Keep it all in moderation—great looking skin can end up looking like leather if you stay in the “oven” too long.
In the shower, exfoliate dry, dead epidermal cells by scrubbing gently with a rough cloth, loofah, or exfoliating soap. [1] X Research source Moisturize your skin with a lotion containing sodium PCA. It’s a naturally-occurring component of human skin that helps maintain a healthy epidermis, and works by attracting moisture from the air. [2] X Research source Apply the right level of sunscreen for your skin. If you have light skin, use a lotion with a higher SPF rating than if you have darker skin. No matter what your skin type or how much base you have built up, always use a sunscreen with at least an SPF rating of 15. [3] X Research source If you are going to be in the water, make sure your sunscreen is waterproof, or re-apply when you’re out of the water. Otherwise, re-apply sunscreen as directed on the label—usually every couple hours.
If you don’t use sunscreen while tanning, UVA and UVB rays can still harm your skin, even if you don’t get burned! Use lip balm with sunscreen as well. Ideally, apply your sunscreen in the shade, and let it soak in for 20-25 minutes before you go into the sun. Reapply as needed if you go swimming and the sunscreen is not waterproof, or every couple hours as directed on the label. If you notice redness developing on your skin, get out of the light—you’re already burned, and continuing to bake will only deepen the burn and increase your risk of serious damage.
Skip the swimsuit altogether if you can. The only thing better than minimal tan lines is no tan lines at all!
Position the chair or towel in the yard where the sun will hit you directly.
If you don’t want to lie around all day, but still want that tan, another alternative is to go for a jog, or even a walk. This not only increases your sun exposure and increases your tan but helps give you a slim, toned body at the same time. Nice!
As per the instructions, apply the lotion or spray evenly, taking care to get all skin covered. The best lotions will be non comedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores. Unless you have unusually long arms or are exceedingly flexible, you’ll want a friend to help you get your back covered. It’s a good idea to use a scrub with exfoliating microbeads in it to remove the fake tanner from your skin afterwards. Exfoliate your skin after the treatment using a product that contains glycolic acid to help kind of facilitate the process.
