How to tan (really) well

You can't tan without protection

Tanned skin exposed to the sun without sunscreen is tantamount to using... an SPF2, i.e. non-existent protection... So rather than tempting the arrival of a sunburn that could eventually turn into a tan, and above all to reduce the risk of skin cancer, we take the lead with a high level of sun protection. Discover our guide to the best face sunscreens.

The ultra-fluid sunscreen with anti-aging protection: Sun Care Fluid SPF50 Oh My Cream Skincare

And to even out the complexion : Mineral Drops Tinted Sunscreen SPF50 Odacité

The easy-to-carry clean duo: SPF50+ Sun Stick & Sun Care Water SPF50+ Oh My Cream Skincare

Choosing the right niche for exposure

What's best? Make an appointment with the sun, preferably before 12pm or after 4pm. As for duration, expose yourself gradually, depending on your phototype and location. As a guide, fair skin can become sunburnt in 15 minutes if the sun is extreme!

Exfoliate to boost radiance

To restore and prolong a luminous, even, long-lasting tan (and before applying self-tanner), the trick is to remove dead cells from the skin's surface. For the body, as for the face, once or twice a week is more than enough. And don't forget to include an exfoliation session before your vacation, for a more harmonious tan.

The super-easy facial scrub: Aura Gold Manuka Honey Radiance Mask Masque Eclat Antipodes

The addictive body scrub: Microderm Instant Glow Body Scrub Goop Beauty

Tinkering with self-tanner

To avoid the temptation of excessive sun exposure and give your skin a pretty summer glow, add a few drops of The Impossible Tan Pai Skincare, a 100% natural self-tanner with a moisturizing formula, to our day cream. And for each area of the body (arms, legs, chest...), we mix a pump of The Classic Hint of Summer Self-Tanning Radiance with a body cream. Bonus: this radiance self-tanner is also ideal for reducing swimsuit marks ;-)

The exfoliating tip that boosts circulation

For a detoxifying ritual that will do you good even on vacation, grab your Dry Body Brush Oh My Cream Skincare ! This dry massage stimulates lymphatic circulation and removes dead skin, leaving you with smooth skin and light legs. And to avoid over-exfoliating your skin, don't perform your dry massage before exfoliation, or on the same day!

Choosing the right supplement

Thanks to their antioxidant- and vitamin C-rich formula, the capsules On veut un bronzage sublime Atelier Nubio capsules prepare skin for the sun by strengthening its natural defenses. They're also ideal for preventing imperfections!

And to boost our skin's hydration, protect it from the harmful effects of the sun while revealing its radiance, we start a course of L'Essentiel Peau Combeau. The ideal ally to prepare skin for the sun by reinforcing its natural defenses and preventing imperfections!

Moisturize to make your tan last

There's no getting around it: skin dehydrates faster in the sun. To avoid damaged, dull skin and keep your pretty glow, drink more water throughout the day and saturate your skin with moisturizing formulas after exposure for a plump oval and soft skin.

For the body : theAfterglow Body Oil Huile Corps Éclat Goop Beauty for oil fans who also want to boost their skin's glow.

And to soothe after sun exposure: Aftersun Shimmer Sorbet Après-Soleil Éclat Rudolph Care, an ultra-fresh, soothing after-sun treatment that leaves the skin with a lovely golden glow while moisturizing.

For the face : To moisturize your skin, add the Moisturising Mask Susanne Kaufmann, an intensely nourishing mask that softens, repairs and smoothes features for plumped-up skin all summer long!

For skin lacking water: Baptise Gelée Ultra-Hydratante Antipodes, this ultra-moisturizing gel quenches the thirst of all skin types, leaving a light, comfortable finish.

Enhance with a touch of radiance

To rekindle light in key areas and sublimate your tanned complexion, add a few dabs of Lightshift Cream Highlighter Enlumineur de Teint Ilia on bulging areas of the face, a creamy-textured illuminator that naturally illuminates without glitter. And to sculpt features while mimicking the effects of the sun on the skin, apply the Sunshift Cream Bronzer Ilia, a creamy bronzer that brings warmth to the face.

Which active ingredients for a good tan?

Certain active ingredients such as amino acids and antioxidants can promote tanning by acting on melanin production, in particular by promoting melanocyte activity, for a more even, longer-lasting tan.

Marine oligosaccharides: they mimic the action of endothelin, a hormone naturally released by sun-exposed skin, and stimulate the enzyme responsible for melanin production, promoting the creation of pigment without the need for UV exposure.
Peptides: often found in tan-activating skin care products, they boost melanin synthesis.
Carrot oil: rich in vitamin A, it prepares the skin for the sun, promotes melanin production and prolongs tanning while providing an immediate "healthy glow" result. It's found in the booster CaR Serum Eclat Vital Carotte Sauvage Odacité.
Buriti oil: rich in carotenoids, it stimulates melanin production in the skin, and also has antioxidant and photoprotective properties. It is found in Buriti Bronzer RMS Beauty.
Karanja oil: works on the same principle as Buriti oil. It is notably found in British Summer Time Sun Cream for Sensitive Skin SPF30 Pai Skincare.
Dihydroxyacetone or DHA: often used in self-tanning products (notably the Rudolph Care range), it reacts with the skin's own amino acids to create a beautiful tan, without exposure to the sun.