As the weather warms up and the lazy days of summer roll around, many people start dreaming of the beach. The thought of blue water, the salt-tinged breeze, and acres of white sand makes many long to finally get the perfect, golden suntan of their dreams.
If you’re planning a beach trip soon, or even just putting in some pool time, you are likely also thinking about how to get a good suntan. You don’t want your time under the sun to go to waste. You want to return to everyday life with a relaxed, goddess-like glow that says, yes, I had a great holiday.
Getting a suntan takes more than just sitting or lounging in the summer sun, however. There are a few things you need to do before, during, and after your tanning time to make sure that you get the glowing sun-kissed look you crave.
In this post, we’re going to share with you a few tips on how to get a good suntan. We’re also going to tell you how to stay safe when getting a suntan – you want to avoid sunburn after all, not to mention the potential risk of skin cancer or premature ageing.
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Post Beach Break: How To Get A Good Suntan
Many makeup artists will recommend that, before you apply your makeup, you apply some primer first. Primer smoothens your skin and makes it easier for makeup to go on smoothly and stay on. While there’s no real primer for tanning, there are a few things you can do beforehand to prime your skin and make your tan last longer
If you want to get a smooth glowing suntan, you need to prepare beforehand by both exfoliating and applying tanning lotion a few days before you leave for the beach or resort.
First Step: Exfoliate
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and leaves you with smoother skin. This smooth, fresh skin, ensures that you have a more even, longer-lasting tan.
If you regularly exfoliate, you know that exfoliating leaves your skin type a little sensitive, which is why you should exfoliate a few days before exposing yourself to the sun. Don’t exfoliate just before your tanning session as freshly-exfoliated and sensitive skin is more likely to burn.
Also, try to use natural exfoliating options before your sun tanning session. Avoid chemical-based exfoliation treatments.
Second Step: Apply tanning lotion
If you are self-conscious about how “pale” you are, you might want to apply tanning lotion or tanning oils before you go on your beach trip.
Tanning lotions and oils are meant to increase melanin production and enhance or speed up the tanning process. Most tanning lotions also contain moisturizers that keep your skin tone hydrated and help the tan “stick”.
Some tanning lotions and oils also contain some sunscreen, which is meant to provide some protection from UVB rays and prevent sunburn and sun damage. However, the SPF levels of tanning lotions are usually low, less than 15.
The low SPF levels in tanning lotion are why we recommend you use it BEFORE going to the beach or lounging poolside. SPF 15 isn’t enough protection if you’re planning to spend hours in the sun.
You can apply tanning lotion before going out to sunbathe, but make sure that you apply sunscreen with a high SPF afterwards.
Extra Step: Smooth On Some Natural Oils
Instead of tanning oils or tanning lotions, you might want to apply natural oils. Natural oils will moisturize your skin and help attract the sun to give you a smoother, glowing tan.
Examples of natural oils that you can slather on to prepare yourself for a tan are olive oil, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil.
Apply a coat of natural oil about 30 minutes before going out in the sun. Take note that natural oils won’t provide you with SPF protection, so make sure to apply sunscreen as well.
Suntanning: What To Do While Under The Sun
If you want a natural sun-kissed glow, you need to go spend some time under the sun; maybe with a fun beach read and something cold and tropical to drink close at hand.
Here are a few other things that you should have on hand and make sure to do when you finally get suntanning time.
First Step: Apply A Generous Layer of Good Sunscreen
It is a dangerous myth that you can’t get a tan if you use sunscreen. While it might be true that you might see tanning effects quicker without sunscreen, this is a short-term effect that is not worth the long-term damage to your skin.
Even if you don’t sunburn easily, you need to apply sunscreen if you want a safe, long-lasting tan. Tanning occurs when your skin is exposed to the sun’s UV rays, stimulating the skin’s melanocyte cells to produce melanin, a natural pigment that “darkens” the skin.
Melanin production isn’t the only effect of UV radiation on the skin; however, it also damages and ages the skin. UV rays are also what causes sunburn and can cause skin cancer.
If you want a long-lasting healthy tan, you need to apply sunscreen that protects you against both UVA and UVB rays. So, look for a suntan lotion that is broad-spectrum and has an SPF level of around 30 or 50.
How to properly apply sunscreen:
1.Apply a layer of sunscreen 10 minutes before sitting in the sun, this will allow it to sink into your skin.
2. An average adult will need about 35 millilitres of sunscreen to cover their body. This is about the size of a shot glass.
3. Apply sunscreen on all areas that will be exposed to the sun. This includes your ears and even the backs of your legs
4. Reapply regularly. If you decide to go for a dip, reapply before laying back under the sun. The rule of thumb is that you should reapply after two hours of sitting under the sun.
Second step: Turn over regularly to get an all-over tan
If you want to get an all-over golden glow, you need to turn yourself around so that you are exposed to the sun all over.
The rule of thumb is to change positions every half hour. Start out by lying on your back, then turn to your left side. Turn onto your stomach, then to your right side, and finally end up on your back again.
Extra step: Follow the sun
Act like a sunflower and follow the sun as it moves through the sky. Change your tanning spot as needed.
After-Sun Care Tips: Sooth and Hydrate
If you properly apply sunscreen, you shouldn’t have to worry about sunburn. If, however, your skin feels tender after sunbathing apply an aloe-based after sun lotion.
Take a shower after sunbathing. This soothes the skin and also helps restore some moisture. Avoid hot water and stick to a cool or lukewarm shower. You should also choose gentle soaps or shower gels and avoid scrubbing too hard as this could irritate your skin.
Moisturize all over after your shower. Again, make sure that you use gentle lotions and avoid anything that is heavily fragranced. Aloe-based lotions are a good choice for moisturizing after your post-suntan shower, even if you aren’t sunburned.
Do not exfoliate right after sunbathing. Again, this can irritate your skin that is already sensitive from sun exposure. However, if you want your tan to last, weekly exfoliating will remove dead skin cells and help you keep your glow.
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Other Tips For A Safe and Long Lasting Tan
1. Consider keeping your tanning sessions short. After about two to three hours, your skin stops producing melanin. Short tanning sessions, even those spread out during several days, might be safer and more effective than spending a whole day out in the sun.
2. Take breaks. Get out of the sun every now and then, maybe take a dip or get a cool drink in the shade. This reduces the intensity of the UV exposure that your skin gets, reducing sunburn risk. It also helps you avoid heatstroke.
3. Look into beta-carotene supplements. Beta-carotene can improve the production of melanin, which will improve your skins ability to tan. You can also make sure that you eat beta-carotene food’s leading up to your beach trip.
4. Eat foods rich in lycopene, a natural pigment that can protect against UV damage. Bright red fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes and watermelons have a lot of lycopene, which is what gives them their color.
5. Avoid sunbathing at around 12-4 pm, this is when the sun is hottest. If you must expose yourself to the sun during these periods, make sure that you keep it short, keep yourself hydrated, and apply a lot of sunscreen.
6. Try tanning near or on the water. Water reflects sunlight, so being around water can help your skin absorb more sun. Try spending some time in a floating raft or inner tube or just move your chair as close to the pool as possible.
