A brown skin tone is usually regarded as an indicator of health and well being. It can be easily achieved without expensive service at the tanning salon, though. If you want to have a perfect-natural tan, outdoor tanning with natural sunlight is your best option. As many people experience suffering from sunburn, you should always be careful with sun tanning. Moreover, this article will provide you a safe method of sun tanning.
Many people who live in areas that can not afford the few hours of sunlight to get a full tan choose indoor tanning. However, natural tanning offers more natural look and costs less money than the indoor tanning. One point to remember is that natural tanning is not all about laying and exposing your skin into direct sunlight at the beaches or lawns during summer time. Even playing, camping or gardening can be considered as natural tanning, without risking yourself of falling asleep and getting more sunlight exposure.
Exfoliating is the process of removing the dead layer of skin from one’s body, which exposes a new and healthy layer of skin. A gentle scrubbing with a sponge and exfoliating body scrub before applying sunscreen will make your tan last longer and keep it even.
Contradict to popular belief, sunscreen is essential during a tanning process. Sunscreen with an SPF of 10 to 15 is ideal as it will protect skin from dangerous UV rays and allow the tan to build gradually which prevents sunburns or a reddish tan. Make sure to cover all exposed parts of skin before the tanning process to avoid uneven tan.
A healthy and natural tan takes time to develop. Spending one or two hours in a day is enough for most people. It is recommended avoiding sun exposure during peak hours (generally between 10 am to 2 pm). Tanning during those hours may give a deeper tan or even cross over into sunburn territory.
If you are going for an all-over tan, make sure to expose all parts of the body to the sun equally. Lying on your stomach for 45 minutes and on your back for only 10 minutes will make the tan on your back much deeper. Also, make sure to fully expose all parts of your body. That includes spreading out your elbows to get the inner arms tan and making sure the backs of your knees are exposed as well.
A brief shower after a sunbathing session will help you to get rid of all the sunscreen and re-hydrate your skin. Dry skin is unhealthy and may peel off the tan very well. Gently rubbing a washcloth is usually enough to remove the sunscreen and prevent the tan from peeling. Apply a good moisturizer immediately after the shower to keep your skin hydrated and supple.
If you follow the steps above and properly care for your skin, a lasting tan can be achieved with little effort. During the winter months when sunlight is scarce, there are tanning creams that can be used to supplement the natural tan. Keeping your skin healthy and nourished through proper nutrition and hydration is the easiest way to maintain your tan.