Going some where for a vacation and debating on whether to take a sunscreen lotion or a tanning lotion? If you are, maybe you can get something out of this post. One of my rules when traveling is to always bring sun screen. Applying sunscreen is very important to keep your skin healthy by providing protection from the sun. In fact, you should be using sunscreen not just on vacations, but you should be using it every day!
That means that you can leave the tanning lotion behind, right? Not necessarily. Obviously, when you go on a vacation the days you spend there are special. You want to get something out of it, and one of those things, if you are headed to a sunny place, is a nice good tan. True sunscreen will keep you healthy, but it is understandable that you would want a tanning lotion for a great tan too. Just keep in mind though that by using a tanning lotion, you are essentially doing the opposite of what sunscreen lotions do, protect your skin from UV rays. Anyway, if you insist on getting a great tan while enjoying the beach, you might as well bring with you a good tanning lotion. What this means is that you should choose a tanning lotion that will keep your skin moisturized. The sun will definitely dry out your skin, so use a tanning lotion with ingredients like aloe vera or any good moisturizing component. You should also choose a tanning lotion based on your skin type. Those with very fair skin should only use a level 1 tanning lotion if you don’t want to get sunburned.
Those with very dark skin (which raises the question as to why you would even want to use a tanning lotion) can use lotions that have up to level 6 on the label. As soon as you get the tan you want, get out of the sun and use sunscreen again! On the other hand, you can also always fake your vacation tan by using a sunscreen, then applying sunless tanning lotions just before you go home. This way you get to enjoy your vacation without risking cancer, and still sport a nice tan when you step off the plane.