For many people, summer 2021 has been a fantastic time. After being stuck indoors and socially distant for a year, we finally got to go outside a bit and have some fun. Hopefully, you got to bask in the sunlight and soak up some healthy Vitamin D along the way.
This was the year many of us who care about looking tanned got back on track. We sort of missed last summer. What was the point, after all, of getting tanned if you couldn’t do much anyway? Now, things are returning to normal, and hopefully, you got to work on your tan some this summer.
As we transition into fall, the last thing you want is to lose all of that progress you worked so hard to achieve. As the days get shorter, colder, and with fewer outdoor activities, staying tanned in the fall is hard to do. Here are seven ways to get tanned in the fall when laying out for hours isn’t feasible.
Join a Tanning Salon
We know opinions on tanning salons are all over the place. You certainly can overdo it in a salon, but getting a bit of a tan or maintaining what you achieved over the summer is doable. Now, tanning salons are seemingly everywhere. They dot shopping malls across the country. No doubt you can find one within a short drive from your home or close enough where you can drop in on your lunch break from work.
Tanning in a salon bed isn’t quite as good as a natural tan, but you save time by doing it there. Memberships are also relatively affordable. It’s an option to consider if you’re very interested in getting a tan when there is no sun outside. Many salons run promotions for new customers, so call around to see if you can get a deal.
Optimize Your Sun
If you’re lucky, you live someplace where the weather stays relatively warm in the fall. However, some people have to deal with falling leaves and frigid temps even in September and early October. You can probably get a bit of sun; you’ll have to monitor when the sun is out and when it is the hottest outside. If possible, you can lay out even for just an hour or two to soak up some rays and get a bit of a tan. You’re not going to turn golden brown by tanning outside in the fall, but you get decent sun exposure, and it will help your mood as well.
Change Your Sunscreen
When it’s summertime, and the sun is incredibly intense, you want to make sure that you are using appropriately strong sunscreen to prevent burns and long-term damage to your skin. As the sun moves farther away and it cools outdoors, you may not need that SPF 50 anymore. You can opt for something with lower protection, so you get more of whatever heat and UV exposure is out there. If you’re always using high SPF sunscreens, try cutting the SPF in half and go from there. You can keep moving down the scale as long as you don’t burn and you start getting the tan you want.
Use Tanning Oil
You are outside under the sun for those short times, and you can use products that will magnify whatever sun exposure you’re getting. Buy some tanning oils that focus on the sun’s heat and turn your skin darker faster. There are a lot of different tanning oil products out there, so make sure you read the ingredient list along with reviews to buy something relatively chemical-free, and that delivers good results for customers.
Finding high-quality tanning oils at the store during the fall may become a challenge as things get colder outside. Thankfully, you can always find a range of products online that will get to you in a matter of days.
Explore How MT-2 Stimulates Skin Pigmentation & Tanning
Melanotan 2, or MT-2 for short, is a peptide developed in the 1980s. After being created at the University of Arizona, companies produced it as a sunless tanning option. MT-2 is a synthetic version of the human alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. In research studies, scientists discovered that MT-2 stimulates melanocytes in the body, increasing skin pigmentation. In tests done on rodents, the animals given MT-2 experienced darker skins without longtime exposure to the sun. The FDA does not yet approve MT-2 for human use. Melanotan-2 is still undergoing more research to determine future medical possibilities.
Check Out Spray Tanning
Spray tans aren’t permanent, but they are quality tans that can last a few weeks when there is no sun, or you don’t have time to lay outside for hours. Most tanning salons have beds and spray tan options these days, and you can even find spray tan technicians who will come to your house for a fee. The nice thing about a good spray tan is that it can be applied all over your body, and you don’t risk any damage to your skin from the sun.
Travel!
Finally, if you’re longing for tan skin in the fall or whenever tanning outside where you are isn’t an option, you can always book a vacation! Thankfully, the time of no travel is over, and you can jump on a plane to Florida, California, Mexico, and a ton of other warmer temperatures when things start to get colder wherever you are. Grab a friend or the family and hope on a plane. It can be a fun experience, and you can bring back a glorious tan that will last for weeks or through a good portion of the winter.
Tanning when the season’s change is always a challenge. With these 7 tips, though, you can keep your tan a bit longer and will get the most of whatever sun you have left. Many people who are passionate about tanning use a combination of some of these steps to achieve the look they want. Try many different things and stick with what works for your schedule and your budget.
