When Coco Chanel spent too much time in the sun while yachting in 1923, she had no idea what a huge trend tanning would become. With the passage of time, the sun-kissed look has become increasingly popular among both men and women. And with influential celebrities such as the Kardashians sporting the look nowadays, golden skin is trendier than ever.
Thanks to the progress of beauty technology, we now have plenty of alternatives for getting the look. Nevertheless, nothing beats the natural glow sunlight gives. If this is your preferred method, it’s important to use the right products to promote a healthy bronze and keep the skin hydrated. For these purposes, a homemade tanning oil can work wonders.
About Tanning Oil
The purpose of a tanning oil is to attract and focus ultraviolet rays towards the skin so that the process is accelerated. When UV emissions come in direct contact with the skin, they produce melanin, the pigment that creates a darker coloration. By intensifying its production, you will be a bronzed god or goddess in no time at all.
Besides its tanning properties, the oil also helps moisturize the epidermis. This is essential when it comes to prolonged exposure to the sun, as it can get dehydrated rather easily. Therefore, when making your own, it’s important to use natural ingredients that possess this property. These include olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil.
Such alternatives are recommended because they also contain integrated SPF that will protect your skin from burns, or more serious conditions such as melanoma. Other than that, the recipe is quite simple. The most accessible thing you can try is mixing some olive oil with iodine. A few drops of the latter added into a few cups of the former should be more than enough.
Such recipes are surprisingly straightforward because they don’t require any fixed quantities. Nevertheless, an artisanal formula will never be as strong as store-bought products. Fortunately, there are some ways in which you can intensify your homemade tanning oil’s effects to achieve fast visible results.
A Long-Lasting Tan
Going the organic route by replacing a commercial product with something you can put together with ingredients from your pantry is beneficial for skin health. And with the right application, the effects can be comparable to those of a brand-name formula. Here are three ways in which you can pump up the effectiveness of your homemade tanning oil.
1. Reapply as Often as Needed
To ensure that you get the most out of your homemade tanning oil, make sure to reapply it often. Every two hours or so should suffice if you don’t come in contact with water in the meantime. However, if you’re administering the dose of sunbathing at the beach or near the pool, put a considerable layer back on once you’re done splashing around.
2. Put a Thicker Layer On
The general rule with most cosmetic products states that less is more. Still, this isn’t true for tanning oils. In this case, the exact opposite is true. Of course, it’s not recommended to bathe in it or any exaggeration of the sort, but a thicker layer can work wonders. Due to a higher density of the substance, the process will be accelerated, while providing even more moisture.
3. Don’t Use SPF Underneath
As previously mentioned, the natural oils that can be used for tanning purposes have an incorporated sun protection factor. However, it is not a high enough one to offer a proper defense if you plan to spend quite a few hours in the sun. Olive oil has an SPF of 8, while coconut oil clocks in at just 4.
Thus, it might seem tempting to use SPF underneath, but refrain from doing so as it is counterproductive. Instead, use an oil with a bigger SPF. The most efficient one is carrot seed oil, which has an SPF of 35. However, it is not as widely available as the others. Avocado oil has one of 15, while raspberry seed oil is pretty efficient as well with 25.
Final Thoughts
When a natural suntan is what you’re after, the aid of an oil can speed up the process considerably. As long as the application process follows some simple guidelines, you are bound to become perfectly bronzed more efficiently. What is more, this is achievable with the help of homemade formulas as well, so there’s no need to splurge on brand names.
A potential detriment of artisanal oils is that they aren’t as potent. However, if you reapply them more often in thicker layers and don’t put any additional SPF cream underneath, their effects can be magnified. Just remember to use ingredients that have a naturally high sun protection factor, and you will be all set.
* The above is a guest post
