Which Tanning Lotion is Best for You?

You may be sick of your white, winter skin and ready for a golden, summer tan. Today, there are many different ways to get a tan. You can lie out in the sun the old-fashioned way, you can spend some time in a tanning bed at a tanning salon, or you can use a sunless tanning lotion. Although it may feel good to let your skin soak in the sun's rays, too much sun can be dangerous—and not just because it will give you a sunburn. UV rays greatly contribute to the risk of skin cancer, and too much sun can increase wrinkles later in life. Tanning beds have also been proven to damage parts of your eyes.

So, with the risks involved with tanning in tanning beds or even outside with the sun, it seems obvious that using a tanning lotion is the safest route to go. Many people do not want to do this because they, or someone else they know, has had a bad experience with tanning lotion in the past that has left their skin an orange color or made their skin splotchy. Fortunately, sunless tanning lotions have improved over the past few years. You should not have a problem with an orange or splotchy orange color if you're careful. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you are using sunless tanning lotion:

• Follow the directions on the package. You can't expect a product to work right if you are not following the manufacturer's directions. If the packaging tells you to moisturize first, then moisturize first. If the packaging tells you to rub the lotion into your skin in a particular way, than do it.
• Keep your skin moisturized. First of all, moisturized skin naturally looks better and feels softer than dry skin. Having smooth, soft skin will help you apply a more even and natural looking tan.
• If possible, pick a tanning lotion that also contains sunscreen. Just because you are not using a tanning bed does not mean your skin is going to be protected from the sun. Take an extra precaution and put on some SPF before you go out for the day.
• Experiment. Different tanning lotions look better on different people, depending on their skin. If possible, try out the lotion on a part of your skin that is not very noticeable. Compare to find the lotion that looks the most natural and lasts the longest for you.

Be persistent! Using a lotion may seem to be a pain at first, but it will be worth it to your skin and your body in the end.