How To Tan Your Face In A Tanning Bed Safely

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The skin on your face tends to be more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body, so you need to take some care when using a tanning bed.

You will still want your face to have a golden glow that matches the rest of your body, but you do not want it to burn to a crisp and suffer from red, painful skin after the tanning session is done.

How do you tan your face safely in a tanning bed?

The key is in the preparation. Proper preparation is the best way to ensure you get gorgeously tanned facial skin, but without the sunburn and negatives that come along with overexposure!

How To Safely Tan Your Face In A Tanning Bed

Exfoliate

It is extremely important to exfoliate your skin the day before using a tanning bed.

Exfoliating helps clear dead skin cells from your pores, allowing UV rays to penetrate more evenly and deeply, resulting in a better, more natural-looking tan.

tanning bed face tan — Always remember to exfoliate

If there are impurities or dead skin cell build-ups, they can interfere with the tanning process and cause blotches and streaks.

You can make your own sugar face scrub that you can use before each session. Just be sure to pick the right type of sugar.

Avoid Makeup

This is the one rule you must remember! Chemicals found in many makeup products can interfere with the tanning process, preventing UV rays from penetrating the skin and producing melanin, which causes the skin to darken.

Remove all makeup from your skin, including lipstick and eyeliner. Even the smallest amount of makeup on your skin can cause your tan to have darker and lighter patches, which is definitely not the look you would want.

Some makeup products can intensify the effects of UV rays, causing further damage to your skin, which may result in redness and pain, rather than a tanned and glowing appearance.

While I don’t recommend wearing make-up in a tanning bed, I do wear a tinted moisturizer with SPF 41 when I’m out in natural sunlight.

Don’t Overdo It

Your face only needs to be in direct sunlight for a maximum of ten minutes for a proper tan to form. Anything more and your skin will become damaged.

If you spend a longer time in the tanning bed than this, you should apply a low-factor sunscreen to provide some protection to your face, while still allowing it to tan.

Your best bet would be to use a moisturiser with an SPF 15 or similar.

This provides your skin with protection from damage caused by exposure to UV rays, while also delivering the necessary moisture that aids in the production of melanin for darker skin.

Tanning Bed Tips

As you will likely be paying for your tanning bed session, you will want to make the most of it without burning or damaging your skin excessively.

Here are some helpful tricks on how to make the most of your tanning session:

Shower before – You should shower close to the time of your tanning appointment, using a fragrance-free soap that has a slight exfoliation. This removes dead skin cells from your body, resulting in a more even tan.
Check your medication – Some medications can make your skin more susceptible to damage from UV rays. Speak with your doctor if you are taking any medications to determine if it is safe to use a tanning bed.
Pre-tan accelerator – To maximize your tan, use a pre-tan accelerator, which helps your skin develop a deeper tan during the session while keeping it moisturized and hydrated.
Know what you want – You should know what you are aiming for before going into the tanning salon. Please speak with the tan technician, who will inform you on how to achieve this goal.
Know your skin type – A person with a fair skin tone cannot tan as easily as someone with naturally darker skin. Tan according to your skin tone.
Wear goggles – It is essential to wear goggles during your tanning session. UV rays can cause severe damage to your eyes if left unprotected, leading to lifelong conditions that are difficult to treat.
Choose your clothing – If you want a fuller tan, you might consider going topless and wearing a thong. You can wear whatever you want, though.
Just relax – Sit back and enjoy your tanning session. How often do you get to lie around doing nothing?
Wait between sessions – Ideally, you should wait 4 days between each tanning session.

Post-tanning bed care is just as critical. Read my guide to taking care of your skin after a tanning bed.

Tanning Your Face Without UV Rays

If you are concerned about tanning your face in a tanning bed and worried about the potential damage it may cause, consider using a sunless tanner instead.

This does require preparation as well and takes some practice to perfect, but you will be able to achieve tanned skin from the comfort of your own home.

Tie your hair back with a ponytail to keep it out of your face and to stop stray hairs from interfering with the lotion on your face.
Use a cleanser to remove any makeup or dirt from your skin. Use a washcloth to gently exfoliate any dead skin cells that may cause darker patches in certain areas.
Use a gentle exfoliator to gently remove dead skin cells and clear out dirt from deep within your pores. This allows the self-tanner to sink deeper into your skin for better, longer-lasting results.
Dry your face and apply toner with a cotton swab, covering all the areas of your face.
Allow your skin to dry completely before applying self-tanner.
Dab a small bit of self-tanning lotion onto your fingers, and massage it onto your face using small circular motions. You can also use a foundation brush or sponge to blend the lotion properly into smaller areas and create a more even, blended look.
Using a moisturizer, gently massage your neck to blend it with the self-tanner product. This will ensure there is no visible tan line and will blend the color down your neck with your natural skin tone.
Leave the self-tanner to develop for the recommended amount of time, and note that it will also darken overnight.
Continue to moisturize your skin daily after self-tanning application. Self-tanners can dry out your skin, and the best way to ensure your tan lasts longer and appears more natural-looking is to keep your skin hydrated and well-moisturized.

Tanning Your Face In A Tanning Bed

When you go to a tanning salon to use a tanning bed, you want the complete package. What is the point of having deliciously tanned skin with a pale face?

Your face requires extra attention in the tanning bed, as it is more sensitive and vulnerable to damage from UV rays.

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