Tanning is a common and fashionable trend, whether natural or artificial. But if you are going the natural way, maintaining your skin’s healthy glow is very important. And one of the ways to make this possible is by using suntan oil.
Extended exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer cells to develop, leading to severe medical complications. That is not all; prolonged exposure to UV rays, both natural and artificial, can cause the cells to age prematurely.
But you can maintain that tanned glow and keep safe, despite the dangers associated with sun rays, by using suntan oil.
Tanning oil works by attracting the ultraviolet rays of the sun onto the skin and accelerate the process by intensifying the rays. As the UV rays penetrate the skin, they accelerate the melanocytes’ ability to produce melanin.
The right suntan oil can go a long way when it comes to making the most of your time out in the sun. Whether you like tanning or just looking to get a little color on vacation, a good suntan oil is what you need.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Using Suntan Oil
Suntan Oil Keeps Skin Hydrated
Prolonged exposure to the sun can dehydrate and dry out your skin. Suntan oil is able to hydrate the skin, improving its look and feel by moisturizing.
Moisture in the skin aids the tanning process while dry skin does not fare so well. Therefore, it is necessary to keep your skin well-hydrated at all times.
Suntan Oil Keeps Skin Soft
Suntan oils with moisturizers are especially good for people with dry skin, as they create a protective layer. Moisturizers hydrate and prevent the skin from losing moisture easily. Some of the moisturizing ingredients suntan oils could contain include natural extracts, butters, aromatic oils and riboflavin.
It Replenishes Lost Nutrients
Through extended exposure to the sun, vital nutrients are lost by your skin. These comprise essential amino acids and minerals that your skin needs. Some suntan oils are able to supply your skin with these vital nutrients.
Factors to Consider when Selecting Suntan Oil
Suntan oils come from many brands and with many claims. But which should you go for? No matter the brand or claim, always look out for the following factors before choosing…
Ingredients
The ingredients in a suntan oil enable it accelerate the tanning process. Active ingredients in a suntan oil work either by absorbing the sun’s radiation, preventing it from reaching the deeper layers of the skin or by reflecting the sun’s harmful radiation.
One common ingredient used in a tanning oil is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is a colorless natural sugar that chemically reacts with the natural amino acids on the outer layer of your skin. This reaction produces a bronzing color effect.
That is not all; look for ingredients like aloe and sodium PCA as they bind water to the skin. The more natural the ingredients in a suntan oil, the better the oil will likely blend into the skin. Suntan oil made with natural oils is less likely to irritate the skin or cause breakouts.
Avoid the following ingredients: petrochemicals like mineral oil, preservatives like BHT + parabens, fragrance or Parfum, vitamin A acetate, edible oils.
Your Skin Type
Your skin type is an important factor to put into consideration before selecting a suntan oil. Knowing your skin type will help you determine how long you can stay out in the sun and the ideal product for you.
This is because some skin types quickly burn and peel, being very sensitive to the sun.
Keep in mind that one size does not fit it all when it comes to using suntan oil. Besides, your natural skin color can affect the tanning process.
Brand
The manufacturing brand of the suntan oil of your choice my determine the value you get. So ensure that you take into consideration the brand of the particular suntan oil you want to purchase. Good brands always have the necessary and required quality ingredients which are safe for the skin.
Budget
While suntan oils are not usually pricey, you may still want to create a budget to guide you. This will help keep your spending within reason but still enable you
get a good suntan oil.
Tips on Maximizing Your Shopping for Suntan Oil
To help reduce the stress of the shopping part of the whole journey, here are a few helpful tips…
Check for SPF
Many people do not realize that suntan oils can come with SPF and some don’t contain SPF. Always look out for one that contains some SPF value, to help block out the sun’s harmful rays.
Read the List of ingredients
If you use suntan oil that contains ingredients that are natural, you would do yourself a world of good. Your skin would be healthier and thank you for it. This is because such ingredients give needed nutrients to the skin.
Look out for one that contains coconut oil, riboflavin, hemp and so on. Years from now, you will be thankful for them.
That is not all; check the ingredients lists for vitamin A and E. Why does this matter? They are antioxidants that help in skin rejuvenation and offers protection against premature skin aging.
Extract from green tea is good at reducing the effects from sunburn. Also, as radiation from the sun releases free radicals, it acts as a strong antioxidant to battle them.
Put Quality and Value First
Choose suntan oil for the benefits that it can give you and not for the price. Don’t look for the cheapest suntan oil because in the end it would give you very poor results.
Research Helps
Search the internet for opinions and reviews on various suntan oil products. Product reviews on the internet give you a broad segment opinion from multiple people to form an informed opinion. Conduct a research to check if people have recommended your choice of suntan oil.
You can get reviews from blogs, magazines and shopping websites. Check out the cons and pros of the brand, and then make your choice if it something suitable for you. This will prevent you from choosing a bad product.
Avoid Suntan Oil with Artificial Fragrance
Some suntan oil contains fragrances in them to give an appealing aroma but avoid them. Suntan oil with fragrances can make your skin dry, thereby damaging it.
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How to get the Most from Using Suntan Oil
Use Sunscreen
Ultraviolet radiation has the ability to damage skin cells, which can mutate the cell’s structure. These mutations can create cancerous cells, which can lead to skin cancer. Although some suntan oil use SPF protection, most still do not provide enough barrier against the effects of ultraviolet radiation.
Take note: a little suntan oil provides more than an SPF 4 level of protection, so use sunscreen. With sunscreens, the debilitating effects of prolonged exposure to sun rays are reduced. Skin cancer and even signs of aging prematurely like lines on the skin are taken care of.
You can get sunscreen in any formula you want. You have the options of gel, spray, cream, stick and even lotion.
This is how it works: twenty to thirty minutes before going out in the sun, apply your sunscreen. Be sure to cover every part of your body that would be exposed. Depending on the time you intend to spend outdoors, reapply it every ninety minutes.
Warning: sunscreens cannot protect against all of the sun harmful radiation. Wearing sunscreen does not mean that you can stay out too long in the sun.
Exfoliating
Before lathering up your skin with protection and suntan oil, it is best that you are clean. Exfoliating your skin using a body scrub at least once a week will also help you get rid of dead skin cells. The morning before you use a suntan oil, exfoliate your skin.
Use a scrubber such as pumice stone or try using an exfoliating body scrub or wash. Getting rid of excess dead skin cells can allow the skin to look its best and stay moisturized.
Take note: failing to remove dead skin cells before tanning could cause the tan to look patchy or uneven.
Use Moisturizer
Hydrating and moisturizing the skin is an essential part of tanning because moisturizers can help the tan last longer than usual.
Minimize Sun Exposure
The lesser time you will be exposed beneath the sun, the better a suntan oil will work. A lesser amount of exposure to the sun gives less probability of skin damage from the sun. Do not stay under the sun too long; it is better to tan gradually.
Shave and Wax your Skin
It is important to shave or wax to remove unwanted hair before heading outdoors. The parts of your body to shave include legs, underarms and around the bikini area.
Take note: It is important to shave or wax 24 hours or more before you head outdoors for tanning.
Why does this matter? The skin can be irritated right after hair removal and this can cause extensive sunlight exposure to irritate these sensitive areas. That is not all; these oils can sting and irritate the skin right after shaving, making the oil application process very uncomfortable.
Using suntan oil can be super effective if you know what to do. Following this guide will go a long way in making your experience the best.
