Whats the best sunscreen/oil to wear to get a SAFE tan?

[chippydale33]

So I have light skin, and I want to get tan without the harmful rays. I heard tanning oil allows the harmful sun rays to damage your skin. if i dont wear the tanning oil, will i still get the same tan with sunscreen? thanks!!

 

[bwilcox]

Sorry, but there's no such thing as a "safe" tan. The very rays that cause you to tan are the rays that contain the ultraviolet light that also can cause cancer. Best to go with tan in a bottle-there are some pretty good ones out there now.

 

[AprilJ26]

Depends on the sunscreen. You can find sunscreen that has a low SPF (like 4 or 8) which will still allow you to tan, but be advised you could still burn b/c the SPF isn't high enough for thorough protection. If you burn easily, I would use a high SPF and maybe you will get lucky and tan a little. Either way, it beats a bad burn on your trip! Good luck!

 

[jwhtewolfd]

I burn pretty easily, so I went with a high SPF and at the end of 5 days in Florida sun I came home with some color, but no burns. Oh, and I only applied once a day in the morning.

 

[emmbowles]

I second that about there is no safe tan but a fake one. You should ALWAYS wear sunscreeen with a 50 SPF. You can still get some color, but it will block the harmful rays of the sun. DON'T use oil! You will definitely burn. FYI: Alot of people don't know that a 50 SPF is no stronger than a 5 SPF. It just means that you can stay out in the sun 50 times longer than if you had no sunscreen on. Therefore, it is better to wear the 50 SPF to avoid having to reapply constantly, as opposed to wearing a 5 SPF and having to apply quite often. Just make sure that you do reapply the 50 during the day. It is also possible to get burned when its overcast. Sorry if this is alot of information but this is what I do for a living and I'm very passionate about it. Skin cancer is so common now and its very easy to prevent if you take care of your skin. I suggest to get a spray tan...that's what I do.

 

[Alesia]

Every time you tan, you are damaging your skin. There just isn't anyway around it.

 

[fatuhiva]

I wouldn't use anything less than a SPF 30. You should also look for a UVA and UVB sunblock.

 

[nessz79]

I wouldn't use anything less than a SPF 30. You should also look for a UVA and UVB sunblock.

I have to go with everyone that says no tan is a safe tan. I know it's hard to be so fair-skinned- I'm right there with you! However, after my grandmother has had some skin cancer (treated but very cautious now) and my mother has had pre-cancerous moles removed, I am in the boat of "better safe than sorry".

At least SPF 30 and reapply every few hours or when you've been in the water.

I know it's not what you would like to hear, but we're well-meaning.

 

[SGB13]

The self tanning foams work great and give you safe color. Most of them don't look fake any more. It is the only safe way to tan. Sorry, but it is true. I love the sptf 50 and 70 Nuetragena products. They do a great job.

 

[a1tinkfans]

UVA UVB, 15 minimum per my oncologist.

People think they are getting better coverage for 50+ but it is HOW it is being applied and reapplied that really counts.

So, put it on nice and good in morning, if you swim, you MUST reapply (unless you get water type, which I think is gross)
Then if you are sweaty during day, just dry yourself off a bit and reapply to uncovered areas.
Have a great trip!!

 

[RMulieri]

Sorry as an Oncology nurse who sees dreadful cases of Skin cancer each day...No such thing as a SAFE tan. The only safe tan is a bottled one. Any type of SUN tan is damaged skin.Wear sunscreen and fake tan

 

[CarolA]

Sorry, but there's no such thing as a "safe" tan. The very rays that cause you to tan are the rays that contain the ultraviolet light that also can cause cancer. Best to go with tan in a bottle-there are some pretty good ones out there now.

AMEN!

The "safe tan" is a myth!

I like the sprays as I find I tend to miss fewer spots then I did when I used the lotions.

 

[ophelia]

I look about ten years younger than I really am because I have never laid in the sun and tanned. Tanning is horrible for your skin and you could get cancer. Put on a good sunblock and think about how much better you are going to look in twenty years than the women who went tanning all of the time.

 

[nicwoodard]

I am very fair as is my DS. I can actually get some color after being out a bit (the whole time wearing sunscreen). DS can't even do that.

My main suggestion is WEAR A HAT! When you are at Disney your face is always in the sun. OF COURSE wear sunscreen as well! I wear a 45 - 55 SPF on my nose and face and re-apply to my nose at least once a day.

I also use a tanning cream until some natural color comes on. But even with a tanning cream, you MUST use sunscreen!

 

[Beavers5]

I was diagnosed two years ago (at age 26) with stage 3B Melanoma; trust me when I say that a tan is NOT worth it.

For the fake stuff-I use Jergen's Natural Glow, it's hard to mess up.

 

[redrosesix]

For the fake stuff-I use Jergen's Natural Glow, it's hard to mess up.

I was going to suggest this one, but didn't know if you had it in the US. Not as dark as a spray-on tan, but then it doesn't make you streaky either -- just reapply twice a day, starting a few days before you leave. The other plus with the tinted lotions: your skin will love you because it won't be dry from the sun and the pools. Many lotions here now also contain sun block.

My tip: apply the lotion twice as often to the areas that the sun would naturally tan. I use sunscreen during the day when we're in Florida, but continue to use the tinted lotion in the evenings.

 

[PatriciaH]

I see you are living in CT. I am from NY and used to live in MA. The sun is SO much stronger here. We tell family and friends from up north this and they still get burned when they come here. Wear at LEAST 30 and a hat when you will be out all day. You will still get color by the end of the week.

 

[december14disney]

I had a mole removed because my Dermo was nervous about it. Waiting for the biopsy results was killer. I used to work at a tanning salon and did tan. Yet I am fair, blonde, green eyes and have a ton of freckles. I am like the walking poster for DONT TAN OR YOULL GET SKIN CANCER. Sigh.

No more.

 

[RMulieri]

I had a mole removed because my Dermo was nervous about it. Waiting for the biopsy results was killer. I used to work at a tanning salon and did tan. Yet I am fair, blonde, green eyes and have a ton of freckles. I am like the walking poster for DONT TAN OR YOULL GET SKIN CANCER. Sigh.

No more.

Been there. I work with Skin Cancer Patients, Plus I have had 2 moles that were Basal Cell Carcinoma.I was a tanning freak in my youth and baked with Baby oil.I am paying the price for it now. So not worth it.I should add that I am olive skin tone and dark hair that never really burns either and still got cancer.

 

[nessz79]

Been there. I work with Skin Cancer Patients, Plus I have had 2 moles that were Basal Cell Carcinoma.I was a tanning freak in my youth and baked with Baby oil.I am paying the price for it now. So not worth it.I should add that I am olive skin tone and dark hair that never really burns either and still got cancer.

I'm always fighting with my DH about this. He is Hispanic and tans very easily. He often goes without sunscreen, shrugging off the deep tans he gets. People don't realize that a tan is damage, too!