Something You Need To Know For Tanning

What Time of Day is Best?

The sun is typically at its strongest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Your instinct might tell you to be in the sunshine during that time to get the best tan, but depending on your skin tone that might be too much. To gradually get exposure, consider tanning during morning or late afternoon hours instead. You’ll still feel the effects of the sun but without as much intensity (and you can stay out longer without worry).

Did you know that your destination also makes a difference? In certain parts of the world, the ozone layer is thinner or you could be closer to the equator. In both instances the sun is stronger, meaning your tan is going to be intensified.

How Long Should You Tan?
Knowing how long to stay in the sun is where it can get confusing. Keep that in mind and what works for one person will be different for someone else. Here’s how to figure it out for yourself:

You can also consider how many consecutive days you’re planning to be in the sun. For example, if you were on a week-long vacation at the beach, it makes more sense to tan a little each day instead of cramming it all into a one-day tanning marathon.

Still not sure about how long to tan? I created the chart below as a visual way to think about skin tone and how it affects getting a tan. You can use it to narrow in on your skin type and determine how much time in the sun is best for you:

Some other tips to avoid overdoing it with length of time in the sun: look for shade, take breaks, wear a hat and sunglasses, consider covering up body parts that might tan faster than others (for me it’s my face) and even rotating your position to evenly tan different parts of your body. Beach umbrellas are number one must have for being able to control sun exposure at the beach and get the perfect tan for you. Here are some beach day essentials to help you nail your perfect glow:

How To Get A Tan Without Burning?

I know you might be wondering how do I get a tan without burning, and it’s a great question because there are a lot of things to consider and it’s unique to each person. So let’s talk a little bit more about how to avoid burning. Some of the biggest reasons our skin burns is from not using/reapplying sunscreen, getting too much exposure, and not factoring in our skin type and tone.

Did you know sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2 hours? Sunscreen works by either deflecting the sun’s rays (known as a “physical” sunscreen) or absorbing the sun’s rays (known as a “chemical” sunscreen). Both types are effective but what’s important to know is that the results basically wear off after 2 hours. At that point it’s really critical to reapply, otherwise you’re completely exposed and without protection. Find a sunscreen you actually enjoy and don’t mind wearing, so reapplying won’t feel like a chore.