By Haywood Hunter


One of the most essential cosmetic products selling off the shelves during the summer months is the sun tanning lotion. Also known as a sunscreen, it helps absorb or reflect the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun and prevents our exposed skin from getting sun burnt. One should understand what is the best tanning lotion that suits their needs.



To begin with, it is necessary to understand that those which reflect sunlight are known as physical sunscreens whereas those which absorb the ultraviolet rays are referred to as chemical cremes. Some of the ingredients that go into making this product are ultraviolet light absorbing chemical compounds. They aid in reflecting the UV rays to a large extent and also scattering some.

This formula is a relatively new finding. Franz Greiter, a chemist, developed it in 1938 and around 1962 he developed what came to be known as the SPF or Sun Protection Software. This is a mathematical proof of the efficiency of the product in keeping our skin from getting sun burnt. As a matter of fact, today SPF is a recognized standard for knowing the quality of products and advertisers use this concept to sell their brands.

By SPF strength, we measure the limit of UV radiation that could be considered harmless for us if we apply the particular product. Thus the lower the SPF, the more you should be sure of avoiding this item. So when you need to choose from many brands, it is easy to come to a conclusion by looking up at the SPF number printed on the packing.

The type of your skin and your activities also play a major role in deciding the best sunscreen suiting your needs. Also activities like swimming washes away the applied lotion so on days that you need to hit the waters, its best to use a sun block that does not wash off easily. Another criterion that helps to find the right item is the amount applied and how often it is reapplied.

Those who work outside most part of the day, obviously, need more protection hence higher SPF as compared to those who work indoors. Also, it has been proved with research that applying the sun block half an hour before exposure and reapplying it half an hour after going out helps keep the skin safe. This finding negates the popular opinion of application every 2 to 3 hours.

With a view to catering for those individuals who work indoors, the cosmetic industry has also introduced indoor tanning blocks. These do not protect like ordinary sunscreens as they do not contain any SPF. Basically, they help in producing melanin and bringing it onto the top layers of the skin. Along with this, they also prevent dehydration of the skin, keeping it moisturized, smooth and healthy.

Rather, the common ingredients found in such sunless tanning lotions are tea oil, green tea extracts and other natural oils. These days you have sunscreens developed to be water resistant, heat resistant and sweat proof by nature. So, once you understand how the sunscreen works on your skin, it is easy to answer what is the best tanning lotion for protecting yourself from the harsh sun.




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