How To Get a Tan With Little-to-No Sun Damage

You've heard it your entire life. Spend too much time in the sun and you'll get wrinkles, or worse, skin cancer. But the question remains, you need to figure out how to get a tan without suffering the harsh side effects.

Lucky for you, there's a process (and science) behind getting your skin to go from Snow White to Bronzed Beauty. Making sure you are informed will help you tan effectively.

1Avoid Tanning Beds

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as establishing a base tan to help avoid further sun damage. Tanning beds are very dangerous and feed your skin unhealthy amounts of UV rays, which increases your risk of skin cancer by up to 75%.

Tanning beds are also proven to show signs of premature aging. This includes loss of skin elasticity and a leathery, wrinkly appearance, which cannot be reversed.

2Find and Rely on a Great Sunscreen

Many makeup lines incorporate SPF into their face makeup these days, which makes it easy to apply daily. You'll also find that clothing companies are producing shirts and pants with UV protected fabric. This, paired with your SPF foundation, is a great way to take the first steps towards true sun protection. Too much sun exposure and too little sunscreen will do a number on the delicate skin on your face.

When you're looking for the perfect sunscreen, focus on bottles that have words like "broad spectrum" or the UVA logo. These sunscreens will provide full coverage without being thick and chalky.

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3Shade Is Your Friend

Whether you opt for a wide-brimmed hat or a beach umbrella, your skin needs some relief from the sun. While it's a popular belief that laying by the pool all day will increase the likelihood of a suntan, it's chemically impossible for your body to produce more color than is in your DNA. Once you hit your maximum tanning time, seek some shade to give your skin a break.

If you're religious about finding shade after a little bit of sunbathing, your skin will be much healthier and will thank you in the long run. Not only that, but your risk of skin cancer will decrease.

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4Fake and Bake

If you're terrified of hitting the first day of summer still with your winter color but want to avoid a horrendous sunburn, opt for a fake tan. While we all have painful memories of a spray tan gone wrong, these days there are hundreds of proven products on the market that will prep you for those summer beach days.

Another option is a spray tan. Many women today opt for color from a bottle that matches their skin tone, but also saves them from harsh UV rays. Many even have the option to come to your home to apply the spray tan! There are many businesses around the country that offer a variety of services, for example, this business that offers a spray tan in West Hollywood.

5How to Get a Tan Without Getting Too Much Sun

We all need Vitamin D and the sun is a great natural source. But it's important to know when to draw the line in order to protect your skin from the harsh effects of too much sun exposure.

Arm yourself with the resources and knowledge on how to get a tan (or even fake one). Just in time for beach season, stock up on your SPF and take this as an excuse to go on a shopping spree for new hats. Your skin will thank you!

Already have sunspots due to too much time in the sun? Click here to learn about some home remedies to help get rid of these harsh sun effects.

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