Facts on the Types of Tanning Lotions

1. Types of Tanning Lotions

No matter how you get your tan, there is a tanning lotion for you. That's what the marketplace tells you and many companies make products to reach that end. Tanning lotions range in price from a few dollars to upwards of $90 for an 8-oz. bottle. Sure, they offer delicious smelling lotions infused with exotic fruits and vitamins, but they are all really just a mixture of moisturizing lotions, UV ray-protecting ingredients and color enhancers. Some lotions offer greater bronzing effects, while others offer virtually no protection from the UV rays in the sun.

2. Let the Sun Shine In

Outdoor tanning has been around since the dawn of time. No matter whether it's during work or play, exposure to the sun will have either tanning or burning effects on the skin. Lotions exist for those that can't avoid sun exposure and include ingredients to shield the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. The SPF rating of the lotion will tell you how much shielding the product contains. The SPF ratings range from a low of about 4 to 90. If you are going to be out in the sun, wear a hat and use a sunscreen of at least 15 to 30, depending on your complexion.

3. Lie Down and Tan

The fashion industry and society in general has made us all believe that a tan is sexy and alluring. Because of the varying climates around the world, many have resorted to tanning inside in a tanning bed. Beds exist in many styles and forms, but use a tanning lotion for any type of indoor tanning. The lotion keeps your skin moisturized and protects it from drying out. The types of lotions vary from bronzers, which help add color quickly, to lotions that tingle (to give you the feeling that you are frying in the sun), to cooling lotions (to give you the feeling that you are being hit with a cold blast of wind as the bed is bringing out your tan). Start with a bronzer and then try the other different types of lotions after you have a base tan underway.

4. The Tan is in the Lotion

Are you too busy to lie out in the sun or in a tanning bed a few times a week? Well there are even tanning lotions for you. These lotions are sunless tans. The lotions use dyes to brown the skin without the need of being in the sun. Just rub them on and you are set to go. Be sure to put the lotion on in an even coat and make sure that you get it everywhere that you want to appear tanned. The color fades with showers, so if you want to maintain that tanned look, you will need to reapply the lotion every few days, and more often on and around the face. Be sure to wash your hands right after applying it to avoid staining the palms.

5. That Tan Isn't Always Healthy

Sun exposure is damaging to the skin. Skin cancer has been on the rise for the last decade or more. Protect yourself and make sure that, when you are in direct sunlight, you wear a lotion with the proper SPF for your skin. Be aware that taking certain medications can cause the skin to be exceptionally sensitive to sunlight, so ask your doctor about your medicines.