To tan well and quickly, the secret is to plan ahead: waiting for the heat and lying under the sun for hours is the wrong way to achieve it.
Experts say so, debunking myths and giving tips on nutrition.
It’s food that does the hardest work: how many times have you been told to eat carrots, lots and lots of carrots?
Well, the reason is that they contain beta-carotene (yes, the name is misleading), as do melon and radish, to name a few.
Also, important is choosing colors that enhance the first color “Like coral,” explains stylist Sandro Ferrone, “which enhances even the lightest tans and illuminates the skin.”
Here are 4 tips to prepare your body for summer tanning.
What to Eat to Prolong Your Tan as Long as Possible
How to Tan Well and Quickly
Consume Beta-Carotene (Not Just Found in Carrots)
Beta-carotene not only benefits the skin, but is also a valuable ally for the eyes.
What does it exactly do? “It facilitates the fixation of melanin, ensuring optimal and lasting tanning,” explains nutrition biologist Lorenzo Traversetti.
And where can you find it?
“All fruits, vegetables, and vegetables of orange or red color are very rich in it,” he adds. So, go ahead with pumpkin, radish, melon, peppers, papaya. And yes, of course, carrots too.
The ideal is to consume a portion of 150 grams per day starting from spring.
Do Many Scrubs and Exfoliations
To prepare the skin for tanning, it needs to be healthy and free of dead cells.
Therefore – whether at home or not – do many scrubs, in the bathtub or under the shower.
And do them even after every day at the beach or in the mountains: the myth that scrubbing “erases” the tan is false.
On the contrary, it’s a valuable ally that makes it more radiant. Gentle exfoliants are also good.
Use Sun Protection on Your Face Even in the City
Starting from spring, when the days begin to get warmer, use sunscreen or foundation with sun protection even when in the city.
They will help you avoid burning your cheeks and forehead, but especially those with very fair skin won’t find themselves with a peeling nose on the first day at the beach. Pay particular attention to moles and faces with freckles.
How Many Tanning Bed Sessions Should You Do?
Among the myths related to tanning, the most widespread and insidious one claims that a few tanning bed sessions help prepare the body for the sun’s rays.
Sure, it colors the skin, but it doesn’t protect it.
And if it’s not protected, sunburn on the first day at the beach is just around the corner.
Instead, use a good sunscreen and tan gradually and evenly: you’ll arrive in the heart of summer with a color everyone will envy.
And if you want to show off a more amber complexion before beach weekends, opt for a good self-tanner, much less harmful to the skin.
This article first appeared on Grazia.it
