To Tan Or Not Tan Before A Vacation

When vacationing to a tropical island or a destination where you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, you may be self-conscious about your skin tone. While you might be tempted to go out in the sun and try to get a “base tan”, it just isn’t worth it. The sun’s UV rays can damage your skin and a base tan only provides the equivalent of about 3 SPF. So, what’s a good alternative? You can safely get a temporary tan without damaging your skin or putting you at danger of getting cancer by utilizing one of these products.

Self-Tanner

Self-tanners come in a liquid form that you put on your body like a lotion. After a few hours they make your skin appear darker. How it works is that it contains an ingredient called DHA that causes a chemical reaction on the skin once it’s applied. It’s completely safe and only causes this reaction on the epidermis of the skin. One of the perks of using a self-tanner is that it’s relatively inexpensive and you usually can purchase a bottle of it for around $10. There are a few drawbacks to using a self-tanner though. People with sensitive skin may develop mild skin irritation. Self-tanners are temporary so you will need to apply it once every day or two in order to maintain results. Also, you will need to wear gloves and be cautious when applying it to keep it from getting on areas you don’t want to look tan- like your palms.

Spray Tanning

Spray tanning works the same way as a self-tanner in that the DHA in it causes a reaction in the skin. The main differences are that it’s sprayed on and that it allows for a more even coverage. Just like with a self-tanner, spray tanning only lasts a couple of days. Spray tanning also requires special equipment so if you are on a trip more than a few days, your tan will fade before you get back unless you can find a salon to use while on vacation that offers spray tanning. It also can be fairly expensive at around $50 a session.

Cosmetic Bronzers

Cosmetic bronzers are essentially just makeup that you apply to your skin. It lasts until you wash it off or it comes off on it’s own. While it only provides a very temporary glow, it gives the user a lot of flexibility as to how tan they want to look and how long they want the tan to last. Cosmetic bronzers are not suitable for those that will be in water as it will quickly wash off. However, it’s a great option for someone who just wants to add a little bit of color to their face for a short period of time. Cosmetic bronzers start at around $5.

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