Whether you’re trying to avoid skin cancer from over-exposure to the sun, or you don’t have the time to lay out by the pool, or you’re in the wrong season or climate, you can still achieve a golden, natural looking tan by using a sunless tanning lotion. You’ll be amazed at the number of products out there to choose from.
Whether you prefer scented or unscented, a particular brand name or a generic, the choice is yours. Perhaps you’re looking for one with special moisturizers or soothing aloe vera. Maybe you’d like one with a higher sunscreen content for the extra protection. You can find brands that offer spray-on or the traditional rub on lotions. The choices can seem truly endless.
It might be wise to sample a product by rubbing it into a small patch of your skin. Like with anything, it’s possible to have an allergic reaction. So better to test it in a little area rather than to find out the hard way with a full body rash. But usually the products are quite safe with no ill effects. You’ll notice a difference in skin color within hours of your first application. The more frequently you apply it, the darker your skin will be.
To avoid the striped zebra look, be sure to rub the lotion on as evenly as possible. You can use a cloth or a small sponge to apply it. Or if you use your hands, beware that the palms of your hands will absorb the color, too. You may want to wear gloves to avoid that, especially if you’re going for the most natural looking tan. The palms of our hands don’t typically tan from the sun. Nor do our underarms, so try to avoid those areas.
There are special products available specifically for the face. Because the face has more exposure to the sun normally, it may darken quicker than other parts of the body that are usually more concealed. Also, special moisturizers are in facial products which can help smooth out the lines and wrinkles.
The tanning ingredient is basically a dye, so be careful not to get it on your bathing suit when you apply it. It may not wash out so easily. Some suggest wearing the same bathing suit each time you use it, for consistent tan lines. Also, because the dye has the greatest effect on the dead skin cells, be sure to scrub your skin well before applying to sluff off the particularly dry skin areas. Otherwise, those areas will be darker than other parts of the body.
The chemistry involved in making the sunless tanning products available today has come a long way from what it was when the first products were introduced many years ago. Back then, it wasn’t uncommon to spot the oddly auburn-looking pioneers who dared to try out the new products. They were painfully unnatural looking. But that’s no longer the reality. You can achieve exceptional results with many of the products available today.
The range of prices for a sunless tanning lotion is huge. You can find very good products and quite reasonable prices, or you can go high end and pay a small fortune. Do a little research before you shop to find the right product for you.
Get inside info on how to get a natural looking tan with sunless tanning lotion now in our complete guide to everything you should know about self tanner .