Tanning Lotion

Getting that rich golden glow is an ingrained part of most Americans’ idea of the summer months. Contrary to the popular colloquialism though, there really is no such thing as a “healthy” suntan, and baking your skin in a tanning salon is no viable alternative if you hope to avoid looking like a leather bag later in life. Thankfully today there are many options for sunless tanning lotion so you can still get the summer look without the damage. Here we break down the top 5 facts you absolutely must know before you can effectively use tanning lotion to full effect.

1. Don’t overdo it!: Going nuclear with the tanning lotion will have you going from pasty white to orange freak in no time flat. Take your time and apply tanning lotion a little at a time, over several days. Start out by testing it on a small portion of your skin so you can see the effect before going full out.
2. Careful with the face: Ever see someone with a fake tan that just looks – off? When you get a natural tan, the sun hits your face at an angle from above, so not all parts of your face get equally tanned. When you fake tan, you should mimic this effect by applying the tanner to your forehead and the tops of your cheek bones. Don’t tan beneath the eyes.
3. Wash your palms: Better yet, wear gloves – if you’re not careful the tanner can and will darken your palms. Many first time tanners don’t take that into consideration and end up with some very strange pigmentation on their hands.
4. Elbows & Knees: Another common oversight, your elbows and knees are not the same color as the rest of you, trust us on this one. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply sunless tanner to them though. Just wait 5 or 10 minutes after application and apply some moisturizer to avoid looking unnatural.
5. Moisturize daily: Sunless tanning is great but does need a bit of maintenance. Daily moisturizer will help avoid an uneven and spotty tan, along with just being good for your skin.