You are basically not a very dark-skinned guy. But you get a nice summery complexion on your face and arms every year. But what are those white calves? Why your legs don't tan and what you can do about it, you can read here!
Now it's time to leave the changeable weather behind and start the summer with full power. What can't be missing? Tanned skin!
In a beautiful skirt or airy dress brown legs look simply gorgeous. They make us look healthier and show off summery bright colors even better.
If you're like me and have the problem of white legs that just won't tan, you've come to the right place.
Let's take a look at what's causing this and what can be done about it.
Table of contents
The legs do not tan - the cause
I would explain my summer tan with a nice gradient. The face and shoulders are nicely tanned. However, the further down you go, the whiter I get. Until you finally get to the legs. They are so bright that it's blinding.
Sometimes, however, they get a little color off. This is then usually red and peels off after a few days. Then I'm back to square one. The legs do not get brown. But why actually?
How can it be that the shoulders get a nice color. But brown thighs or lower legs - missing.
Legs are less in the sun
Arms and face have much more time to get a tan. Already in April - depending on the weather, sometimes in March - we let the sun directly to the skin. Even if we do not actively tan, to wear a top and do without sleeves - this already gives the upper body a very big start advantage.
If we are outdoors, our arms and face are automatically permanently exposed to the sun.
The legs usually remain in long trouser legs. By the time we unpack the first shorts, it's often already June.
Can you get a tan in the shade?
The skin is thinner
Your legs never tan as quickly as your arms? That also has to do with the texture of the skin. The skin on your legs is thinner than on your arms. Thick skin tans faster.
The sunscreen blocks the UV rays
And if we then deliberately spend time in the sun to tan, then of course we apply extra cream to our legs. Sunburn is quickly risked here. No wonder, they are not used to the sun's rays.
So that we don't have to worry about redness in the evening, we like to use a very strong sunscreen. By the way, a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or more is considered a sunblock and no longer lets UV rays through, which is why we don't get a tan.
Don't get me wrong: sun protection is important, but sometimes it may fall so hard that we have no chance of getting a tan.
Many sun creams contain alcohol, which dries out and stresses the skin. Other creams contain many artificial additives, preservatives and fragrances, which is also not very beneficial for tanned legs. Use only natural products.
The best sunscreens are those that absorb quickly and are not greasy. Especially when you are on the mountain, walking in the city or do not want to smear all your clothes with sunscreen.
All this I can learn from the Suntribe sunscreen* claim. I have recently started using it myself because it is organic, free from additives such as preservatives, alcohol or perfume and is made without synthetics.
This benefits everyone who has sensitive skin and who has no desire for chemicals on and in the body. With the Suntribe discount code* "wegowild" you can save 10 % on the order.
And you're also doing nature a favor. Because conventional sunscreen produces a lot of plastic. But Suntribe packs the cream in sugar tubes.
The sun protection factor is 30. Only a cream with a sun protection factor can prevent his skin from getting damaged while lying in the sun. At the beginning of the season, it's best to use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor.
The more your skin has become accustomed to the sun, the lower the sun protection factor can be.
Learn more about organic sunscreen here!
Help, the legs do not tan: what you can do!
Not a single tip has helped so far? Then you should resort to remedies. They will help you to get brown legs:
Tanning oil
The ingredients of tanning oil can increase and accelerate the tanning effect. The oil reflects the sun's rays - similar to stand-up paddling on the water.
Apply the oil before sunbathing and do not stay too long in the direct sun.
Caution: tanning oil has no sun protection factor and should therefore only be applied to skin that is already somewhat accustomed to the sun!
Beta Carotene Capsules
Those who do not want to apply creams or oils can take beta-carotene capsules. They provide a tanned complexion from the inside. If you take them, you will only need to spend a little time in the sun and will still get an even summer complexion.
However, you cannot use the capsules specifically for pale legs. Therefore: Open the sunshade and tan the legs separately.
Psst: These hacks will help you get a tan extra fast!
Self tanner
Many have bad experiences with self-tanner. One becomes blotchy and orange. The bed is smeared with Tanning cream*. But there are also good products on the market. I have had good experiences with this product.
It's more of a mousse than a cream, so it applies very evenly.
Gently massage it in with gloved hands.
On Amazon, the buyers are enthusiastic. No orange skin, no typical self-tanner scent and no stains. With just under 800 reviews fall across the board positive. The product is vegan, animal-free and consists only of natural ingredients.
Spray tanning
Your legs don't get a tan, even though you've tried everything? You just want a light complexion for a wedding or another event? Then Spray Tanning can help you. To put it simply, brown color is sprayed on the top layer of the skin. It remains here for 1-2 weeks.
The color is adjusted to your skin type. And if you want, you can have the color only on the legs. This way it looks completely natural. You just need to avoid extensive full baths, too aggressive shower gels and soaps.
I was recently allowed to test it. Check it out here: "Spray Tanning in self-test“
Why moisture decides whether the legs tan?
Our skin looks healthier and appears more cared for when we have a summer complexion. The skin tans better when it has enough moisture available. This applies to arms and face just as much as to legs and buttocks.
You also ensure that the upper layers of the skin do not come off so quickly and that the tan is better preserved.
Moisture from the outside with creams
In summer and especially on vacation, when you spend a lot of time outside, you should use a lot of moisturizer. Not only on the legs, but all over the body.
Apply cream from head to toe in the morning and evening. Make sure that there is no alcohol in the creams, it dries out the skin. The fewer additives in the cream, the better. Care products with aloe vera are particularly suitable.
Moisture from inside
And then you should also provide enough moisture from the inside. Then your skin is not so dry and is plumped up from the inside.
Drink at least 2 liters of tap water or unsweetened teas a day. Feel free to add lemon, mint, cucumber or oranges.
What you can do to get tan legs
Do without sunscreen? Please don't! Sunscreen is important because otherwise our skin burns. You know this in the form of sunburn. Every sunburn ensures that the risk of skin cancer increases. But of course there are a few tips and tricks you can try.
First a scrub for brown skin
Often legs tend not to tan because of dry and flaky skin. The dead skin flakes stick to the new skin. There can not get a tan even with a lot of effort.
So the first step is to do a gentle exfoliation regularly. This removes dead skin cells and allows the sun to reach the skin.
Tanning the legs specifically
We now know that the legs do not tan because they are less in the sun. So we need to change that if we want to get an even tan.
Selectively expose your legs to the sun while skipping your arms and face to get an even tan.
This is how it works:
- Lie in the sun, but the upper body is in the shade.
- Stay in the sun without sunscreen for the first few minutes. You have to estimate for yourself how long the self-protection time of your skin is.
- Afterwards, apply sunscreen, give your legs a break, and then lie back in the sun.
- Do not forget to turn regularly :)
Wear shorts and skirts
If you want tan legs, then you should let the sun on your legs as often as possible. Regularly wear short skirts, shorts, and even just bikini pants for gardening.
Even on cloudy days, some UV rays reach our skin. So if the temperatures allow it, you should wear short clothes even on cloudy days.
Off to the water
Legs don't get a tan? Then get on a stand-up paddle board. Here they get sun rays all around and are exposed to the sun evenly from all sides.
Protect the head and shoulders with a hat. Then the focus of tanning is on the abdomen, back and legs. The rule here is to apply sunscreen from the first minute. Because on the water the sun's rays are much more intense than on land.
So you tan your skin healthy and slowly!
Our conclusion
I hope you found a way to get a summer complexion. What's already clear is that your legs won't tan if you're not in the sun.
So grab some shorts right now and head outdoors. You don't have to lie in the sun. Even a walk will give you tanned legs all around.
And if nothing helps, reach for tanning oil or mousse. A little cheating is allowed. Good luck and success! :)
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