How to Prepare Your Skin for the Sun

The time when we can finally enjoy warm days is coming. All we want to do when the weather is so nice is to rest, swim, and sunbathe. But many of us forget that we can and should prepare our skin for the sun.

5-Minute Crafts found out how this can be achieved.

Moisturization

To make sure your skin tans evenly, moisturize it. Use a non-oily moisturizer: well-hydrated skin tans more evenly than dry skin. The cream shouldn’t contain too many oils: they might create a barrier on the skin. Don’t forget about your lips — use a balm to moisturize them too.

Exfoliating

To make the tan more even and make it last, it’s better to exfoliate your skin. Don’t overdo it — just do some light exfoliation once or twice a week. It will remove the dead skin cells and help the skin renew itself. Be especially careful with your face and cleavage.

Water balance

To prepare your skin for tanning, you should be well-hydrated on the inside too. Ideally, you should drink at least 1.5 liters of water a day. If you don’t want to drink plain water, you can add some lemon juice to make it tastier.

Carotene and vitamin E

Make sure your diet contains carotene and vitamin E. Thanks to their antioxidant properties, foods that are rich in beta-carotene and other carotenoids will make your skin less red. The best sources of carotene are carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, and cantaloupe. Vitamin E, found in plant oils and nuts, also protects your skin from the sun.

Remember that the foods rich in carotene can make your skin a bit orange.

When to tan

Don’t tan for too many hours a day: there’s a risk that you’ll get a sunburn, even if you take all the precautions. Keep track of the time you spend in the sun. Don’t forget to use a sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays.

Also, avoid the time when the sun is the most aggressive: don’t stay on the beach from 10 AM to 2 PM.