Choosing Lotion Sun Tan Products Available Today

By Haywood Hunter


Many people with fair complexions feel that at least a light brown hue is desirable for the summer months. People want to look like they have an active leisure life that includes lots of fresh air and sunshine. However, fears of harmful UV rays, worries about dry skin and future wrinkles, and a lack of actual time outdoors makes many need a lotion sun tan style.

Movie stars and jet-setters have made it glamorous to look like the past weeks have been spent on a beach or by the blue waters of a pool. Personal taste dictates whether the hue is of a warm biscuit or as brown as a nut. However, medical authorities have broadcast the news that the sun's rays can harm the outer layers of the epidermis, causing painful sunburn if the exposure is too long and leading to wrinkling, sagging, and even cancerous lesions in later years.

There are many creams, lotions, and even sprays on the cosmetic shelves that promise to make tanning faster, more even, safer, and better for total body health. Many contain natural oils and plant extracts designed to nourish the skin while protecting it from drying or sun damage. The scent, the texture, the long-lasting nature of the product, and the appearance of the container are all part of the appeal.

Safety is found in those products that have a SPF factor, which rates the levels of protection offered. While some dark tanning oils have no added ingredients (some, like coconut oil, are thought to contain natural sun protection), most have some sort of sun-screening effect. Even make-up now has its SPF rating listed, from powers to foundations to lipsticks.

Research has shown that sunscreens are effective if use properly. However, authorities still recommend wearing a hat when outside, staying out of direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, and limiting the amount of exposure. Sunscreens also need to be reapplied after swimming or exercise.

Many people either have little time to be outdoors or do not enjoy the sun's heat. Fortunately for the ones who still wish to have a tan, there are many sunless tanning products. There are a few products that actually color the skin, but most develop the natural protective pigment of the skin, the melanin. This makes them last longer and appear more natural. These topical preparations must be applied carefully and evenly and work either upon application or gradually over a period of weeks.

Some consider any time in the direct sun to be dangerous and choose to use a self-tanning product. Even a tanning booth, with carefully regulated times of exposure, still uses UV rays that have been shown to damage the outer layers of skin. Some authorities think that any tanning from sunlight is a sign of damage that has already occurred. Others feel that some time in the sun is beneficial to total body health.

However, other experts feel that some time in the sun contributes to total body health and advocate regular exposure for short periods of time every day. There are many lotions that are sun tan specific that are designed to make this practice as safe as it is enjoyable.




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