Choosing Lotion Sun Tan Products Available On The Market

By Haywood Hunter


It is quite fashionable to have at least a light brownish hue to skin during at least nine months of the year in the western hemisphere. The marketplace is flooded with preparations to make the perfect tan attainable for all, with lotion sun tan style designed to make the process safer, faster, and more enjoyable.

Movie stars and jet-setters have made it glamorous to look like the past weeks have been spent on a beach or by the blue waters of a pool. Personal taste dictates whether the hue is of a warm biscuit or as brown as a nut. However, medical authorities have broadcast the news that the sun's rays can harm the outer layers of the epidermis, causing painful sunburn if the exposure is too long and leading to wrinkling, sagging, and even cancerous lesions in later years.

There are many creams, lotions, and even sprays on the cosmetic shelves that promise to make tanning faster, more even, safer, and better for total body health. Many contain natural oils and plant extracts designed to nourish the skin while protecting it from drying or sun damage. The scent, the texture, the long-lasting nature of the product, and the appearance of the container are all part of the appeal.

A high SPF factor means that the product is designed to block the rays of the sun for a period of time and with a certain degree of completeness. The higher the SPF factor, the less sunshine is allowed to get through to the outer layers of the epidermis. Even make-up, moisturizers, and lipsticks now contain sun protection.

The FDA of the United States has listed SPF sunscreens as safe and effective if applied frequently before and during exposure. The recommendation is to use a product with a SPF of 30 or more, and apply it every thirty minutes as well as immediately after swimming. Many experts also recommend staying out of the sun between the hours of ten in the morning and four in the afternoon, even if sunscreen is used. Hats and long sleeves are also thought to be good during long hours outside.

There are also products that are designed to darken the skin without exposure to the sun. These self-tanning lotions work by developing the pigment melanin, that is the natural protective agent of fair complexions. This sort of cream is applied directly to the body after exfoliation, with care being taken to spread the substance evenly to achieve natural looking results. Some of these work gradually, darkening gradually while moisturizing and nourishing the outer layers of the epidermis, while others promise an instant look of weeks of exposure.

There are many medical and beauty authorities who feel that any time outdoors or in a tanning booth causes damage to the face and body that will show up later in loss of skin elasticity, wrinkling, and possible cancers. These authorities recommend using the self-tanning products instead of staying out direct sunlight without the protection of hats and long sleeves. It is also said to be better to go out before ten o'clock and after four in the afternoon.

However, other experts feel that some time in the sun contributes to total body health and advocate regular exposure for short periods of time every day. There are many lotions that are sun tan specific that are designed to make this practice as safe as it is enjoyable.




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