How to Personalize Your Tan
Sure, you're bronzed and beautiful, but that golden brown color just isn't enough. Make your tan a unique personal statement, and let the world know who you really are.
Up next in Skin Care 101 (64 videos)
Everything you ever wanted to know about how to achieve a flawless face is in this video series.
You Will Need
- An image
- An artist with a paintbrush or finger
- Sunscreens with different SPFs
- UV rays
- Skin stickers
- Liquid latex
- Sunless tanner
Steps
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Unprotected or prolonged exposure to UV rays is dangerous, and can greatly increase your risk for skin cancer and other skin damage.
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Step 1
Pick your statement and placement
What do you want your body art to say to the world, and where do you want it to be? Much like a tattoo, your graphic or phrase should represent who you are—or at least, who’ll you’ll be until it fades.
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Step 2
Select your artist
Which gifted artist will be applying your body art? Be thorough in your selection process. You may not be able to see or approve the final, painted-on design, so it’s important to trust your technician.
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We strongly recommend that you do not do your own artwork.
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Step 3
Grease up
Change into your swimsuit. If you’re using skin-safe stickers to make your design—instead of having it all hand-painted— clean and dry the area, then apply the sticker.
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Tanning stickers are fairly inexpensive—you can usually buy 1,000 for under $10.
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Step 4
Apply sunscreen
Apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or below over all exposed areas, and hit the sun.
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Step 5
Apply your art
Using a high SPF sunscreen as paint, have your artist quickly apply your image or phrase with a paintbrush. In a pinch, a finger will suffice.
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Step 6
Tan
Take about an hour to lie in the sun, or spend an adequate amount of time in a tanning booth. Be sure not to smudge your design.
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Step 7
Use sunless tanner
If the sun’s not for you, apply your design using nonporous liquid latex. Allow it to dry, and then use a sunless tanner based on DHA, a natural sugar that stains the skin.
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Step 8
Show off your art
Once your design is burned in or painted on, take the next five to 10 days to show off your statement.
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An SPF (or sun protection factor) is actually a ratio. It shows how much time it takes for sunscreen-protected skin to burn as compared to bare skin.
