Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. As the owner of Beach Tanning, a popular South Philadelphia Tanning Salon, the questions I get asked the most are, “How can I get darker”?  and “How can I keep my tan longer”? It’s simple! Keep your skin moist. Moisturized skin will tan faster and last longer. We’re all  little different but we basically create a new layer of skin every thirty days. We’re sort of shedding. Each day as our skin dries out it flakes off. Keeping your skin moist will slow down this process. When we tan, indoors or outdoors, we are drying out our skin. We lose moisture and it needs to be replenished. Here are some things you can do to keep your skin in a nice healthy state and prepare it for the tanning process.

#1 When you shower use a moisturizing soap. Do not use scolding hot water, warm water will work just fine. Rinse well and remove any soap residue. Do not rub your body with the towel, pat yourself dry. This will allow your skin to stay a little moist. At this point your pores are still open and you have an opportunity to lock in the moisture.  Immediately apply a good moisturizer, something that does not contain oil. A common mistake is applying baby oil. Baby oil will only clog your pours and not allow your skin to breathe. I know it feels good but it’s doing the opposite of what you expect it to do. Once a week while you shower exfoliate, no sense in tanning dead skin that is going to flake right off.

#2 Tan slow. Don’t expect to be tan in one session. You have to do a few minutes at a time. Add a minute or two every few sessions until you reach the maximum time for that particular unit. Don’t be fooled in to thinking that if you can do twenty minutes in one unit you can do twenty in all units. Generally the shorter the session time the stronger the lamps. Doing twenty minutes in a ten minute bed would fry you. Imagine joining a gym and trying to lift 300 pounds the first day, or running a 10 mile race the first time out. After you reach your desired color start tanning every other day or three times a week. In some of today’s super beds you need only to tan once a week to maintain your color.

#3 Use a tanning lotion or some sort of moisturizer one hour before tanning. Never do doubles or tan indoors and outdoors on the same day. When you’re done your session apply a moisturizer. Remember you get what you pay for so invest in a good lotion and a good moisturizer. Your skin is worth it!  beachtanningsouthphilly.com