Tanned skin looks attractive, vital and healthy, so when the first warm, sunny days of summer appear, we eagerly put on skimpy outfits and head out for sunbathing. Sunbathing for many of us, unfortunately, does not come easily. We expose ourselves to the sun every day and still remain pale. While those with darker complexions have the problem out of the way (their skin even without tanning looks spectacular, and after going out in the sun they catch a tan in no time), those with lighter complexions have to work a little harder to get a tan and fix it. How to get a quick tan? What to do to enjoy a beautiful tan for a long time?
Table of contents
- 1 Sunbathing – pros and cons
- 2 How to get a quick tan without going out in the sun? Are tanning beds and self-tanners a good idea?
- 3 How to get a quick tan in the sun – prepare your skin first!
- 4 How to get a quick bronze tan – home remedies
- 5 How to get a nice tan – cosmetics that can be useful to us
- 6 How to accelerate tanning and maintain a beautiful tan color for a long time with the help of dietary supplements?
- 7 How to get a quick tan before going on vacation – express tan with tanning accelerator
- 8 How to avoid sunburn – 5 tips
Sunbathing – pros and cons
A tan is formed due to the strong influence of sunlight or artificial ultraviolet radiation similar to natural sunlight. When exposed to the sun or special lamps that emit UV rays, a defensive reaction of the skin is formed by increasing the production of melanin (pigment responsible for skin pigmentation). Thanks to the mechanism involving increased melanin secretion, the subcutaneous tissues can be more effectively protected from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays.
A tan is produced in two ways. Under the influence of UVA rays, the melanin previously present in the skin is released, after which it reaches the epidermal cells. The result is a slight darkening of the skin occurring immediately after sunbathing. On the other hand, when exposed to UVB rays, new melanocytes are formed, which begin to intensively produce melanin. Also, melanocytes already present are stimulated to produce melanin. This process results in a strong browning of the skin about 3 days after sunbathing.
Is tanning beneficial to our health and to the condition of our skin? Both yes and no. On the one hand, too intense and frequent exposure to the sun can result in water deficit and dryness of the skin, as well as its irritationirritation, hyperpigmentation, spots, peeling of the epidermis, not to mention earlier skin aging and increased risk of skin cancer.
On the other hand, tanning can have many benefits. First of all, the sun contributes to improving the appearance of the skin (it makes the skin look healthier, better nourished and glowing), it also adds radiance and vitality to our hair. In addition, it stimulates the production of vitamin D in the body, which is extremely important for immunity and bone health, has a positive effect on mood, relieves joint ailments, improves metabolism, helps fight depressive states and boosts energy.
Considering the pros and cons of tanning, is it worth exposing yourself to the sun? Definitely yes, but it must be done wisely and in moderation. While overexposure to the sun is harmful, short but systematic sunbathing (with certain rules) is advisable.
How to get a quick tan without going out in the sun? Are tanning beds and self-tanners a good idea?
In the pursuit of a strong, fast-acquired tan, many of us choose to visit tanning beds. Undoubtedly, using a tanning bed has several advantages, among which are: a nice, intense, even tan, the ability to take sun baths regardless of the season of the year and the aura, the ability to relax and unwind after a hard day, improving circulation and general well-being.
However, tanning in a tanning bed also has serious downsides: faster photo-aging of the skin, roughness and dryness of the skin, aggravation of dermatological problems, formation of hyperpigmentation, skin burns, bad effects on vision, increased risk of skin cancer. So if we already have to use tanning beds, let’s do it rarely and with low intensity.
“Tanning” with self-tanners is also not ideal. The main disadvantages of these cosmetics are: problematic spreading, uneven tan, too intense, artificial effect, formation of stains on the skin and clothes, impermanence.
There is no doubt that tanning in nature, with adequate exposure time to the sun’s rays, is a much better solution than using substitutes in the form of tanning lamps or self-tanners.
How to get a quick tan in the sun – prepare your skin first!
When the first hot days arrive, we try to quickly tan our legs, belly, cleavage or arms, in order to present ourselves as most attractive as possible in our skinny outfits. It is worth taking proper care of the skin in the run-up to summer, so that it will respond better to the sun later on. First of all, it’s worth taking care of proper skin hydration. Well-moisturized skin catches a tan faster than dehydrated skin.
Daily application of a lotion with moisturizing properties will give us a great deal. It’s also a good idea to exfoliate the skin once every few days, which is a great way to remove dead skin, improve the level of blood circulation and oxygenation of the skin, and get a more permanent tan later. If our skin requires nourishment and regeneration, we can also reach for cosmetic oils, such as argan, jojoba or almond oil.
Let’s also remember to precede each time we tan in the sun by rubbing in a UV filter cream (SPF). They protect the skin from excessive radiation and inhibit photoaging.
Check: EleveRenew – a facial serum that will help stop time
How to get a quick bronze tan – home remedies
Simple tips and home remedies will help us speed up the tanning process. Here they are:
- take sunbathing near water (water attracts and reflects the sun’s rays), lying down on the water is also a good way,
- tan on the move (e.g., walking, playing beach volleyball), which will give you a nice, natural, evenly distributed tan all over your body,
- to better “catch” the sun, arrange your legs or arms so that they are perpendicular to the rays,
- massage a moisturizing lotion or a small amount of cosmetic oil into your skin before going out in the sun,
- spray your skin with water before going out in the sun,
- before and during the summer often reach for carrot juice or eat carrots.
How to get a nice tan – cosmetics that can be useful to us
If we want to get a bronze tan and at the same time improve the condition of our skin, the following will be helpful cosmetics with a brightening effect, gradually strengthening the tan, and additionally moisturizing and soothing. Special spray oils to assist in tanning will work best. Their base is vegetable or mineral oils. In addition, they are enriched with shimmering particles or other ingredients responsible for bronze-golden reflections.
After them, the skin becomes velvety, shiny, smooth, elastic, looks radiant and attractive. The oily texture makes the skin maintain a high degree of hydration longer, so it better absorbs the sun and browns more easily.
In gaining beautiful brown skin, carrot oil can also prove to be an extremely useful cosmetic. It contains a very high concentration of beta-carotene, increasing the power and speed of tanning.
How to accelerate tanning and maintain a beautiful tan color for a long time with the help of dietary supplements?
Invaluable in adapting the skin to absorb the sun’s rays faster and acquire a bronze hue, are dietary supplements that have beta-carotene in their composition. There are both single-ingredient tablets and multi-ingredient preparations that also contain other elements beneficial to the skin.
Vitamin-mineral supplements containing vitamin C, B vitamins, copper, zinc, collagen, as well as extracts and oils, such as nettle or field horsetail extract, or evening primrose or calendula oil, will also help to fix the tan and generally improve skin condition.
How to get a quick tan before going on vacation – express tan with tanning accelerator
Patent for a natural-looking tan that will appear twice as fast as before? A good tanning accelerator, that is, a cosmetic similar to self-tanner, but without all its disadvantages.
Tanning accelerators, although they do not color the skin themselves, they activate certain enzymes and stimulate the production of melanin, and thus affect a faster rate of bronzing under sunlight. After application of the accelerator, the skin begins to catch a tan after just 3-4 minutes of sun exposure. This is ideal especially for people who find it very difficult and slow to tan and whose skin, despite frequent visits to the sun, still remains pale.
Tanning accelerators do not act rapidly and do not create an artificial or uneven effect like self-tanners. What’s more, they spread easily and are absorbed quickly.
How to avoid sunburn – 5 tips
Tanning adds attractiveness to our figure, but on the other hand, it carries the risk of painful and red burns. How to avoid them?
- A few minutes before going out in the sun, it is recommended to use SPF sunscreen creams (also apply cosmetics with filters every time after coming out of the water).
- In the first days of summer, it is advisable to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun (the skin is not accustomed to the sun) and limit yourself to sessions of a few minutes.
- It is advisable to avoid the harsh sun between 10 am and 3 pm, when the radiation is strongest.
- It is important to properly dose the time of sun exposure (a single tanning session should not last longer than 30 minutes).
What else is worth remembering? Being in the sun causes an increase in body heat, which leads to increased sweating and increased water loss from the body. Therefore, when sunbathing, it’s always a good idea to carry a bottle of mineral water and regularly replenish fluids.