Bronzed Beauty Basics

After months of wearing jeans, sweaters, and jackets, it is time to break out the shorts, flip flops and bikinis.  With temperatures rising and summer right around the corner, it is time to get tan!  There are several different ways to tan, however some are more harmful than others.  


One way to get tan is to head straight to the tanning salon.  However, using a tanning bed is one of the most harmful ways of being a bronzed beauty.  According to a recent CNN article, "The intensity of the UVA radiation from tanning beds "may be 10 to 15 times higher than that of the midday sun," according to the report published in the journal Pediatrics."

The UVA an UVB rays from tanning beds can lead to sunburn, severe skin damage, and even skin cancer. The fairer your skin is, the more likely you are to suffer from such issues when you decide to use tanning beds.  These harmful side effects from using tanning beds can result from just a couple of uses. You don’t have to be a long term tanning bed user to suffer from severe sunburns, skin damage, and various degrees of skin cancer.

Another way of achieving the glow is by using sunless tanners.  I am a big fan of the Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer.  After a three days of daily use, you will see your skin darken.  Jergens offers two shades, fair/medium and medium/tan, as well as moisturizing lotion for your face.  It is inexpensive, easy to apply and offers a natural looking color.

When soaking up the rays at the beach, it is very important to use sun screen.  Officials say that you should apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior before hitting the beach.  They also suggest that you use SPF 30 or higher, in order to properly protect your skin from sunburn and potential skin damage.  After splashing in the waves, always be sure to reapply your sunscreen.  No matter if the clouds are out, you are still being exposed to UV rays.

There are ways to achieve the tan, which you are looking for, however it is important that you are practicing safe tanning.  Looking bronzed for the summer or a special event has nothing on your health.