Best Way to Tan Without Burning

A deep-golden tan makes you look slimmer, healthier and twice as sexy. But, as exposing your body to the sun is a cardinal beauty sin, play it safe by following this sun-survival guide.

• When choosing a sunscreen, look for one that offers protection against both UVAs and UVBs. Apply the lotion before you don your swimming costume and reapply generous amounts of it at hourly intervals throughout the day, and always after swimming. Start with a high protection factor of at least SPF 15, only using a lower number once you have built up a good base color. Pay extra attention to zones that are prone to burning, such as your nose, lips, decolletage, breasts, knees and feet. Keep the lotion in the shade and discard it after two years.

• Be realistic about your ability to tan: if you have fair skin and freckles you are never going to achieve the same deep color as those with olive skin.

• Always avoid exposure to the midday sun (that is, between the hours of eleven in the morning and three in the afternoon). Get some respite from the sun by retreating into the shade at regular intervals.
• If you are prone to acne, piling on rich sunscreens can make it worse. Look for sunscreens that have been specially formulated for the face that are light and non-comedogenic so that they won’t block your pores.
• Whether you are walking, playing sport or sunbathing, you should wear a sun-protection cream and keep your head covered with a hat or scarf in order to prevent sunstroke or a burnt scalp. And if you are sailing or doing any other watersports, wear a water-resistant sunscreen; choose from a sports range that has a higher level of water resistance.
• The sea or pool may seem the perfect place in which to cool off, but remember that the sun’s rays still penetrate water.
• Invest in a good pair of sunglasses to prevent you from squinting and protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays, which can cause cataracts and damage the eye’s cornea and lens.
• Sunbeds and tanning units are just as harmful as the sun: although they rarely burn the skin, high-powered sunbeds and tanning units deliver highly concentrated amounts of ultraviolet light.