Tanning your skin naturally

Published: 04/17/2013 - Updated: 08/14/2019

Nature has provided all kinds of natural products that we can use to give our skin a golden and healthy tone; it also helps us to nourish our skin.

While in the market, there is a whole range of products for tanning our skin, many of these can be full of chemicals that can cause adverse skin reactions; however, you can get a healthy tan using ingredients found in your kitchen in most cases.

Importantly, none of the candidates are able to protect against the harmful effects of prolonged exposure to the sun, so I recommend respecting exposure times.

The carrot

Perhaps you've already heard about the benefits that carrot does when tanning our skin, this is due to beta-carotene, a pigment that gives color to the skin.

However, it is not the only food with these properties; all foods rich in vitamin A are useful for this purpose, especially those of plant origin.

Carrot Tan

Ingredients:

  • 250 ml of carrot juice
  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

Preparation:

  1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix until a smooth paste.
  2. Store in a dark glass bottle and seal.
  3. Let stand in a cool place for 10 days.
  4. You can substitute olive oil for 4 tablespoons of wheat germ.

Aloe Tan

Ingredients:

  • 1 leaf of aloe
  • 20 drops of essential oil of coconut
  • 10 tablespoons of wheat germ

Preparation:

  1. Cut an Aloe leaf and extract gelatinous pulp with a knife.
  2. Mix the pulp with coconut essential oil and wheat germ.
  3. Store in a dark glass bottle sealing.

Carrot and Coconut Lotion

Ingredients:

  • Carrot juice
  • A few drops of pure coconut oil

Preparation:

Mix both ingredients until homogenized and let stand in the sun prior to application to the skin.

Coconut oil has a nourishing and moisturizing value; you should use this lotion in light intensity peak hours to get a golden color without damage to the skin.

Rose Tanning Lotion

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup of liquid petrolatum
  • 1 tablespoon of lanolin
  • 3 tablespoons of rose oil

Preparation:

  1. Melt the lanolin and petroleum jelly over low heat.
  2. Once both have been integrated, incorporate rose oil.
  3. Stir to mix well all.
  4. Remove from heat and let mixture cool.
  5. Place the mixture into a glass jar, tightly sealed.

Recommendations for use

  1. Whatever the preparation, shake well before applying.
  2. Keep these formulas in dark glass bottles hermetically sealed to prevent the ingredients get lost.
  3. To apply, take a small amount of the product and spread it in your hands, then use your hands to apply it on your skin.
  4. Do not forget that these components do not have sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun, so it is recommended not to overdo your sun exposure, or pre-tanning lotion, apply a sunscreen product.

Nutrients for healthy skin and a perfect tan

There are also foods that will help us to look a healthy, radiant skin and get a bright tan, and then these are some of the recommended nutrient intake for tanning.

  • Vitamin A: helps in skin cell renewal, stimulates collagen production, and also favors a good tan.
  • Vitamin B: Involved in cell regeneration processes and improves the condition of skin, hair and nails.
  • Vitamin C: Known for its antioxidant, promotes collagen production, and helps reduce skin blemishes from sun exposure.
  • Vitamin E: antioxidant, also reduces the effect of free radicals in summer increased by exposure to sunlight.
  • Omega 3 and 6: fatty acids necessary to keep your skin hydrated and healthy
  • Selenium: is another antioxidant, excellent, to combat free radicals generated in the body by pollution and stress.
  • Zinc: Promotes wound and burns healing, and contributes to good skin, hair and nails.

About the author
  • Dra. Loredana Lunadei

    Dr. Loredana Lunadei is a specialist in food, dietetics and nutrition. She studied at the University of Milan where she obtained a Master in Food Science and Technology. Subsequently, she continued her studies, completing her PhD also at the University of Milan. Linkedin.

2 Replies to “Tanning your skin naturally”
  • Susan says:

    Those tips seem like a very good help to get a perfect tan and even better, a healthier skin which obviously will be better for your entire body. I recommend vitamin c and a since they can help the body cells from the inner part. And then, try to avoid long sun exposure since it can cause cancer and more problems.

  • Stacy says:

    How strange, I never would have thought you could make tanning oils like this at all! I love that they all are so natural and so simple to make, but I’ve never been overly concerned about getting a tan in the first place. I would rather prevent burning that getting a tan, I’m more worried about getting skin cancer than I am about getting than. Interesting artcile though!