Getting an even tan from the sun or a sunbed seems like it should be simple, but it really isn’t! One problem that many people face when tanning is that their body tans, while their face stays a paler tone.
When spending time tanning, you would want an even tan all over, and when this doesn’t happen, it can be quite frustrating.
Why is it more difficult to tan your face? There are a few reasons as to why your face won’t tan, such as you wearing makeup, less melanin present on your skin, or using a sunscreen that is too strong. However, there are ways to tan your face or give your skin a more tanned appearance.
Keep reading to find out more about why your face is more difficult to tan, and what you can do to give your face a glowing, even tan!
Why Your Face Is More Difficult To Tan
Understanding the different reasons as to why certain areas of your body don’t tan as easily, like your legs or face, is the best route to fixing any problems, and hopefully, ending up with a beautiful tan.
Here are some of the most common reasons as to why your face might be more difficult to tan:
Burning Instead Of Tanning
Your facial skin is more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body, so there is a chance that your face is burning instead of tanning.
When your skin burns, it does become damaged and can be quite dry. It is then unlikely to result in a tan, and therefore you would notice that your skin just is not tanning.
You do have to be careful when trying to tan your face, and you might need to put some sunscreen on your face when tanning to prevent any burning.
Tanning Barriers
You might not realize it, but you could have tanning barriers on your face. This could be either a moisturizer you are using that has SPF in it or makeup that is interfering with the tanning process.
It is recommended to wear some sort of sunscreen on your face when tanning, but other creams and products could lead to an uneven tan or no tanning at all.
Less Melanin
Facial skin typically contains less melanin than the skin on other areas of your body, so it is, therefore, unable to darken as much.
When skin is exposed to UV rays, it increases melanin production, and as melanin is a dark pigment, your skin looks tanned. While this also happens on your face, it will not be to the same extent as the rest of your body.
Inadequate Tanning Time
You might just not be spending enough time tanning your face, or not tanning at the right time of the day, and your skin is not being exposed to enough UV rays to tan to a noticeable extent.
It could be that you need to try and tan when the sun is stronger, or for slightly longer periods.
How To Tan Your Face In The Sun Or Sunbed
If tanning in the sun or in a sunbed is your preferred method of tanning, then here are some tips for you to use to help tan your face:
Prepare Your Skin
Preparing your skin before tanning is so important to helping your face tan. You need to exfoliate your facial skin the day before you tan, to remove a build-up of dead skin cells.
Exfoliating your skin clears it up to tan evenly and deeper, and it also means that your tan will last for longer too!
Use Tanning Products
Tanning products can make such a difference with how your face might tan. These tanning products can be used both indoors and in the sun, and help encourage more melanin production to darken your tan further.
These tan accelerators will also moisturize your skin while you tan and after, which is also essential for helping your tan stick around for longer.
Make Sure Your Face Is Clean
You have to make sure that your face is clean before tanning. Any products left on your skin (other than tanning products) could act as a barrier for the UV rays to reach your skin, and therefore your face might not tan.
Make sure that there is no makeup or creams left on your face before heading off to tan,
Adjust Tanning Time
You may need to increase the time you spend tanning. You could be spending too little time trying to tan, or tanning when the sun is not strong enough.
Just be sure to not spend too much time tanning, as it could land up burning your skin instead.
Tanning Plateau
Your skin might be stuck at a tanning plateau and is unable to tan any further than it has. This happens when you have tanned for quite some time and your skin has thickened from tanning. The UV rays therefore cannot penetrate your skin deep enough to tan.
If this happens, you need to stop tanning for a while and wait for your skin to get back to normal before attempting to tan again.
Sunless Tanning Options For Your Face
When your face is refusing to tan and you do not want to try and spend more time in the sun or the sunbed typing to tan it, you have a few alternative options on how you can give your skin a tanned appearance.
Self-Tanner
Self-tanners offer a great way to give your face a tan without having to spend time in the sun or in a tanning bed.
There is a wide range of self-tanning products that you can use, and there are some that are specifically designed to be used on the face.
Gradual self-tanners, which have a low concentration of the tanning agent, are a great option for the face, as they only lighten the skin little by little over a few days, so you have complete control of the tan your face is given.
The St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Mist is a great option for your face. It is a misting spray that offers a buildable tan that you can customize to suit what you want. It is also packed with skin-nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, to care for your skin while it tans it.
Spray Tan
Having a spray tan done by a professional might be a better option for you if you are nervous about using a self-tanner on your own at home.
The spray tan technician will be able to advise you on the best spray tan formula to use and the right tan color for your skin type and skin tone, which is really helpful to have your tan look natural and flawless.
Bronzer
If you do not want to commit to a self-tanner or a spray tan and want something that you can wash off, then a bronzer powder is a good way to give your face a tanned appearance.
You can apply the bronzer powder over your makeup to give it a more sun-kissed glow, and then you can simply wash it away at the end of the day.
Take care to match the bronzer to your skin tone so that it looks natural!
The NYX Professional Makeup Matte Bronzer will be perfect to use to give your face a tanned appearance, and it will even out oiliness too, giving your skin a matte finish. It is available in a few different shades so you can find the one that is best for your skin.
Why Won’t My Face Tan?
It can be really frustrating trying to work on your tan, and to have gorgeously tanned skin, except for your face which is refusing to take on a tanned tone!
There are various reasons as to why your face might not tan, such as makeup acting as a barrier, not spending enough time in the sun, or your skin reaching a tanning plateau, and understanding the different reasons is the best way to try and fix the problem to then tan your face.
If your face is refusing to tan in the sun or a sunbed, you could try out a self-tanner, have a spray tan done, or use a bronzer to give it that sun-kissed glow!
Related Questions
How long does it take to tan your face in the sun?
How long it takes to tan your face in the sun depends on your skin type and how strong the UV rays are. Typically, for skin tones that do not have difficulty tanning, it could take between an hour or two to tan your face in the sun.
Can pale people tan?
Pale people can tan, they just have to be extra careful when doing so. People with pale and fair skin should apply an SPF 15 or SPF 30 to their skin when tanning, to prevent burning, and to instead help build up a bronzed glow slowly over time.
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