Acquiring a beautiful, golden glow is desired by a lot of people for many reasons. For one thing, having that sun-kissed look hints at an idyllic lifestyle where one’s schedule is filled with holidays to beautiful and sublime locations—from the Gold Coast and Bali to Hawaii and the French Riviera. Secondly—and perhaps more simply—the tanned look is associated with looking “healthy,” the implication being that people with tanned skin spend more time in the outdoors. While this is not necessarily true, having tanned skin certainly adds something to that “rugged” and “outdoorsy” look that many people desire.
Now, the easiest way to get a tan, of course, is to allow yourself to bask under the glory of sun. However, prolonged sun exposure is not at all very good for the skin, especially if you’re not wearing any sort of protection. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes damage to the very DNA of the skin, increasing one’s risk of premature skin aging and even acquiring skin cancer.
This is the reason why it’s important to protect yourself properly when you’re trying to get a tan. If possible, you should also try sunless tanning methods that don’t require exposure to the sun at all. Whichever method you choose, this following list of tips will help set you on the right track!
Use a sunless self-tanner
If you’re concerned about sun exposure damaging your skin, then you should consider using instead a sunless self tanner that will allow you to achieve the healthy, bronzed look without the dangers of UV radiation. Self-tanning products with ingredients like dihydroxyacetone or DHA (often plant-derived) and erythrulose interact with the amino acids on the skin to produce a browning effect, similar to what happens to the flesh of a sliced apple.
It is important to continue wearing sunscreen when self-tanning because the UV protection afforded by the browning of the skin is minimal at best or none at all. Furthermore, using sunless tanning products that are wiped onto the skin instead of sprayed will help minimize your risk of inhaling chemicals.
Avoid sunbeds altogether
Also take note that sunless self-tanners are not the same as suntan lotions, which require the use of tanning beds or sunbeds—another major risk factor for skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that just single sunbed session increases a person’s risk of melanoma by 20%, basal cell carcinoma by 29%, and squamous cell carcinoma by 67%. It’s a really nasty equipment that should—quite frankly—already be relegated to the same category as medieval torture devices!
Eat carotenoid-rich foods, and take the right carotenoid supplements
Carotenoid substances such as lycopene and beta-carotene are naturally found in food products like tomatoes, carrots, watermelon, papaya, grapefruit, pumpkin, and cantaloupe. They can imbue the skin with a healthy, golden glow when they are eaten consistently over time.
This is probably not something you can realistically achieve over a period of a few days, which is why you might want to consider taking carotenoid supplements to bump up your intake of such carotenoids. Two to three weeks before your trip to the beach, your wedding day, or whatever event you’re preparing for, consider taking low-dose carotenoid supplements to acquire a good level of colour change on your skin.
Remember to consult your physician before starting your regimen, however, and avoid prolonged used of any product that’s not part of a regular, balanced diet. Also avoid supplements with high-levels of beta-carotene and canthaxanthin, a chemical keto-carotenoid pigment that is not approved by the US FDA for use in supplements. Choose instead supplements with lower and safer doses of beta-carotene and lycopene.
Use appropriate protection when sun-tanning
Whether you’re looking to spend the day at the beach, biking through the countryside, or hiking through a popular trail, you’re likely to get a natural tan as a result of spending time outdoors. However, you should make sure that the exposed areas of your skin have appropriate protection from the harmful rays of the sun. The best way to do this, of course, is by using a sunscreen. After all, you can still get a tan even if you’re already wearing such a product.
Choose a waterproof sunscreen with ratings of between SPF 30 and SPF 50 (SPF denotes UVB protection) and PA+++ and PA++++ (PA denotes UVA protection). Other products will just be labeled “broad spectrum,” which means that they protect from both UVA and UVB rays.
Avoid the sun during peak hours
According to the Mayo Clinic, the most dangerous hours to spend time under the sun is between 10 o’clock in the morning and 4 o’clock in the afternoon. It goes without saying that it’s best to avoid the sun during these hours for tanning purposes.
Also remember that the presence of concrete, sand, water, and snow means that the reflection of sunlight is inevitable, increasing your risk of sunburn as a result. This is why it’s important to still wear sunscreen even if you’re resting under an umbrella, an awning, or any other type of shade.
Although having a tanned skin is certainly not a requirement to look more attractive or more desirable, people who want to transform their skin colour definitely have safer options when it comes to tanning their skin. Make sure to keep this list handy the next time you feel the desire to change your look just for the fun of it.
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