If you are the type that has pale or fair skin you know how hard it is to get a tan. There are two things you need to consider. First is the type of lotion that you use and second, is the type of tanning bed you use which includes how long you use it.
It is highly recommended that you first get a “base tan” or “accelerator” lotion. Use this for the first few session to get a great base tan. This helps your skin to adjust to the tanning process. There are several types of tanning lotions that do not have bronzer or tingle ingredients. There are several reasons why this is a good thing. Bronzers can give you can give you the impression that your tan is darker than it really is which can cause you to increase the duration of each tanning session before you are ready for it. The best thing to do is let your skin become adjusted to these lotions before you introduce a more intense bronzer. This also applies for tingle lotions as well. Tingle lotions can be very irritating if you have sensitive skin so you might want to wait on using those until your skin is more adjusted to lotions.
Some of the more popular lotions to use for building a base tan are Cypher Step 1, and Secret Rapture, . There are several others that also work just as well. Before choosing one be sure the label says either “step 1”, “base tan”, or “accelerator”.
Another important factor is the tanning bed and its level and how long each of your sessions are. Some tanning salons have several levels or packages that are directly related to the type of tanning bed you use. Some people think that when they start at the lower level of tanning bed is the best option, however, the opposite might be true. Tanning beds that have lower levels have cheaper tanning bulbs. The higher level tanning beds usually have the more expensive and sophisticated bulbs, which give more intense browning, rays. What this means is you have a better chance of burning in a lower level tanning bed than in a higher level bed. For the best results and if you can afford it use the higher level tanning beds. How long each of your sessions are is another important factor. If you have either fair or pale skin do not stay in for a long time during your first few sessions. Your first few sessions should never be longer than 5 minutes. After the first session you can add up to 7 minutes and add more each session until you hit the maximum, which is 12 to 15 minutes.
When you follow these guidelines, you will have the glowing tan you want while reducing the risk of turning red or burning.
