Apply at least one ounce of sunscreen (enough to fill a shot glass) at least 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Also use a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation.
A tan is never permanent because skin naturally exfoliates itself over time. This causes the tanned skin to flake off. New cells are formed and older skin sloughs off.
Tans tend to last 7 to 10 days due to skin cell turnover. Whether you slather on sunscreen and spend some time in the sun or regularly apply a self tanner, you might have a burning question on your mind: 'how long does a tan last?
Melanin protects skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can burn the skin and reduce its elasticity, leading to premature aging. People tan because sunlight causes the skin to produce more melanin and darken.
Darker areas of skin (or an area that tans more easily) occurs when you have more melanin or overactive melanocytes. Bronzing of the skin may sometimes be mistaken for a suntan. This skin discoloration often develops slowly, starting at the elbows, knuckles, and knees and spreading from there.
When the skin is exposed to the sun, it makes more melanin to protect the skin's lower layers from damage. As the skin becomes damaged, it produces even more melanin. The extra melanin causes some people to become a darker color, or tan.
“Many natural ingredients have properties that protect you from sun. Sandalwood is one of them. There are others like sesame seed oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, saffron, jojoba oil, shea butter and vitamin E oil,” informs beauty expert Shahnaz Husain. You can also add zinc oxide to the mix while making one at home.
If you're middle-aged or older, you probably have noticed changes in your skin. You may have some areas of skin that are darker than your normal tone, or you may have scaly patches. The spots are likely on skin that's been exposed to the elements, such as your face and hands, but they can also appear on your: Shoulders.
To protect itself from the damaging effects of the sun, your skin increases its production of the brown pigment called melanin. The extra melanin makes your skin look darker or sun-tanned. Sometimes the sun causes an uneven increase in melanin production, which produces irregular coloring (pigmentation) of the skin.
Hydrate your skin and moisturize it. Doing both of these things will make your tan last longer, and you will tan better too.
Most people will tan within 1 to 2 hours in the sun. It's important to remember that both burns and tans may take a while to set in, so if you don't see color immediately, it doesn't mean you're not getting any color or should use lower SPF.
The researchers found that the darker version was twice as likely to be rated as more attractive. Of course, tan enthusiasts would say that you don't need science to figure that one out. "When I look in the mirror I feel more attractive when I'm darker, like my face is prettier.
Coffee is an amazing exfoliator and helps in removing suntan as well. It also helps in controlling pigmentation.
Lemon juice has a bleaching effect, which helps in removing tan quickly. It contains Vitamin C in abundance, which is a great tan removal agent. The citric acid present in lemon helps in the removal of acne and lightening of the marks. Do not allow the honey to remain on your skin for too long if you have an oily face.
Coconut oil has a natural SPF of 4-5 and contains antioxidants that help protect the skin from harmful radiation from the sun.
Aloe vera alone will not provide sufficient sun protection by itself. Research suggests that herbal formulations that contain aloe vera and an SPF 14–16 are effective in sunscreen creams. However, experts recommend that people use an aloe vera product with an SPF 30 or higher.