Sunless Tanning Tips Series: Part 1 - Sun Safety

As some of you know, I am a long-time advocate of sun safety. I have a family history of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as melanoma, which increases my chances of developing one or more types of skin cancer. Add that to the fact that I am a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned woman who burns easily, and suffered many bad sunburns as a child - and, well, you have a potential disaster.

I started practicing sun safety seriously 20+ years ago. I used sunscreen before that, but wasn't as diligent about it as I am now. I wish I had started sooner, but even starting in my early thirties has made a difference. When I see my skin compared to those of the same age who UV tan, I almost always look younger.

If you only do one thing for your skin - wear daily sunscreen. It's the most important part of any anti-aging skin care routine.


I'm not saying never go out in the sun! The beach is one of my favorite places! I'm saying that it's important to "play it safe":

• use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily
• avoid sun exposure between 10am - 4pm
• wear a hat, sunglasses, & protective clothing
• check your skin monthly, & have a dr. check it yearly

As I mentioned, I am fair-skinned. As in very, very pale. Casper-the-Friendly-Ghost-white. Pale enough that people often ask me if I'm ill. I wish I had beautiful pale skin like Nicole Kidman. But since I don't, and I don't like looking pasty and sick, I add a little color to my skin by using sunless tanning products. It's a great way to look sun-kissed (or in my case, just "normal") and keep your skin safe. But sunless tanners can be tricky to apply and maintain - and they're not all the same. So in this series of posts, I will share what I have learned in my 15+ years of sunless tanning. I'll give you tips about products, application, maintenance, removal, and even trouble-shooting.

Trust me - you can get natural-looking color using a sunless tanner. I do it all the time!


So stay tuned for the other posts in the series - and in the meantime, here are some of my other posts about sun safety and sun safety products:

• Sun Safety Basics Everyone Should Know
• Product Review: Ole Henricksen Protect the Truth Sunscreen
• Product Review: Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer
• Product Review: Origins A Perfect World Age-Defense Moisturizer
• Product Review: St. Tropez "One Night Only" Instant Glow Body Lotion
• My Summer Makeup Staples 2014

Up next in the Sunless Tanning series: Choosing a Product!