Tanning oil: features, tips for choosing and using
Tanned skin is every girl's dream. It is believed that it looks beautiful, and, together with a sporty body, attracts the attention of men.
When summer comes, ladies put on their swimwear and go to enjoy the sun on the beach. However, many of them forget about such an important point as sun protection oil. Even if you want to get tanned, the use of a sunscreen is a must.
Description of the composition
Despite the name of the product, base oils are not the main ingredient in this product. They are not enough to qualitatively protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. But, of course, oils or oil mixtures will be part of the product - thanks to them, an oil consistency is achieved, but they will be located in the middle or even at the end of the composition list.
The sun protection effect is achieved due to the SPF factor (Sun Protection Factor). The more it is in the composition, the better the protection, therefore, the number from 10 to 50 is written on the label next to these three letters. In addition, thermal water, extracts of various plants and fruits may be present in the oils.
Advantages and disadvantages
Tanning oil should serve several purposes at once.
- Nourishing and softening. Due to the action of fatty acids, vitamins A and E, the oil makes the skin softer, nourishes it with the necessary elements.
- Moisturizing and smoothing. Tanning oil is used in large quantities for photo shoots in a bikini, as the skin after it literally sparkles and looks smoother.
- Protective. Thanks to the oil, sunburn, pigmentation does not appear on the skin, the skin does not redden from prolonged exposure to the sun.The oil leaves an invisible, sometimes glossy film on the skin, which prevents the sun's rays from penetrating too deeply.
- Antiage effect. The anti-aging function is due to the fact that the high SPF oil absorbs ultraviolet light, which causes the appearance of age spots, redness, irritation and wrinkles.
- Used for intense tanning. The oils not only absorb ultraviolet light, preventing it from penetrating too deeply into the skin cells, but also attracts it, providing a golden even tan.
There were also some drawbacks. Oil products are harmful to apply on the face of owners of problematic, oily and combination skin. They are comedogenic, can cause acne and clog pores. In this case, it is better to give preference to milk and sunblock. Also, dust and sand can adhere to the skin for some time after applying the product.
Views
Oils by functionality are divided depending on the degree of sun protection, and the determining criterion is the strength of the SPF factor. The lowest SPF is 2 (some natural base oils), the highest is 50 (suitable for very fair skinned people).
You should also take into account your phototype, which can be determined by the shade of the skin, hair and eyes.
- Celtic. The owners of this type have pale skin, often freckled, blonde hair and eyes. It is better for the Celtic phototype of girls not to sunbathe at all, since they almost always get sunburn, and in hot sunny weather, use funds with SPF50.
- European Nordic. Light blond hair shades, hazel eyes and fair skin. It is also not recommended for the Nordic type to sunbathe - such girls get sunburn, although less often than Celtic ones, but still often. Tanning oils must have an SPF of at least 40.
- Central European, or mixed. Peach skin, as if with a natural tan, brown hair, light brown. Oils representatives of the phototype use the most common - SPF30, as they tan well and rarely burn.
- Mediterranean, or South European. Distinctive features - olive skin, dark shades of curls and eyes. Representatives of this type practically cannot get burned, the tan lays down evenly. Just like the Central European type, the SPF30 or even 15-20 is enough for the Mediterranean type, there is not much difference.
- Indonesian, or Middle Eastern. Dark skin without freckles, dark hair and eyes. Most often found in the East. Representatives of the type tan well, which is not always necessary with an already bronze skin color. SPF20 or even 10 will be enough.
- African. Very dark skin, as this is a type of Negroid race. Despite the fact that ladies with such skin never burn and cannot tan due to their skin color, they also need to protect themselves from the effects of the sun - an oil with SPF10 or a regular base oil is enough.
Rating of the best
In each price category, you can find a good tanning oil, the main thing is to choose a consistency and composition that is convenient for yourself, and also not to miscalculate with the brand.
- Dry oil "Sublime Sun" from L'Oreal Paris with SPF 30 promises an even tan and radiant, smooth skin. Available in 150 ml packs, it is a dry spray containing Mexoryl XL, an oil-soluble SPF filter from L'Oreal.
- Oil "Anthelios XL" with SPF50 from La Roche-Posay - ideal oil for girls with pale skin. Manufacturers emphasize that the composition also includes natural thermal water, patented by the brand, with a high selenium content. Selenium is a natural antioxidant and moisturizer, so the skin is well hydrated after using the product. Can be used for oily or acne-prone skin without the risk of deterioration, and for photoprotection of hair. Smells good with flowers.
- Garnier Ambre Solaire SPF15 is quite a budgetary tool. Shea butter (shea butter) is present as an additional ingredient, which softens, restores, and prevents the appearance of irritations.Vitamin E provides improved regeneration and removal of flakes, even those not caused by a burn. The oil is equipped with a spray dispenser. The aroma is oriental.
- Garnier has another Intense Tanning Oil. It contains vitamin E and coconut oil. It not only protects the skin but also moisturizes it. Garnier brand products are among the most popular and affordable in Russia.
- Huile Solaire oil from the French brand Biotherm has an SPF 30. The manufacturer claims that the product protects against ultraviolet radiation, evens out tan and nourishes the skin, not allowing it to dry out in the sun.
How to do it at home?
Before using ordinary vegetable oil as a tanning agent, you need to take into account that its SPF does not exceed 10. This will not be enough for fair-haired and girls with peach skin, but for dark-skinned ones it will be just right.
You can use coconut oil as a natural homemade tanning oil. It was popular back in the 60s of the last century, and its popularity continues to this day.
The SPF of coconut oil is about 8-10. It can be used both before and after sunbathing for girls with an African phototype. In addition to its protective properties, the oil promotes an even tan, makes the skin elastic, firm and soft, therefore it is quite suitable for daily care, not only in the sunny season.
You can buy coconut oil at a drug store, health food store, or online. It is also used for hair, lips, nails, but it should not be used for the skin of the face - it is too heavy. Also forget about it if you have an individual coconut intolerance.
In addition to coconut oil, you can pay attention to extra virgin olive oil, shea, another name - shea, argan, macadamia.
The recipe for making tanning oil with your own hands is extremely simple. You need to apply a little nutritious oil to your palms, rub and massage it over the skin of the body. Likewise, you can use base oil as a burn-healer. It heals not only sunburns, but also household ones, as it accelerates regeneration and softens the skin.
In no case should you use essential oils, especially citrus fruits: they are photosensitive, when exposed to the sun, they can give your skin pigmentation, aggravate acne, cause flaking and itching.
How to use it correctly?
The main thing to know before purchasing oil is how to use it and how to choose it. You should choose according to your skin tone and phototype - the lighter the skin, the higher the SPF you need to take. And since the filters that protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation (UV) are depleted with age, after 35 years the SPF should also be increased.
You need to apply the oil 20-30 minutes before sun exposure. The result from applying the product directly on the beach will be almost zero, since the filters do not take effect immediately. After bathing, you do not need to reapply the oil - it is created according to a hydrophilic formula, it is not washed off with water, but it should be renewed every two hours under the scorching sun.
Do not leave the tube of oil in the open sun and do not let direct sunlight fall on it - hide it in a bag or put it on a closed shelf to prevent spoilage.
Even using an oil with a high sun protection factor, you should not be in the sun for a long time, especially if it is midday when the UV rays are especially active.
Reviews
Since at first glance all tanning oils seem to be the same, it can be very difficult to choose between a bottle for 1200 rubles and 400 rubles. Therefore, you should first read the reviews of real customers who had time to try products under the scorching sun.
Sublime Sun by L'Oreal Paris, despite the brown tint and the rather dubious texture for oil (in the form of a dry spray), it copes with its functions “with a bang”.Also, girls note that it does not wash off after bathing, like milk or cream, and also does not make the body shine, "like a grilled chicken", and is almost non-sticky. It is due to its consistency that it shines slightly, which can be a salvation for lovers of matte body skin.
It costs about 700-800 rubles, it is very economical given the low consumption. It does not wash off after 3 hours of bathing, and when applied, it is evenly distributed. The tan after it is even, it is virtually impossible to get sunburned - a woman with a light skin tone used it in Egypt, but came home without a single burn and with a wonderful even golden tan.
Anthelios XL with SPF50 from La Roche-Posay - one of the most popular oils for blonde beauties. It is included in the TOP oils with a high degree of protection. Of course, part of its popularity is due to its popular brand - La Roche-Posay is famous for high-quality cosmetics that do not harm health, but the remaining 70% of success is due to quality. Since it is very difficult for white-skinned girls not to burn out in the hot sun, the protective properties of the oil amazed them - with it you can keep their skin intact even in sunny Thailand. After bathing, the product stays on the skin for no more than 40 minutes, so it needs to be renewed, but in general it needs to be applied every 5-6 hours. The price corresponds to the quality - 1200 rubles for 200 ml.
Ambre Solaire by Garnier does not differ in high protection, therefore it is suitable only for girls with an olive skin tone who do not burn. However, its two main advantages are cost and speed of impact. It is really easy to get an even bronze tan with it - shea butter and vitamin E actively attract the sun's rays. This is a real tanning activator. Oil should be applied promptly, as it is absorbed quickly. The cost is 400-500 rubles for 150 ml.
Other oils are brands, - "For intense tanning", nothing particularly different from "Ambre Solaire" - perhaps a little more with a composition, a volume of 50 ml more and the absence of a spray dispenser. Due to the not very convenient dispenser, the bottle quickly becomes sticky and oily to the touch, the inscriptions are erased, and very soon the brand logo disappears. However, the design claims are the only ones, the oil copes with its direct purpose remarkably.
Tanning oil should not be neglected on ordinary hot days, not on the beach, and even more so in a solarium - it will not only fix the tan, but will also prevent the sun from burning the skin or in any other way damage it, and will also moisturize and nourish the epidermis.
For a beautiful tanning product, see the next video.