Recent research indicates that people find darker skin tones to be more attractive and beautiful, than pale skins. Most people would be surprised to learn this, considering that there are several countries in the world that consider light-skinned people the most beautiful. Some time back, tan was considered a disgrace. It was mainly associated with people who spent countless hours laboring in the sun.
On the other hand, working-class women made every effort to ensure that they did not get exposed to the sun. However, the perception of beauty has changed since then and tanned people are considered more beautiful and attractive than those with pale skins.
SPF Protection is Vital
The best way of getting a lasting tan, is exposing your body to the sun. You will get a natural tan with a bronzed glow, which is even better than the one obtained from tanning beds. However, most people avoid or forget using UV protection, when they are sunbathing. Their reasoning is that the tan will penetrate deeper into the skin and last longer, once they avoid using UV protection.
This could not be farther from the truth. This is a misconception that should not be allowed to thrive. Although you will tan slowly after you have applied SPF protection, the final tan will be more durable and consistent. It is essential to wear SPF protection or indoor tanning lotion every time you are tanning, since it will protect the skin against the harmful effects of solar radiation while preventing your skin from getting burnt.
Consider the Tanning Bed
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A natural tan is great and produces amazing results. Its main problem is that it lasts for only a few weeks, and you are back to your pale skin. In most instances, it will begin fading after a week or two and completely disappear within a month.
Additionally, it is not consistent and you cannot be able to determine its strength. You are not sure how you will look like after tanning, since the strength of the rays is not consistent throughout the day. This is the reason why people prefer indoor tanning or an indoor tanning lotion, to revive their tan or elongate the duration.
Benefits of an Indoor Tanning Lotion
If you want to look more beautiful with tan, an indoor tanning lotion gives you the results that you have always desired. Indoor tanning lotions are very effective, due to their ability to stimulate melanin production. Melanin is the natural skin pigment known for darkening the skin color. The majority of indoor tanning lotions contain L-Tyrosine and melanin.
Apart from that, certain tanning lotions are enriched with healthy ingredients such as tea oil or green tea extracts which are very effective in reviving the skin. On the other hand, most indoor tanning lotions currently on sale contain a significant amount of moisturizers, to ensure that the skin is properly hydrated. If you have craving for that bronzed look, there are also indoor tanning lotions that have been enriched with bronzers. These will be a good choice. However, it is important to choose the correct tanning lotion, which suits your skin perfectly.
Tricks and Tips
As tanning continues gaining popularity, tanning salons have opened up almost everywhere. While the majority are run by professionals, some are run by quacks who don’t understand the procedure well. With that in mind, it is important to consider the following tips, before going for your next tan.
Understand Your Tanning Time
Your skin hits a tanning threshold, when it is not able to produce any more melanin physically. As previously indicated, melanin is the melanin pigment. Therefore, it does not make sense to sleep by the pool all day long, in the name of tanning. Every skin has a melanin threshold, which happens after two to three hours, or even less for fair skin. Once you surpass this cut-off point, you start exposing your skin to the damaging effects of solar radiation.
Eat Sun-Friendly Foods
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There are certain types of foods, which are known to increase the production of lycopene. Lycopene is a natural SPF. This antioxidant is mainly found in tomatoes, as well as other orange and red fruits and vegetables. It is very essential in providing additional skin protection against UV, by more than 33%. One rich source is tomato paste. Another group of foods that is beneficial to the skin are polyphenols. These antioxidants are mainly found in green tea. Dark chocolate is another great food substance, since it is high in flavonoids, which can protect the skin against sunburns.
Some Shade Is Essential
It is advisable to take tanning breaks from the sun. This helps in the reduction of UV intensity as well as sunburn risk. Therefore, your tan will last longer and it will be healthier. Taking breaks also allows your skin to go back to the production of normal melanin, which is essential in giving the skin a consistent tan glow.
Exfoliate Regularly and Gently
Tanning is a result of your skin reacting to the sun. Therefore, it is important to exfoliate regularly. This prevents buildup of dead skin or even preventing the dead skin from blocking the UV rays from penetrating your skin. Failure to exfoliate results to uneven tans, something you don’t want to show the world. When exfoliating, scrub lightly to ensure that you don’t remove all the tanned color.
Move around
If you stay on one position during tanning, you will end up with different colors. The part of the body that is directly exposed to the sun will be darker than the rest. Therefore, it is advisable to turn around in order to allow the sun full access to the whole body. Ensure the hands are always out whenever you are tanning, to ensure that those parts that are always hidden can be exposed to be kissed by the sun.
Bottom Line
When tanning is done appropriately, you are left with a bronzed and attractive skin. Tannings also boost production of serotonin. This has been shown to alleviate anxiety. Whether you are doing it indoors or outdoors, ensure you don’t over-expose your skin.