Post by Bronze Heels on May 14, 2013 19:21:06 GMT -5
What should I expect when I try a tingle lotion for the first time?
The active ingredient in tingle lotions, Benzyl Nicotinate or Methyl Nicotinate, is similar to Icy Hot or Bengay on steroids. Tingles cause your blood to rise to the surface of your skin, which makes your skin look red. Your skin will have the appearance of a sunburn for 2-6 hours, but it will go away. In addition to this, tingles cause the skin to… well, tingle. The tingling feeling may be a light itch that you hardly notice or it may be such an extreme burning sensation that you’re actually in pain until it fades over the following few hours. Because tingles make the oxygen in your blood very active, it will help you tan more quickly. Be aware that you should always start with a “beginner” tingle, and even then, apply it to a tougher area on your body—such as a leg—during your first session to see how your body reacts to it. Tingles should be used sparingly because if you use them too often, you will develop immunity to them. NEVER apply a tingle to your face as it could burst a capillary--something that will never heal.
What kind of lotion rotation should I use?
That is entirely up to you, and there is no right or wrong answer. Many of us like to use something similar to this:
Accelerator – Bronzer – Accelerator – Tingle
Reason: This will keep you from going overboard on DHA (and turning orange), but still give you that extra boost every other session.
What kind of bed rotation should I use?
This is also up to you with no right or wrong answer. To develop a deep, natural-looking tan, you should try something similar to this:
Base Bed – Medium Bed – Base Bed – HP Bed
Reason: 1. Base beds help your body build up melanin, 2. you use a commonly found Medium bed (usually a 10- or 12-minute “regular” bed), and 3. then you can hit your built up melanin with an HP bed. Some people may prefer to use HP beds less or more often. Again, there is no wrong answer.
What should I do when I add outdoor tanning to my regimen?
You guessed it, no wrong answer! Many tanners like to lay out for anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours! This will depend on how deep your tan is. Of course, you cannot lay in the sun for 6 hours if you are still fairly pale or you will burn. Some people will use SPF4 to help combat any possible burn, but that’s not mandatory. You can use a cheap drugstore spray, olive oil, or any of your indoor tanning lotions. Just try a few and see what works best for you. It is most beneficial to lay out during the peak sun hours, which is 11:00am to 3:00pm. Also, you will need to check your local UV index on the weather channel/internet. 10+ is prime tanning UV, 6-9 is moderate, and anything below 6 will be a waste of your time. Tanning both indoors and outdoors on the same day is not recommended, but we won’t act like your mom too much.
What is the easiest way to start a tantoo and have it look crisp?
A tantoo—a pale sticker outline—is used to monitor your level of color so that you do not become too dark or too pale for your own personal taste. Plus, they look cute! However, tanning is time-consuming, and you know very well that you won’t become dark overnight. So, the best way to start a tantoo is to do it with a fake tan. This can be either a spray tan or a fake tan lotion over your sticker. Just put your sticker on your skin, then apply your fake tan. This will create a clear outline so that when you tan regularly the next time, you will be able to see where to put your sticker. After a few tanning sessions, your tantoo will start to take off, and you’ll have a crisp tantoo in no time!
What is a “tanning cocktail?”
A tanning cocktail is a slang term to refer to two or more lotions mixed together. For example, you may have an accelerator that is your favorite lotion, but would like a little extra “umph” this session. So, you mix in a little bit of a tingle with your accelerator. It is also good for using up the last of lotion bottles. Be aware of scents when you mix! You may end up with a nasty smell, but then, that’s half the fun!
What should I do when I’ve hit a plateau and can’t get any darker?
A few common reasons are 1) you are tanning too much. This may sound contradictory, but tanning every day can actually stall your tanning ability. A tan will develop for up to 48 hours after you’ve been exposed to UV light, so tanning every day is not even necessary. Furthermore, your skin is a living, breathing organ, and it needs a break sometimes. Take a few days off and then tan again. 2) If you’ve been using the same lotion and/or tanning bed for 3 or more sessions, you may be becoming stagnant. Mix it up a little. 3) You are just at your max depth of tan. This can be heartbreaking to some people, but it’s important to realize that not everyone can tan as darkly as others. Contrary to popular belief, it has little to do with your skin type. So, even if you’re a skin type 2, you may still be able to tan as deeply as a skin type 4. It has more to do with genetics. If you can’t UV tan any darker, you might consider adding a fake tan on top of your real tan!
I haven’t been using bronzers, but I still feel like my tan is a little orange.
First, you should be sure that it actually DOES look orange. A common affliction among tanners is Color Crisis. We think we’re too pale or too orange 90% of the time! Remember that you stare at your skin every day; what you see is often not what the rest of the world sees. Ask a friend or family member who does not see you often. Or, take a photo and compare it to a photo you took a month ago. (Make sure the lighting is the same.) If you end up convinced that you really are looking a little orange, it could be due to red undertones in your skin. If you have Native American blood in you or you are a natural redhead, you will have red undertones in your skin. In other words, there is nothing you can do about this. Also, most new tanners go through an “orange phase.” When the skin is transitioning from pale to bronze, it often looks orange for a few weeks because it is in that awkward growth stage. Wear some long sleeves and hang in there; it will pass!
I like bronzers, but I don’t want DHA because it makes me look orange.
Allow me to introduce you to natural bronzers—those without dihydroxyacetone. The bronzers may be such ingredients as caramel or walnut oil. They are lighter bronzers, and they do not last as long (usually 3-5 days), but they will not turn you orange. Check this list for some choices: DHA-Free Bronzers.
The active ingredient in tingle lotions, Benzyl Nicotinate or Methyl Nicotinate, is similar to Icy Hot or Bengay on steroids. Tingles cause your blood to rise to the surface of your skin, which makes your skin look red. Your skin will have the appearance of a sunburn for 2-6 hours, but it will go away. In addition to this, tingles cause the skin to… well, tingle. The tingling feeling may be a light itch that you hardly notice or it may be such an extreme burning sensation that you’re actually in pain until it fades over the following few hours. Because tingles make the oxygen in your blood very active, it will help you tan more quickly. Be aware that you should always start with a “beginner” tingle, and even then, apply it to a tougher area on your body—such as a leg—during your first session to see how your body reacts to it. Tingles should be used sparingly because if you use them too often, you will develop immunity to them. NEVER apply a tingle to your face as it could burst a capillary--something that will never heal.
What kind of lotion rotation should I use?
That is entirely up to you, and there is no right or wrong answer. Many of us like to use something similar to this:
Accelerator – Bronzer – Accelerator – Tingle
Reason: This will keep you from going overboard on DHA (and turning orange), but still give you that extra boost every other session.
What kind of bed rotation should I use?
This is also up to you with no right or wrong answer. To develop a deep, natural-looking tan, you should try something similar to this:
Base Bed – Medium Bed – Base Bed – HP Bed
Reason: 1. Base beds help your body build up melanin, 2. you use a commonly found Medium bed (usually a 10- or 12-minute “regular” bed), and 3. then you can hit your built up melanin with an HP bed. Some people may prefer to use HP beds less or more often. Again, there is no wrong answer.
What should I do when I add outdoor tanning to my regimen?
You guessed it, no wrong answer! Many tanners like to lay out for anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours! This will depend on how deep your tan is. Of course, you cannot lay in the sun for 6 hours if you are still fairly pale or you will burn. Some people will use SPF4 to help combat any possible burn, but that’s not mandatory. You can use a cheap drugstore spray, olive oil, or any of your indoor tanning lotions. Just try a few and see what works best for you. It is most beneficial to lay out during the peak sun hours, which is 11:00am to 3:00pm. Also, you will need to check your local UV index on the weather channel/internet. 10+ is prime tanning UV, 6-9 is moderate, and anything below 6 will be a waste of your time. Tanning both indoors and outdoors on the same day is not recommended, but we won’t act like your mom too much.
What is the easiest way to start a tantoo and have it look crisp?
A tantoo—a pale sticker outline—is used to monitor your level of color so that you do not become too dark or too pale for your own personal taste. Plus, they look cute! However, tanning is time-consuming, and you know very well that you won’t become dark overnight. So, the best way to start a tantoo is to do it with a fake tan. This can be either a spray tan or a fake tan lotion over your sticker. Just put your sticker on your skin, then apply your fake tan. This will create a clear outline so that when you tan regularly the next time, you will be able to see where to put your sticker. After a few tanning sessions, your tantoo will start to take off, and you’ll have a crisp tantoo in no time!
What is a “tanning cocktail?”
A tanning cocktail is a slang term to refer to two or more lotions mixed together. For example, you may have an accelerator that is your favorite lotion, but would like a little extra “umph” this session. So, you mix in a little bit of a tingle with your accelerator. It is also good for using up the last of lotion bottles. Be aware of scents when you mix! You may end up with a nasty smell, but then, that’s half the fun!
What should I do when I’ve hit a plateau and can’t get any darker?
A few common reasons are 1) you are tanning too much. This may sound contradictory, but tanning every day can actually stall your tanning ability. A tan will develop for up to 48 hours after you’ve been exposed to UV light, so tanning every day is not even necessary. Furthermore, your skin is a living, breathing organ, and it needs a break sometimes. Take a few days off and then tan again. 2) If you’ve been using the same lotion and/or tanning bed for 3 or more sessions, you may be becoming stagnant. Mix it up a little. 3) You are just at your max depth of tan. This can be heartbreaking to some people, but it’s important to realize that not everyone can tan as darkly as others. Contrary to popular belief, it has little to do with your skin type. So, even if you’re a skin type 2, you may still be able to tan as deeply as a skin type 4. It has more to do with genetics. If you can’t UV tan any darker, you might consider adding a fake tan on top of your real tan!
I haven’t been using bronzers, but I still feel like my tan is a little orange.
First, you should be sure that it actually DOES look orange. A common affliction among tanners is Color Crisis. We think we’re too pale or too orange 90% of the time! Remember that you stare at your skin every day; what you see is often not what the rest of the world sees. Ask a friend or family member who does not see you often. Or, take a photo and compare it to a photo you took a month ago. (Make sure the lighting is the same.) If you end up convinced that you really are looking a little orange, it could be due to red undertones in your skin. If you have Native American blood in you or you are a natural redhead, you will have red undertones in your skin. In other words, there is nothing you can do about this. Also, most new tanners go through an “orange phase.” When the skin is transitioning from pale to bronze, it often looks orange for a few weeks because it is in that awkward growth stage. Wear some long sleeves and hang in there; it will pass!
I like bronzers, but I don’t want DHA because it makes me look orange.
Allow me to introduce you to natural bronzers—those without dihydroxyacetone. The bronzers may be such ingredients as caramel or walnut oil. They are lighter bronzers, and they do not last as long (usually 3-5 days), but they will not turn you orange. Check this list for some choices: DHA-Free Bronzers.