-over body scrub. This further removes dead skin cells and will leave your skin smooth. Use on the face but avoid under the eyes.
Slather on your sunscreen generously. Use enough to fill your palm. -
If you are going to swim, play sports or you tend to perspire, use a waterproof, water-resistant or "sports-proof" tanning lotion. Reapply as needed so that you have continuous skin protection. You will still tan and also help prevent skin cancer, a real risk.
Use a thick vitamin E gel or ointment and dab on lips, on the opening of the nostrils and on your fingernails to give you extra protection from the sun.
Using an SPF 15 or higher may be counter to your thought to get as dark a tan as possible, but according to the American Cancer Society, there are about a million non-melanoma skin cancer cases identified each year. Using a sunscreen will allow you to tan gradually and help protect you from developing skin cancer.
If you always tend to burn, consider a self-tanner instead. -
Select sunscreens that are made from extracts from plants, flowers and herbs. Many sunscreens are fragranced and may cause skin irritation. Use sunscreens that have essential oils such as lavender or chamomile, which are soothing to the skin.
Avoid sunscreens with mineral oil or other petroleum byproducts. Everything you place on your skin, your body essentially "eats," so it is worth it to be certain your sunscreen is not loaded with chemicals you don't want to consume.
