The best hours for tanning are in the early morning and later afternoon. These hours provide safer windows and pose less risk for skin damage.
The sun comes up and sets the furthest away from you, so mid-morning and mid-afternoon are considered the best times of the day to tan all while reducing the risk of sunburn.
Apply your tan
The best time to self tan your face is in the evening, as it allows the product to develop overnight. Consider it a part of your evening skincare routine. Start by cleansing the skin and removing all traces of makeup. Next, lightly moisturize around your nostrils and other dry spots.
Time of Day: The sun is strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. For the best tanning results, aim for exposure during these hours, while also being cautious to avoid sunburn. Skin Type: Fair-skinned individuals should be more cautious and limit exposure to prevent burning, while those with darker skin may tan more easily.
Yes, the morning sun can also cause tanning. However, in the morning sun, the sun rays are milder and therefore, less likely to cause deeper tanning or sunburn. Having said that, you must not skip sunscreen, whatever time of the day you expose your skin to the sun.
Not many realise that It's only the early morning sun — that is, from 7 am to 9 am — that helps generate Vitamin D. After 10 am, exposure to sunlight is harmful for the body.
Most people tan within 1 to 2 hours, but factors like skin type, weather conditions, and the time of day will play a role. Burns and color may take time to develop, so don't assume you're not tanning if you don't see immediate results.
A cloudy sky may not seem like the best choice for tanning, but it is still possible to tan! According to research and studies, around 90% of UV rays penetrate clouds, therefore reaching your skin. Even if you can't feel the sun on your skin, the UV rays that lead to tanning are still present.
While the UV index is 4, the sun's rays are strong enough to stimulate melanin production without causing severe damage. An index of 4 can tan fair skin, but don't stay exposed for more than 20 minutes or so at a time.
The best time to tan in the morning is between 8 AM and 10 AM. During these hours, the sun is getting stronger but hasn't reached peak intensity. The sun's rays strengthen slowly during this time, and your skin gets UV exposure more gently.
We want your tan to be 20/10 and unfortunately if moisturiser is applied it can leave blotches, marks and strip the tan in certain spots on the skin. Once you've washed off the colour guide and waited at least 8 hours, you can apply your favourite moisturiser to your entire body.
You don't necessarily tan faster in water or laying out. This is because water reflects UV rays, so you may not be getting as much exposure as you think if you're actually in the pool.
The first thing you want to do is avoid going out when the sun is at its peak, usually between 11 am and 4 pm. The sun is at its hottest at this time, and hence the damage will be worse.
After sun exposure, your skin begins to produce melanin, which is responsible for the tan. This process can take up to 48 hours to fully develop. So, don't be discouraged if you don't see immediate results. Once your tan has developed, it will be at its peak for about two weeks.
Ultraviolet rays from the sun produce vitamin D on cloudy days but it can take a little longer.
Your Sunscreen Doesn't Have Enough UVA Protection
However, it's the UVA rays that cause tanning. In North America, look for the words “Broad Spectrum” as an indication that the sun filters used in the formulation protect from both UVB and UVA rays.
They are indeed less sensitive to UV rays. The ideal for everyone is to expose themselves to the sun during the coolest hours of the day, which are before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m. These periods of the day provide a satisfactory tanning result and do not damage the epidermis.
Those at the lower end with pale skin will only ever burn or tan minimally, however, those people with darker skin at the mid or higher end of the scale have a natural ability to produce melanin and tan easily. So, if you have pale skin, you cannot tan beyond a certain point, however long you stay in the sun.
Apply ice: If you have excessive sun burns then this is really going to work wonders. Wrap some ice cubes in a muslin (mulmul) cloth and apply gently on the tanned areas. In case of excessive sun burns apply ice directly on the affected areas. It soothes your skin and makes it tan free.
Using body products with either vitamin C or coconut oil (or both!) are good products to apply onto the skin. All types of natural oils are extremely healthy for your skin. Simply take some coconut oil (mixing other natural oils is okay as well), apply it on the uneven tanned areas, and leave it on overnight.
While it doesn't stop tanning completely, using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF can significantly minimize the extent of tanning by blocking UVB rays responsible for sunburn and UVA rays that penetrate deeper into the skin.