8 Tips to Tan Yourself Properly (And Avoid Tan Lines)
Nothing completes the pro cheer look better than tanned skin. But, by tanning under the sun, there are a lot of aspects to consider. You have to avoid getting burned as well as getting all the tan color all over your body.
Tan lines are one of the most common tanning fails you can imagine. It’s just next to a spray tan making flow marks due to sweat in terms of failure level. As much as possible, you would want to get a full tan all over your body and not end up being a skin tone chart with lines that would deem your skin irking to look at.
You also have to pay attention to how much tan you should be. The key is to look like Jessica Alba and not some Jersey Shore Character or an Oompa Loompa. Getting a perfect tan isn’t that easy, but if you follow the tips below, you’ll be fine!
1. Eat foods rich in beta-carotene and lycopene
Foods that are high in beta-carotene helps in prolonging your tanning session as it prevents sunburns. There are even studies that show how beta-carotene can reduce sun sensitivity in people who have photosensitive diseases. Examples of beta-carotene rich foods are:
- Carrots
- Sweet Potatoes
- Kale
To protect yourself against harmful UV rays and free radicals, eat foods that are packed with lycopene. Examples are:
- Tomatoes
- Guava
- Watermelon
2. Apply an SPF 30 sunscreen and tanning oil
You might be tempted to use tanning oils alone but most of these types of oil don’t offer extensive sun protection. You can apply tanning oil first for skin hydration and little SPF protection.
Then, use a sunscreen with a broader spectrum of UV rays protection. The sunscreen will be able to block UV rays but it’s not strong enough to prevent tanning. Apply a full ounce of SPF 30 sunscreen on your entire body.
Extra tip: Applying aloe vera gel after your tanning session can help in preserving your tan for even longer.
3. Change positions frequently
Another tip to properly tan your body and avoid sunburn is not to expose one side for too long under the sun. Stay in one position for 15-30 minutes before changing sides. If you have a lighter natural complexion, pay attention to how the sun feels on your skin. When you feel that the sunlight starts to sting, that’s the sign to change sides.
4. Don’t stay out for too long
Your entire tanning session shouldn’t take a whole day. Our bodies have a melanin production cut-off point. When our bodies stop producing melanin, our skins can no longer get any darker than that. If you continue to expose yourself for more than 2-3 hours, you can incur skin damages from the sun.
5. Choose your tanning time according to your skin tone
If you aim to tan your skin quickly, choose hours where the sun is at its peak like noontime to 3 pm. But be careful, exposure to the sun during these hours will do more damage due to the strength of the rays.
Women with medium-light or brown natural skin tone are less likely to have their skin damaged due to greater sun tolerance. So, if you have extremely fair skin, tan your body during the morning or after 3 pm.
6. Tan near a shade
It’s also important to tan yourself near a shade. Even if you switch sides frequently, your body will eventually overheat and get dehydrated. When you start to sweat or feel your body is on fire, pause your tanning session, and quickly get under a shade.
Cool your body down. Drink rehydrating beverages such as cucumber smoothies and electrolyte drinks or eat the foods listed at #1. When you’re done cooling yourself, get yourself under the sun again.
7. Prepare your skin for tanning
To avoid flaky skin after a tanning session, exfoliate first and remove your dead skin cells. Removing your dead skin cells will help your body absorb sunlight faster which hastens your tanning.
Exfoliating also helps in avoiding tan lines. Your exfoliants will leave moisturizers on your skin making it easier for melanin and vitamin D to evenly spread on your skin.
8. Wear tan-through swimsuits or wear your birthday suit
The best way to tan without tan lines is to wear nothing at all except nipple covers. But, if you aren’t that daring enough, you can opt to wear tan-through swimsuits. Tan-through swimsuits are also ideal as the fabric is breathable making it easy for your body to cool down under a shade.
To get an easy tan, you can go to a tanning salon and avail of a private tanning bed where you can tan yourself while being nude. But that would be costly and tanning beds emit UVA 12 times more than natural sunlight. You can also use these self-tanning products indoors. And lastly, you can opt for the natural tanning way - sun tanning at the pool or the beach.
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