A few hundred years ago it was a sign of beauty and aristocracy to be pale as pale can get. Not only did the people of the 1700s stay in the shade all day, they also powdered their faces as much as they could in order to get that Whitey McWhite look. 

But things have changed, and the middle class took over, letting the tanned skin take the spotlight. Things really changed, as nowadays many people regard being tanned as a good thing or even as very attractive.

Getting a tan is easier today than it used to be. You don’t have to wait in the sun anymore and start tanning early so that you have a base tan by the beginning of summer. You can go to a tanning salon or apply it to your skin in a few minutes. Whatever your choice is, in the following paragraphs we will give you a few tips on tanning, whether you do it naturally or sunless.

Just to be clear, we think that if you get a tan, you should not go overboard. Orange is not the new white, even if some people think so.

Sun tan:

General tanning

There are three types of radiations that are coming from the sun and can affect your skin: UVA, UVB and UVC. We’re not going to get into the details of these and what the acronyms mean, but what you need to know that UVB is the radiation that actually affects your skin and that can penetrate through different mediums, such as glass or several layers of skin. Most products now contain both UVB and UVA protection. If they don’t, you can skip them.

What is very important to note is that everybody needs to spend at least about 8 minutes every day touched by the sun. Otherwise, you will not get your vitamins and your body might feel like it’s been hidden somewhere for a long time. This doesn’t mean you need to go to the beach every day, but try taking a walk in the sun, don’t go in your car, office, restaurant, car and then home again.

The difference between sunscreen and sunblock

Even if most people think they’re the same thing, there are a few differences. Sunblock uses uncompromising ingredients like as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that act like bouncers on the skin and reflect harmful rays. Sunblock is mostly used by skiers or other people who care more about protection than tanning. Sunscreen on the other hand uses minerals that absorb UV light, and therefore mitigating sun damage. Sunscreen allows penetration into the skin, so it is generally less protective than sunblock but it does allow the skin to tan. Sunscreens are  usually easier to wear and they absorb into the skin without making it look like you’re painted.

Protection degree

Sun Protection Factor (SPF short) refers to the amount of ultraviolet radiation that is allowed to reach your skin. For example, SPF 30 allows 1/30 of the sun’s radiation to reach your skin. Apparently, wearing a SPF of 30 is best for everyday sun exposure, while 50 is for when you will be spending a lot of time in the hot sun. By the way, don’t spend time in the sun at lunch hours when the sun is the hottest (12-4 PM). Even if you wear a SPF bigger than 50 won’t necessarily do a better job.

The lotions you use are important, so don’t shy away from the more expensive ones. Usually, the creams that are more expensive use better ingredients and their labs have invested more in formulas and development.

It is most recommended that you apply the cream on your body around 15 minutes before going out, so that it has time to penetrate your skin.  Put a lot of lotion on: dermatologists say a teaspoon’s-worth of cream should go on every limb; and  more for the body.

Try to learn how your body reacts to the sun: some people get burned easily, others can stay in the sun as much as they want without getting too tanned. Learn your way and schedule your in-the-sun-spending hours with care. If your skin gets burned, you can take some vitamin D to help.

Now, if you want to get an

Artificial tan

What to do when getting a self-tan

We wanted to use the term “artificial tan” and not “spray tan” because nowadays there are several ways in which you can get a tan, other than standing in the sun. And, to be honest, it’s not actually a tan, it’s painting the body. So, if you are using a spray, a tanning napkin or any other technique, here’s what you need to know:

Don’t forget to exfoliate your skin, as frequent tanning might lead to weird uneven results on your skin.

Moisturize heavily the night before tanning; don’t forget the most important parts: your elbows, knees, ankles, wrists, hands and feet.

While tanning, wear gloves, as you don’t want your palms to get colored in a strange way.

If you cover an area twice, it won’t get darker, so it’s better to cover twice than no time.

Don’t rub the lotion, just smooth it gently, as otherwise it will look patchy.

Avoid washing your hands for as long as possible in the development time – at least 2 hours. Use a hand sanitizer or wipes instead.

If you leave your tan longer than two days, it won’t get darker. If you want to get darker, reapply two or three days in a row.

The tan from your hands and face will fade quicker than the rest of the body, so make sure you either wash it all away or reapply on these areas.

If you have dark spots on your skin, use a cotton bud to remove part of the spray after you have applied it to your skin. This way, you will have a more even look.

After you’ve applied your tan, wear loose, and preferably darker clothing and also avoid tight-fitting underwear. Clothes that are pressing on the skin may make the result patchy.

To get dry a little more rapidly, you can use either a hairdryer (set on cool mode) or a light fan to dry your spray.

 

 

General tanning tips

Before getting a tan, if you are on medication, make sure you check with your doctor to see if the things you are taking will not react in a bad way to tanning sprays or regular tanning.

If, on a given day, you have already tanned outside or indoors, your should not get a second tan.

Don’t use baby oil instead of sunscreen, it will only burn your skin more!

Whatever type of tan you are thinking of getting, think it gradual: don’t overdo it the first time, take it step by step and see how it works.

 

That’s what you need to know about tanning: it’s up to you how you want to do it, and even if you want to do it. A tan can make you look like you’ve changed a lot, so be sure you know what you’re doing!

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. We want to hear from you! Do you like to tan? Do you prefer to stay in the sun or get an artificial tan? How much tan is too much? Have you ever had a tanning disaster? What tips do you have for people who want to get a tan? Share your thoughts below!