Prep your skin to tan
Prep your skin to tan
With the hot weather looking set to last, and holidays coming up, many of us are hoping to catch some rays and get a tan this summer. It's important to prepare your skin before you go on holiday for maximum tanning and minimal burning. Here's our top tips to prep your skin...
1. Moisturise. Hydrating your skin helps to promote tanning whilst preventing burning. Dry skin is more vulnerable to burning, and a good moisturiser helps to rebuild the protective layer. Remember that sun cream and after sun are also moisturising.
2. Exfoliate. Exfoliation allows your skin to rid itself of dead skin cells for a much more even tan. Try our full body buff exfoliation treatment from skin experts Dermalogica (£29), or our 30 + 30 Mineral Salt Scrub Foliation Massage (£55), also from Dermalogica. Purchase online as a voucher here.
3. Eat foods which are rich in beta-carotene and other carotenoids, to improve your skin's protection against burning and add a natural glow to your skin. The best sources of carotenoids are carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, squash, broccoli, mangos, apricots, kale, peas, tomatoes and melon.
4. Use a broad spectrum sun cream and ensure that it is the correct factor for your skin.
5. Expose yourself to the sun progressively. You don't want to overdo it on the first day so only stay out for a short time at first, then build it up. Your skin also has a cut-off point after which it simply won't get any more tanned by staying out in the sun - for most people it's around 2-3 hours a day. Staying out longer won't make you any more tanned but will put you at risk of harm from UV rays.
6. Fake it til you make it. If you feel self-conscious about being pasty pale on day 1, use a fake tan or get a spray tan before you go, so you're not tempted to overdo the sun and put yourself at risk. Bliss spray tans can be purchased online as a voucher here, and redeemed in branch.
Always tan safely, use sun cream and take regular breaks in the shade to avoid harming your skin.