Best Tips for Tanning This Summer

Glow Without the Burn: The Best Tips for Tanning This Summer

There’s something about summer that makes everyone want that sun-kissed glow. Whether you're headed to the lake, lounging poolside, or just trying to avoid looking like a ghost in family vacation photos, tanning season is officially here. But before you bake yourself like a rotisserie chicken in 102-degree Southern Utah heat, let’s talk about the smartest ways to tan safely while keeping your skin healthy.

Because peeling like a shedding snake three days later? Not exactly the summer aesthetic anyone’s going for.

The Smart Way to Tan This Summer

1. Start Slow, Not Crispy

One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to get super tan in one day. That usually ends with aloe vera, regret, and sleeping like a vampire because your sheets hurt.

Instead:

Start with 15 to 30 minutes of sun exposure
Gradually increase your time outdoors
Give your skin time to build color naturally

Slow tanning lasts longer and looks far more even.

2. Sunscreen Is Still Your Friend

A shocking number of people think sunscreen “blocks” tanning completely. Nope. You can absolutely tan while wearing SPF.

Using sunscreen helps:

Prevent painful burns
Reduce premature aging
Lower skin cancer risk
Help your tan last longer instead of peeling off

Experts generally recommend SPF 30 or higher for daily use. Reapply every two hours, especially if you’re swimming or sweating.

3. Hydrated Skin Tans Better

Dry skin tends to peel faster, which means your tan disappears quicker too.

To keep your glow:

Drink plenty of water
Moisturize daily
Use lotion after sun exposure
Avoid super hot showers after tanning

Your skin is basically a plant with anxiety. Keep it hydrated.

4. Exfoliate Before You Tan

Dead skin cells can make your tan look patchy or uneven.

Before spending time in the sun:

Gently exfoliate with a scrub or washcloth
Focus on elbows, knees, and dry areas
Don’t overdo it or irritate your skin

Think of it like prepping a wall before painting it. Smooth surface, better results.

5. Avoid Peak Burn Hours

The sun hits hardest between about 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., especially during Southern Utah summers.

If possible:

Tan earlier in the morning
Or later in the afternoon
Take breaks in the shade

You’ll still get color without feeling like a grilled cheese sandwich left on too long.

6. Don’t Forget These Easy-to-Burn Spots

People always miss:

Ears
Feet
Scalp line
Back of the neck
Tops of shoulders

And somehow those areas always become the color of a stop sign first.

7. Eat Foods That Help Skin Health

Some foods may help support healthy skin during summer months.

Popular summer favorites include:

Watermelon
Tomatoes
Carrots
Berries
Leafy greens

Bonus: most of those are refreshing when it’s 105 outside and your steering wheel feels legally classified as a weapon.

8. Self-Tanner Has Come a Long Way

Modern self-tanners are much better than the orange disasters of the early 2000s.

If you want a glow without UV exposure:

Gradual tanning lotions work great
Mousse self-tanners tend to look more natural
Tanning drops can mix into moisturizer

Pro tip: wash your hands immediately afterward unless you want your palms looking suspiciously radioactive.

9. Know When Your Skin Has Had Enough

If your skin starts:

Feeling hot
Looking pink
Getting tender

That’s your cue to get out of the sun for a while.

A tan may fade. Sun damage sticks around.

10. The Best Tan Is Healthy Skin

At the end of the day, confidence looks better than any bronze shade ever could. Some people tan easily. Others go straight from pale to lobster in under 12 minutes. Genetics are rude sometimes.

The goal isn’t to destroy your skin chasing the “perfect tan.” The goal is to enjoy summer, stay healthy, and maybe glow just enough that people ask if you went on vacation.

Which honestly beats explaining why you fell asleep on a pool float for four hours.

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