Tips For Tanning:
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Wear Suncream
The most important thing when tanning, either naturally in the sun or in a sunbed, is to make sure that you are protected! The sun produces UV rays and whilst the right amount can give you that golden glow, they can also lead to a pretty nasty sunburn.
Alongside giving you a red glow instead of a golden one, UV rays can also damage your skin and even lead to premature ageing, uneven skin tones and pigmentation. To avoid all that, make sure you’re wearing a good quality sun cream with a high SPF every single time you're out in the sun. You can also find make-up and skincare products with SPF in them for added protection.
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Use A Tanning Oil
Alongside your favourite suncream, when you’re out getting a tan, why not try a tanning oil as well? These work by attracting and focusing the UV rays onto the skin to accelerate the tanning process. Some also use additional bronzers to add colour to the top layer of the skin.
As a result, tanning oils can be a great way to intensify your natural tan and makes more use of your time spent tanning. Just make sure you're cautious when using a tanning oil though as by focusing more UV rays on your skin, they could lead to more damage if you’re not protected. Try one that has its own SPF as well as using a base of suncream underneath first.
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Try A Tanning Product
Another excellent way to enhance your skin’s colour whilst tanning is to use a tanning supplement. These contain natural ingredients and work to support the body’s natural ability to tan by promoting melanin production whilst also protecting the skin from within.
Some great ingredients to look out for in these types of supplements include Copper which is known to contribute to normal skin pigmentation, Lutein from marigolds which builds the skin’s tolerance to the sun and Vitamin E which supports the protection of cells from oxidative stress caused by UV rays.
Tips For After Tanning:
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Keep Your Skin Hydrated
Once you've achieved a beautiful tan from the tips above, of course, you then want to keep it looking as good as possible! The most ideal way to do this is by keeping your skin hydrated and healthy. Dehydrated skin looks dry and dull and can make your tan fade a lot faster.
Well-hydrated skin, however, keeps your tan looking glowing and fresh. It also helps with the look of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles and helps to maintain the skin’s natural elasticity. The best way to keep your skin hydrated is to drink plenty of water and to moisturise the skin regularly, especially after bathing.
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Use A Tinted Moisturiser
Did you know you can get moisturisers that hydrate your skin as well as add a bit of colour? The great thing about tinted moisturisers is that you can use them daily or a few times a week to care for your skin and they also gradually enhance your tan with every use.
Plus, as they're not as intense as fake tan, there's less risk of it looking patchy, streaky or orange. Just make sure you don’t apply too many layers at once though as it can begin to look unnatural!
To make it even better, you can also get tinted moisturisers that are designed for use all over the body as well as those that are designed specifically for the face. These often differ slightly due to the different needs on these areas of skin, so find the ones that suit you and your skin’s requirements.
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Apply Some Bronzer
The final way to add some colour and to give you that professional sun-kissed look is to use a good-quality bronzer. Generally, you should be using a bronzer that is around 2 shades darker than your natural skin tone and one that uses warm tones. Think glowing summer beach vibes instead of orange Oompa-Loompa!
Generally, fairer skin tones should go for a honeyed hue, medium tones for a rose-bronze or gold-flecked tone and darker skin for an amber glow. You can also change and mix things up a bit as your tan develops, so make sure you find the one that's right for your skin - when it comes to bronzer it's definitely NOT one size fits all!
Overview
During and after tanning there are plenty of things you can do to achieve that beautiful sun-kissed look. Try these sun kissed skin products all together for a real summer glow all year round. Just make sure that you're keeping your skin protected at all times and that you look after your skin before and after. Healthy skin is one of the best ways to enhance your natural looking tan, so doing what you can to take care of it is key!
