How to tan properly and quickly in the sun?

A beautiful and long-lasting tan is what thousands of women flock to beaches and other sunny places in the summer for. But not everything is so simple! To get the desired skin tone and avoid burns, you need to know a couple of nuances. Here is a small guide for those who dream of an even golden tan that will last until autumn.

Find a “place in the sun”

From our own experience, we know that the best place for sunbathing is the seashore. The surface of the water reflects the sun's rays, and their effect is enhanced several times. They also penetrate into the water, so we tan even while swimming. But you don’t have to go to overseas resorts! Moreover, a tan obtained in your native land lasts longer than an “imported” one. The southern sun acts on the skin more aggressively, which is why it quickly begins to peel and peel. This does not happen in our usual climate.

The best place to get a good tan is the seashore or lakeshore

Prepare for sunbathing

The tan will last longer if you exfoliate before resting. The scrub will remove dead skin cells, making it smooth and more receptive to the sun's rays. It is advisable to use a natural product. After chemical peeling, sunbathing in the salon is not recommended. Before going to the beach, you can use scrubs based on coffee grounds or sea salt.

Sunbathe morning and evening

The best time for tanning is from 7 to 10 and from 16 to 20. At this time, the sun is not very hot, and the risk of getting sunburned is low. If you are vacationing in a resort with a tropical climate (for example, in Turkey or in Arab countries), do not stay on the beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Peak solar activity occurs around lunchtime. In southern resorts, these hours are best spent indoors.

Determine your skin phototype

This parameter characterizes your sensitivity to sunlight and the sun protection factor (SPF) you need.

1. Scandinavian (Celtic): very pale skin, red or white hair, freckles. Found among Europeans. People with this type of appearance are most susceptible to burns. They need cosmetics with a maximum SPF of 30-50. If there is a lot of pigmentation and large moles on the skin, it is better to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun altogether.
2. Light European: pale skin and blond hair, blue, gray or green eyes, possibly a small number of freckles. This includes the majority of residents of the CIS. “Europeans” burn almost as quickly as representatives of the first type. SPF indicator – 15-30.
3. Dark European: the skin is slightly dark, the hair is different shades of brown, the irises are gray or light brown. The type is common in Eastern and Southern Europe. Its representatives are not prone to quick burns, but can get burned during prolonged sunbathing. Use products with SPF between 10 and 20.
4. Mediterranean: olive skin, dark brown hair and brown eyes. The tan appears quickly and lasts a long time. Sunscreen cosmetics are needed not so much to avoid burns as to preserve youthful skin. SPF indicator – 10-4.
5. Oriental: skin tone is very dark, sometimes with a yellowish tint, eyes and hair are black. Skin of this type is not susceptible to burns, but during sunbathing it needs to be moisturized.
6. African: brown, almost black skin, dark hair and eyes. Like representatives of the eastern type, dark-skinned people do not get sunburned. But their skin also loses moisture in the sun and needs to be nourished.

In the first days at the resort, use a product with the maximum SPF number for your phenotype, then with a slightly lower one. Children are especially sensitive to ultraviolet rays. The SPF level in their sunscreens should be 30-50 (or at least 15 if the skin is very dark). Elderly people also require special protection. To calculate the amount of SPF they need, add 15 to the number that corresponds to their phototype.

Sunscreens for children are selected with special care

Choose tanning products

On sunscreen packaging you will see the abbreviations UVA and UVB. They indicate the types of rays that cosmetics neutralize. Some products are designed for tanning in a solarium and do not protect against ultraviolet radiation from the sun and the burns caused by it. Of course they are not suitable for the beach. Also keep in mind that each type of sunscreen has its own characteristics and purpose. Choose the one that suits you based on your skin type, the intensity of your upcoming vacation and the desired result.

• Lotion, oil or tanning lotion. Nourishes the skin and accelerates tanning. Poor protection from harmful radiation. This product is intended for those who have been sunbathing for a long time or have naturally dark skin.
• Sunscreen. Prevents burns and prolongs the life of the tan. When using one cream, the skin will acquire a bronze tone no earlier than in a week.
• After sun cream or milk. Saturates dry skin with moisture. Thanks to it, the tan applies evenly and lasts longer.
• Tan prolongator. A moisturizer that softens the effects of sun and salty sea water. Apply before bed to dry, clean skin.

All these tools will be useful to you on vacation. Add to the kit a special face cream, nourishing shampoo and hygienic lipstick - you can’t do without them either.

Tanning rules

In the first days, spend 10-15 minutes in the sun, or less if it is very hot outside. Then increase the duration of sunbathing to an hour. Try to spend the rest of your time under a beach umbrella. Apply sunscreen before going out. Every 30 minutes, moisturize the most sensitive areas of the skin: nose, shoulders and décolleté. Cover your head with a hat and wear glasses. To ensure an even tan, change your position every 10 minutes. Better yet, take a walk or run in the sun.

To ensure an even tan, you can run or play games with the whole family.

Keep in mind that you also sunbathe while swimming. Use sunscreen before entering the water. Drops remaining after swimming also absorb ultraviolet rays and can cause burns. After sunbathing, take a shower and apply a moisturizer to your body. Instead of cream, you can apply a tanning enhancer to fix your dark skin tone.

A varied menu to help tan

Stock up on products that accelerate the formation of melanin, the pigment that gives the skin a brown tint. It is an orange and red colored plant food rich in beta carotene. Add apples, peaches, apricots, watermelons, red peppers, and eggplants to your diet. Fresh carrots and citrus fruits with the addition of honey are very useful.

Lean on foods that contain tyrosine. This is food of animal origin: liver, red meat, fatty fish. Tyrosine is also found in beans, avocados and almonds. Some fats also strengthen your tan. They are rich in seafood and vegetable oils. If you go on vacation for a long time, you will need a complex with vitamins E, A and C. They will prevent drying and aging of the skin under sun exposure.

Apply a scrub of ground coffee and nut butter before going out in the sun

Folk remedies for a good tan

To speed up your transformation into a dark complexion, use natural cosmetics.

• A coffee grounds and nut butter scrub will help you get ready for the holiday season. Grind 50 grams of coffee and dilute the powder with 100 ml of nut butter. Fill a glass container with the mixture, place it in a dark place for a week and shake periodically. When the mass is infused, pass it through the filter and use it as a body scrub. Half an hour before going out into the sun, rub the product into the skin and then rinse. If desired, dilute it with cream.
• You can simply apply nut oil to your skin. However, the duration of sunbathing should not exceed 20 minutes. Otherwise, the skin will burn.
• As we have already said, carrots promote tanning. The juice of this vegetable can not only be drunk, but also used as a skin lotion. Lubricate your body with fresh juice, wait a quarter of an hour and take a shower. Watch the time carefully. If you leave the juice on the skin, it will get an unpleasant carrot tint.
• Take baths with black tea. Pour 3 tablespoons of leaves with 0.5 liters of hot water. Let the tea steep and then pour it into a bathtub of water. Leave a little of the drink to wipe your face and décolleté. Repeat the procedure once a week.
• A bath with an infusion of walnut leaves will give no less effect. Brew the dried plant and add the solution to the water. Two or three baths will enhance your dark skin tone. Alas, the result will last no more than a week.

It is more difficult to get a natural tan than in a solarium. But it also lasts longer!

Avoid lightening products

Lemon juice, cucumbers, tomatoes, and fermented milk products are good for skin health, but they destroy melanin and whiten it. If you want to maintain your tan, avoid cosmetics that contain these ingredients.

conclusions

A lasting bronze tan takes effort. In order for the skin to acquire a dark tint, you need to use a whole arsenal of cosmetics and folk remedies, take a lot of vitamins and limit the time spent in the sun. Don't expect instant results! The only way you can become a “chocolate girl” in half a day is in the solarium. But a natural tan lasts longer and looks natural, which will undoubtedly make you happy after your vacation.