There was a time when having a nice tan was available only for people who sat in the sun for days. And there were times when we thought that having a nice, cute tan was possible only in the summer.
Luckily, those days are over and if you want your skin to be a few shades darker but still to look natural and sun-kissed, you should know that that is possible!
You’ve probably tried to get the tan you’ve always wanted (without being in the sun) at least once in your life. Chances are, it didn’t go quite as planned. We are going to give you a few tips on how to get that sun-kissed skin without too much trouble.
Tanning Bed
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This is probably the most popular way of getting a nice tan. A tanning bed is a device that uses UV light to generate a cosmetic tan, so you don’t need the sun’s help to make your skin a few shaded darker.
The great thing about tanning beds is that most cosmetic salons have them, or if your local cosmetologist does not own a tanning bed, you can look for a specific tanning salon. There are also home tanning beds available, so you can tan in the comfort of your own home.
There are a lot of different beds available, so just pick the one that fits your budget and your needs.
Sun Lamps
A device that is similar to a tanning bed in the way they work. The good thing about sun lams is that they place the focus on the body and not the eyes.
Sun lamps stimulate vitamin D and that vitamin produces the tanning of the skin.
Tanning beds and sun lamps are a great way to make your skin darker without being exposed to the sun for hours, however, they are still not 100% safe and UV-free.
If you want a trauma-free tan, there are other options available.
Sunless Self-Tanners
Also, know as tans in a bottle, sunless self-tanners have the ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that will, over time, stain the skin’s outside layer’s dead cells.
This type of tanning method lasts up to a week, however, if you exfoliate your skin, the tan will wash off faster. One thing to be aware of is that you may need to try several different kinds and shades to find the one that fits your skin tone perfectly.
There is a lot of choices when it comes to self-tanners, you can pick between lotions, sprays and towelettes. Most of them are moisturized and that will give you color over time without any blotching or staining.
The self-tanners smell good and they will make your skin smell nice as well. They are really inexpensive and you can buy one for about $10 in your local shop or pharmacy.
Airbrush Tanning
This method is probably the best of both worlds. It will give you an even and natural tan better than any of the other methods.
There are two ways to get an airbrush tan – do it yourself at home or go to a salon.
In a salon, a technician uses a DHA solution in a spray compressor and they spray it all over your body. Your mouth, nose, and eyes will be protected by a cover while the technician is doing your tan.
The process lasts for 5 to 60 seconds depending on the body area. Within several hours you will notice that your skin is getting darker.
If you want to do a tan at home, or if you want to know more about the tanning machines available on the market, you can check the review of these machines.
Tinted Dry Oil
Image source: macaronsanddaydreams.com
Now let’s talk about ways to get a new tan in the comfort of your home without too much trouble. Tinted dry oil is a great way to enhance gold skin. The formula dries quickly and reveals shiny skin. It can be applied on the hair as well.
The tinted dry oil contains vitamin E and a blend of organic oils including macadamia, almond, hazel, olive,
Bronzing Powder
This is the quickest and easiest way to create a faux glow on your cleavage and face. The negative about this is that you cannot use it all over your body.
However, if you apply bronzing powder to your chin, forehead, nose, and cheekbones, your skin will glow and you will look like you just got back from vacation.
Cocoa and Cream
Image source: medicalnewstoday.com
The most natural and probably the cheapest way to get a tan. If you notice that your self-tan is fading or if you missed a spot that you need to cover asap you can use cocoa and cream.
Buy cocoa that’s 100% pure with no added sugar, take a bowl, add some good body lotion, add a few tablespoons of the cocoa and blend till the powder is completely dissolved.
The mixture should be brown. Now test a bit on your hand to see if that’s the shade you want. If it’s not, add more cocoa to make it darker or more lotion to make it lighter.
Once you get the shade you want, you can apply that all over your body. When you find the shade you want, you can put that in an empty pump bottle and use it whenever you need it.
Black Tea
Black tea has been used to get a natural tan for decades now. Our grandmothers used black tea to get a tan when there were no tanning beds or airbrushes available.
Just remember that this vintage style of sunless tanning may stain your clothes and that it won’t stay on your body for a long time.
Add some tea bags in a spray bottle, let them sit in the water and remember that the darker the color of the tea is, the better it will show on your skin. You may need more than 5 bags for your whole body. When the watercolor is the shade you want it to be, apply it to your body.
Is there a method you’ve already tried? Which one works for you the best? Be sure to test all of them so you know which one works for your skin type.
