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.