How To Avoid Tan Lines
How To Avoid Tan Lines. Tan lines are hard to avoid. Whether you’re sunbathing in the skimpiest clothes or simply outside working or playing, you’re bound to come home with tan lines in the strangest places. Farmers, construction workers, and lifeguards are especially prone to tan lines, as are people who garden, swim, hike, run outdoors, bike, play field sports, or supervise children in playgrounds. If you do any of the activities listed here, you probably want to know how to prevent or soften the appearance of tan lines. We’ve got the answer.
- Cover up — or get naked. The best way to prevent unsightly tan lines is to cover your body fully in loose clothing, or let it all hang out and soak in the sun’s rays evenly. Since it’s typically not feasible to be naked outdoors, loose-fitting clothing will help prevent tan lines since the clothing will shift, which will alternate the areas of your skin that are exposed to the sun.
- Use a good sunblock and use it everywhere. You’ll help prevent skin cancer and reduce the risk of tan lines.
- Wear a tan-through bathing suit so that the sun’s rays reach all of you, not just the areas outside the bathing suit lines.
- Pull the straps off your shoulders while sunbathing, and unclip the back of your bikini top when lying face down.
- Stay out of the sun during peak hours. When the sun is most powerful, from noon until 3:00 pm, it is most likely to burn and damage exposed skin, resulting in even more dramatic tan lines.
- Apply a self tanner to the unexposed areas to even out the appearance of your tan and camouflage tan lines. Be sure to use gloves when applying so as not to tan the palms of your hands — a surefire sign that you used an artificial tanning product. Reapply as needed.
- A tanning bed can provide a quick solution to help blend skin color. But this is not without risk — intense ultraviolet-ray exposure can cause cancer, so be sure to weigh the pros and cons beforehand.
- Cover up. Put aside the tank top and opt for a long sleeve gauze or linen shirt.
- Mix one cup of baking soda with ½ cup of water to form a paste, then scrub on skin. You’ll not only exfoliate your skin but also soften the appearance of your tan lines. Do this often, as more is better!
- Apply makeup to lighter areas so they more closely resemble the color of your tan.
The best way to avoid tan lines is to prevent them in the first place, but when they do appear, these smart strategies can help you soften their appearance.
