Getting Rid of a Fake Tan Easily

When you don't have access to a tanning salon or tanning bulbs, sometimes the best option for getting a golden glow is sunless tanning lotion. Sunless tanners come with inherent issues though. If you aren’t careful you can turn more orange than tan and sunless tanners are known to streak. Should you find yourself with a bad sunless tan, fear not however, as there are some simple ways to getting yourself looking good once more with minimal effort!

1. Remove a poorly applied self tanner is to exfoliate your skin. The exfoliation process is one in which you remove the dead skin cells. Since your top layer of skin is the one that was affected by the sunless tanner application, you can remove much of the lotion along with the dead skin. Look for something that will give you a good, deep exfoliation - a nylon puff won't do in this case!
2. Make certain you follow up with a moisturizer to prevent your skin from drying out.
3. Shaving will also help remove some of the tanning lotion. Scraping the razor across your skin removes that top layer of skin and some of the tanning lotion.
4. Spend some time soaking in a hot soapy bathtub. Sure you can take a shower, but soaking in a tub of hot water eats away at the self tanning lotion. If you follow the soak up with a round of exfoliating, you can more easily remove the tanning lotion. 
5. Mineral oil wreaks havoc on self tanning lotion as it breaks down the colors in the lotion and quickly fades it out. Put the mineral oil on a clean washcloth, rub it in and then use your loofah or nylon scrubber to remove it.
6. Fresh lemon will also fade the dyes from a self tanner and help it go away more quickly. You can use lemon by simply rubbing it right onto the affected area. Because lemon has a natural bleaching agent, it will break down the tanning lotion and get your skin tanner free. 
7. Pick up a self-tanning lotion remover from your local department store. These are lotions specifically made to remove the incorrectly applied tanner.

How to Clean Tanning Bulbs

Owning a tanning bed means you will have to set aside time to remove the acrylics and bulbs occasionally to clean them of dirt and dust and dead skin cells. Whether you have a tanning salon or a tanning bed at home, it should be a monthly task that you set aside time for to remove the acrylics and the bulbs and clean it all thoroughly. If dust builds up you won’t tan as quickly or as evenly as you did before they got dirty. While it may seem that because you’re not tanning as quickly you might need to replace the bulbs, that is a mistaken belief. Many times as they might just need a thorough cleaning!

Tanning bulbs gather dead skin, dirt and dust and it accumulates on the tanning bulb and doesn’t allow for the UV rays to get through and causes your tan to take longer to build up and could also tan you unevenly. Take time on a monthly basis to clean off the bulbs. It will take an hour or so and you may want to recruit some help but it will help extend the life of your bulbs.

The first step in cleaning the bulbs is to remove the clear acrylic panels and set them aside. Read the instructions that came with your bed to find how to properly remove the panels. Lay down a clean sheet and then remove the tanning bulbs and lay them on the sheet. Never stand the bulbs on end as they can easily break.

Caution should be used at all times when handling the bulbs because you don’t want to break the filaments or the bulbs themselves.  Wrap the bulbs in a clean, dry cloth and pull the cloth from top to bottom of the bulb to gently remove all of the dust. After you’ve cleaned the bulb, set it aside onto a clean sheet so it doesn’t pick up the dust from the sheet. Using a clean cloth for each bulb should be the plan so you don’t transfer any dust from one bulb to another.

Replace the bulbs gently back into the bed with the second person helping you ease them back into the bed without bumping into another bulb or the edge of the bed itself. Once all of the bulbs have been replaced, place the thoroughly cleaned acrylic panels back into the tanning bed and you should be ready to go. 

Preparing for a the Tanning Salon Visit

Making your first trip to a tanning salon? Don't make the usual rookie mistakes! There are a few things you can do to get yourself and your skin ready for a session under the tanning bulbs and on your way toward a sun-kissed tan. The time you spend preparing for your trip to the salon will enhance the tan you receive afterwards. So do it right and reap the rewards.

First, if you’re on any antibiotics or other drugs, know they can negatively affect your skin and cause photosensitivity, regardless of the limited amount of time spent under the tanning bulbs. Check with your doctor before you head to a tanning to see if any medicine you’re on can cause side effects when exposed to UV rays.

Make certain your skin is prepared to fully benefit from the tanning bulbs. The way to do this is to have spent some time – days or even weeks if you have time – moisturizing your skin.

Also, exfoliate the day before you tan to get rid of all of the dead skin cells. You can use exfoliating creams and/or bath puffs to scrape off the dead skin cells. Make certain your exfoliation process is a gentle one though as you don’t want your skin to be raw or irritated. In truth, you should be moisturizing daily and exfoliating at least every other day as these processes keep your skin healthy and smooth year round.

You should definitely make sure you’re using a moisturizer the day of your tanning salon visit. Make certain the lotion doesn’t contain any sunscreen and the day of your visit you will want to avoid any kind of astringents or any products that contain alcohol (these will dry out your skin and make it harder to tan properly).

When you go the tanning salon, ask the person who works there how many sessions they think you will need to achieve the level of tan you want. You will want to space out your visits so that you get your tan gradually. If you’re planning to go on a vacation, it’s best to start your tanning sessions at least a month prior to the trip. For individuals with hard-to-tan skin, you may want to look at beginning your tanning two months prior to your vacation.

Time spent in a tanning salon can lead to a nice even tan – the kind you rarely get from lounging on a raft poolside. Having a base tan can also prevent you from getting a burn while on your vacation. So consider time under the tanning bulbs one more to-do item before that vacation, or simply give yourself that boost that comes with knowing your skin is glowing and golden.

Tips for Tanning Outside

While you may be used to tanning in a tanning bed or in a salon, often times people want to work on their tan outside, in the comfort of their own home. Though this method can be easy, there are some tips to keep in mind because getting a healthy, golden tan is more than just lying around on the lounge poolside. Below are some helpful tips that will help your outside tanning session go smoothly!

You need to know your skin type and just how long it takes you to tan before you become burned. If you know your skin type then it’s easy to plan the amount of time you need to take to bronze up.

When you’re tanning in your backyard you will want to apply sun tan lotion. It sounds counter productive, but sun tan lotion will prevent you from getting a sunburn. You may not tan as fast with the application of sun tan lotion but you will tan without fear of burning and skin damage. Remember, burned skin can lead to skin damage and will also prematurely age you. Regardless of your skin type, you should apply a tanning lotion that offers at least a 15 sun protection factor – higher if you have fair skin that burns easily.

Find out the best time of day to do your tanning. What part of the day it is will depend on the area of the country in which you live. In some areas in the east, the sun is at its peak around noon, some areas to the west don’t hit peak sun until late afternoon. Knowing when the sun is at its peak will let you reap the full benefits of its rays.

Once you’re done in the sun you will want to shower off the sun tan lotion and liberally apply moisturizer. If your skin is dried out, it will produce less melanin and this will make it harder for your skin to produce a tan. If you keep your skin moisturized from the outside with lotion as well as from the inside by drinking plenty of water, your skin will be glowing with your tan.

So next time you head out from under the tanning lamps and toward the sun, remember these tips to make sure your skin is golden and not red by the end of the session!

Tips for Cleaning Your Tanning Bed

It's easy to overlook cleaning the tanning bed, particularly when you are the only one using it! Yet the bed needs to be cleaned regularly in order to have the best environment in which to get the best tan. Cleaning can be done when changing out the tanning lamps and should also be done more frequently, at least once a week. Fortunately, even though there is a lot to do, tanning beds are easy to clean.

Tanning lamps themselves need to be dusted regularly. If you allow too much dust to build up, there is the chance that the UV ray intensity could be decreased by about 10 percent.

Wipe off the reflector, another component that helps to aim the UV rays toward your skin. While not, technically, a part of the lighting mechanism, the ballast tray tends to collect dust and should be cleaned out on a regular basis. Keep in mind, however, that the tray does not need to be cleaned as often as the other parts.

There will be cooling fans in the ballast or on the canopy, or in both areas. These fans are an essential component of the bed, so be sure to clean the blades thoroughly.

Always sanitize the bed between each use. Contrary to popular belief, UV rays do not disinfect the surface in any way, thus be sure to clean the bed yourself

The main thing to keep in mind is that tanning bed maintenance, and cleaning, should be done on a regular basis, and should be done properly. If done so, you will have a clean bed and the best conditions to enjoy a good tanning session.

Applying Tanning Oil

To speed up your tanning, tanning oil is a must have. Tanning oil can help one achieve a dark, rich tan in a shorter amount of time. While useful in this regard, something to keep in mind is that tanning oil will not protect you from sunburn unless an SPF (sun protection factor) number is listed on the bottle. A lower SPF number can be used if a person already has an established base tan, but as oils are typically meant to increase tans, a high SPF cannot usually be found in a tanning oil product.

There are some tips when applying your tanning oil. Tanning oil has the potential for becoming messy. So, it is a good idea to take precautions.

• Begin by laying a towel anywhere you may sit while applying the tanning oil. 
• Start by squirting a quarter-sized drop of oil into the palm of your hand and rub palms together. This will keep the oil from spilling through your fingers.
• Coat the tops of your feet with tanning oil, continue up your ankles and cover as much of your calves as possible with the remaining amount of oil. At this point, you will need to squirt another quarter-sized amount of tanning oil in your palms. Keep in mind that too much oil is better than putting on too little.
• Continue at the point on your calves where you left off. Move up your legs, ensuring you cover every area of skin which will be touched by the sun.
• Slide your hands around to the back of the knees. Then, cover the front of the knees, bending the knee slightly to stretch the skin smooth.
• Thoroughly cover the thigh area, working up to the bikini line. Refill your hands with the same amount of oil.
• Next, apply the oil to your stomach and lower area of your back. If you have someone who can apply oil to your middle and upper back areas, this is best. If not, spill a small stream of oil at the back of your neck and shoulder blades. Spread it around as best you can while reaching back. 
• Finish up by covering the chest area not covered by your suit, front and back of neck, then face. When covering your face, never apply to the eye area. If you break out easily, look for an oil that states it will not cause break-outs. Or, if using a tanning bed, check hottanningbulbs.com for bulbs which can turn for the face area.
• Wait a few minutes to let the oil soak into your skin before you begin tanning. Check the oil bottle to see how often you should re-apply.

Tips for Changing Out Tanning Lamps

People use tanning beds for many reasons - to get a base tan before a vacation and for getting a tan when the sun or a tanning salon is just not an option. But as any tanning bed owners will tell you, there are times when you begin to notice that your tanning time is not as productive as normal. Don't fret! Chances are you just need to change out the tanning bulbs. Changing out bulbs is simple enough and can be done easily by yourself.

1. First, determine how many bulbs you'll need, what type, and purchase said lamps. A great place to look is online, as often bulbs are cheaper and just as good of quality as stores.
2. Next, grab a clean cotton cloth so you can clean the acrylic cover. Once the bed is apart, use your cloth to clean away all of the dust and debris.
3. After you have removed the old, burnt out tanning bulbs, install the new ones, handling the bulbs with care (as the insides are hazardous).
4. Once the new bulbs have been installed, gently clean off any fingerprints with the soft cloth.
5. Replace the acrylic cover and give it a once over with the cloth to remove fingerprints from that as well.
6. Test the tanning bed once you've installed the bulbs. Make certain all of the newly installed tanning bulbs are working properly then let the bed run for a while to make certain none of the bulbs burn out (this could happen if they are incorrectly installed)

Take care in disposing of the old tanning bulbs - they cannot be tossed in with regular garbage. Place them in a separate container when tossing them out, or look up online for a safe place to dispose of them in your city.

Tips for Healthy Summer Skin

Summer is making its way across the country and if you've been cooped up, waiting for the sun, now is the time to get outside! Before you head out into the sun, however, make certain you take care of your skin to assure that it isn't ruined by the summer sun.

Here are our top tips for healthy summer skin:

• Before you leave the house, make certain you have covered your skin in a strong SPF. Even if you're going to be spending your day driving around in a car, you need to protect your exposed skin. The sun's rays on unprotected skin can lead to premature aging or skin cancer.
• Don't forget to protect your lips with a moisturizing lip balm with a SPF of at least 25. Lips are extremely sensitive to the sun and can easily become chapped or sunburned.
• Wear your sunglasses. If you don't want to wear sunglasses, protect your eyes from the sun with a wide brimmed hat. If your eyes are unprotected, it can not only lead to wrinkles and crow's feet but cataracts. In addition to protecting your eyes, a wide-brimmed hat will also protect your sensitive ears.
• Stay hydrated. It's great to wear moisturizers, but you also need to hydrate your body so you don't become dehydrated. If you're outside and sweating, dehydration can happen rapidly. Caffeinated drinks can also lead to dehydration so stick with water.
• For sun-kissed skin, some individuals opt to visit a tanning salon and take advantage of the tanning bulbs to get themselves a "base tan." Others choose self tanning lotions to address pale skin before they hit the beach.
• Check your medicine. Many medications - prescription and over the counter - can cause sun sensitivity issues.
• Choose your sunning times wisely. The sun is at its most intense during the hours of noon to 4 pm. Spend your time outside during the morning or early evening hours. You will still reap the benefits of the sun without drying out your skin.
• Sunburn happens. No matter how well you've applied sun protection lotion you can still suffer a sunburn. If this happens make certain you apply moisturizer liberally to prevent peeling skin and repair the damage.
• If you're an avid swimmer, make certain you shower as soon as you get out of the water, especially if you're in salt water or a chlorinated swimming pool. You'll want to clean the chlorine off your skin because chlorine can dry your skin out.

Common sense - and a liberal coating of moisturizer and sun screen - will let you enjoy the sun without fear of skin damage.