Sunless Tanning

bb1We’ve recently had a two-part article about sun safety, and while we all know how important it is to protect ourselves, many of us still want to look tan. The good news is that we can look tan without compromising on safety.

Spray-on tan

Spray-on tans are generally more expensive than a bottle from the drug store, but last longer (up to two weeks), and they’re much safer and cheaper than going to an actual tanning bed.

If you want to try out a spray-on tan, call around to your local tanning salons to find out rates and ask for any specific instructions. You may need to take your sister or mom with you to help you evenly rub the tan into hard-to-reach places.

Drugstore tan

You may want to do a little online research before deciding on the best type of tan for you, but I’ll share my top three choices.

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. This is a lotion-based formula that has sunless tanner in it, which helps prevent streaking. The smell is fairly strong, so I suggest applying this at night, then showering to wash the smell away in the morning. It tans gradually, with the deepest color appearing after about a week with daily use, so if some body parts do start to get too dark or streaky, it’s not very noticeable and all you have to do is stop using it for a couple of days.

Olay Touch of Sun Overnight. While the name suggests that this needs to be used at night, this sunless tanning lotion is fine to use during the day. The color starts to develop within an hour or so, similar to the Jergens moisturizer, but the smell is very mild, which makes it perfect for applying after a morning shower and wearing all day. This is my personal favorite.

bb2Banana Boat Summer Color. I haven’t actually tried this product, but a friend recently walked into church and her tan looked so real that I asked her what she’s been doing. She told me she picked up the cheapest tanning bottle at the store and tried it out. The best part is it only needs to be applied once or twice a week, so it’s less time consuming than the other moisturizers. This is definitely top on my list of the next tanning product to try out!

General sunless tanning tips

Wear loose-fitting clothes. If you put jeans on right after applying sunless tanner, whether in a booth or at home, some of it may rub off on your clothes. Instead, wear loose gym shorts and a baggy t-shirt until the tanner is completely dry.

Always shower, shave, exfoliate, and lotion up before “tanning.” If you plan on keeping the tan, you won’t be able to shower for several hours afterward in order to allow the solution time to set on your skin. Shaving and exfoliating will help the tanner to stay on longer, because it will get rid of dead skin cells and allow the tanner to penetrate deeper into healthy skin. The lotion will help the tanner to go on smoothly, and keep it from getting too dark in one area.

Follow instructions. Read all labels and instructions completely and carefully, taking special note of their ingredients if you have allergies.

Healthy glow without the risk

If you want that “healthy” summer glow (which actually isn’t healthy), try using a sunless tanner to achieve the look, then slather up with sunscreen to protect yourself when you’re in the sun. In cases like this, you really can have the best of both worlds.

Ecclesiastes 11:7 “The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.”

By Davonne Parks

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