Because bronzers are used frequently by people who can not tan naturally or in a tanning bed, it is important to add sunblock to your skin. While melanin production protects against the harmful rays of the sun, bronzers don't increase melanin in the skin and so even with a wonderful tan, the bronzers do not give added protection to your skin.



Some people will tan normally in a tanning bed, but feel uncomfortable about tanning their faces in the tanning bed. They will typically cover their faces and tan their bodies, coming back later to tan their face with a bronzers.

Consider SPF and bronzers and how they work together. SPF helps the body block the sun. SPF actually stands for Sun protection factor. The higher the number is, the better it protects from the sun. In addition, the darker the skin, the lower the number you actually need. The lighter the skin, the higher the number you need. SPF can range from 1 to 45. Many cosmetics and lotions have added SPF to their products because the suns rays can cause a lot of damage to the skin.

If you have very light skin, SPF and Bronzers can be used to give you that flawless tan look and still give you added protection against the sun. An SPF of 15 filters about 92% of UVB rays and will allow you to be in the sun 15 times longer then they normally would.

The SPF number corresponds with the amount of time it would safely protect you in the sun. An SPF of 45 would allow you to stay in the sun 45 times longer then you normally would before burning. For instance if you can stay in the sun 10 minutes before burning, an SPF of 45 would allow you to stay in the sun 450 minutes.

Many tanning salons recommend using an SPF lotion before getting in the tanning bed because the tanning beds also produce UV rays. SPF and bronzers are an important mix because of the lack of Melanin production when tanning the skin. In tanning beds, tanning accelerators can increase the production of melanin. In this instance because melanin protects the body, you could lower your SPF. SPF and brozers are different because it is a reaction with DHA and amino acids in your skin causing the pigmentation and not a true tan involving melanin.

When you choose SPF and bronzers, keep in mind your skins original ability to fight UV rays. If you just get a bronzing tanning lotion and don't do anything to add to the melanin production of your skin, then your skin is still going to act like it did when you were pale. Choose SPF and bronzers based on your original skin tone.