Word: Golden Boy

The summer is here… AT LAST, so it’s time to get your pasty body ready for exposure to the sun and the public. So how does one get the perfect tan…?

The Natural Way

When heading out everybody knows that you need protection from the harmful rays of the sun. Sun tan lotions or SPFs (Sun Protection Factor products), come in a variety of formulations based on UV resistance, water or sweat resistance, child or adult use, scent, skin moisturizing properties, etc. First, any lotion should indicate “Broad-Spectrum” or “UVA/UVB” sunscreen protection. The ‘SPF’ values on the packaging indicate the level of protection from UV, with higher numbers providing stronger UV filters for your skin. For best results and protection with SPF products it is best to apply 15-30 minutes before exposure to the sun (reapply after swimming or exercise or every 2 hours if you’re just sunbathing).

Murad’s new Oil-Free Sunblock SPF 30 (available online at www.spaforlife.hk or www.spaforlife.hk and Joyce Beauty) offers oil-free matt finish, intense hydration plus pomegranate extract and broad spectrum UVA and UVB sunscreens to help prevent free radical damage and protect the skin.

More Sun Tan – With Less UV Exposure… Possible? You know the Power Plate machine in the gym…? Working in a similar way the oscillating BodyWave plate (available at California Beach Club) can help you achieve more tanning with less UV. It can increase up to 50% more tanning pigmentation from the same UV exposure through the stimulation of the body and blood circulation.

Exfoliate Before – Not After

If you like to use body scrubs and exfoliating products it is recommended that you use these before starting on your tan and limiting them when you are building up your tan as. When you exfoliate it clears away the dead skin cells and pollutants that may prevent UV rays from penetrating your skin. If you are currently tanning then it’s best not to accelerate your natural exfoliation by using products since they will speed up skin regeneration and therefore lose your much-wanted tan.

Tanning Studios

Try check out a few tanning salons before making a choice always take in to mind the staff’s knowledge, cleanliness, number of machines, quality of machines, variety of machines, opening times and additional facilities.

Quick, shorter tanning sessions performed more frequently expose melanin to more UVA more efficiently. Instead of tanning 10 minutes twice your first week, try 5-6 minutes three times, or even 4-5 minutes four times. You will lessen your overall UV exposure, reduce your chance for burning, receive more balanced vitamin D3 benefit, and ultimately get more tanned.

California Beach Club is the largest tanning salon in Hong Kong and offers the most extensive range of products and equipment ( www.californiabeachclub.net).

Hydration

Drink plenty of fluids, keep yourself and your skin hydrated by drinking at least 1.5 litres of water per day. Studies have shown moist skin seems to absorb UV better than dry skin.

Moisturize

Moisturize after each shower. Tanning itself is also drying to the skin, therefore application of accelerating/maximizing creams or even after-tan moisturizers before tanning will super-enrich the skin, thereby preventing dryness.

Keeping It

Once you do get the great tan you were looking for, do remember to maintain short but regular visits to maintain that tan. Otherwise, it’s back to the beginning. Should you chose to do no tanning, your tan will most likely be gone in under a month.

Faking It

The easiest option perhaps and without any chance of UV damage is the fake tan. For the do-it-yourself option Clarin’s (www.hkclarins.com) offer a whole range of products for face and body that give you a natural looking tan for the face and/or body with additional ingredients to keep your skin smooth and moisturized. The alternative, if you’re in doubt of your own ability to apply products without getting a streaky result is to go to a spa or salon that offer tanning application. Elemis Day Spa (www.elemisdayspa.com.hk) offers spray tanning with a selection of depth of colour for you to chose from and Om Day Spa ( www.omdayspa.comhk) offers competitive prices with great service.

So come on boys and girls – let’s get some colour in our cheeks… and arse cheeks!