People always try to improve or change their appearance, through various means, including getting a tan. Some spend a lot of money at salons in order to get the perfect tan, while others spend hours laying in the sun. With tanning lotions you can achieve these same results by simply staying at home. These are tips which can help, achieve the look and shade you desire.

You should shave your legs and any area that you plan on to, before you tan. After you shave, the skin tends to be soft and smooth, and reacts better to the tan products. The shaving, however should be done a few hours before you begin to apply the products for a tan. Instead of shaving cream, you should also use shaving oil, in order to get a better tan.

One common mistake that people often do, is they forget to exfoliate the skin. Doing so, will have you with streaks or an uneven shade on the skin. If exfoliating and moisturizing is not something you do on a regular basis, then make sure you start a few days before using the product.

You will also need petroleum jelly before beginning the application. The petroleum jelly should be applied to the cuticles, finger and toenails. This will prevent you from getting any of these stain with the tan lotion. It can be difficult to remove and could ruin a manicure and pedicure.

Areas that are dry will appear darker once you apply the lotion. Some of these areas could be the elbows, ankles, feet and any joint in the body. To avoid having darker spots in these areas, you could dilute the lotion. This can be done by mixing a few drops of the lotion with a moisturizer, then applying it to these specific areas.

These are just some things you can try in order to prepare for a tan. You must find the best product for you, as there are many tanning lotions which you can use. What works for one person may not work for another, therefore keep experimenting, until you find the best one for you.

If you have ever experienced a sudden large weight gain then you have probably noticed ugly stretch marks appearing over your body. Stretch marks very often develop on youngsters that are in a growth spurt because of puberty, pregnant women and bodybuilders who have been bulking up. The varying hormonal levels that pubescent teenagers and expectant women go through can also contribute to stretch mark formation. The stretch marks which you notice on your skin surface are actually a kind of linear scar which is caused by swiftly expanding skin, where the top three levels of the skin layers are torn and damaged. These are called the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous layers. When you initially notice stretch marks on your body they are usually deep red or purple in color. After sometime they begin to age and they will fade to a silver or white color. The best way to get rid of stretch marks is to deal with them without delay while they are still red or purple in color because once they get older and fade they are much harder to treat and eradicate.

When considering the best way to get rid of stretch marks it is important to discuss body massage techniques. Massage therapy can help to minimize and eliminate stretch mark scars in many different ways. When your body is being massaged, it stimulates and improves circulation in the body and that increases blood flow and nutrient transfer to the skin which helps in the restoration of new skin cells by encouraging the formation of skin proteins, collagen and elastin. Collagen is a main factor in the flexibility and suppleness of the skin. The pressure delivered during the body massage could also help to break down and minimize the scar tissue built up in stretch marks. Using an effective and natural stretch mark cream while massaging will improve the benefits of the treatment.

The best way to get rid of stretch marks also involves the practice of exfoliating the top layer of skin on a routine basis. Exfoliation works by abrading and removing a thin layer of the epidermis on the surface of the skin. This would help to remove the scarred tissue from stretch marks and it also removes impurities such as dead skin cells. To exfoliate both a cleanser and an applicator are needed. The cleanser must be mildly coarse like oatmeal, baking soda, salt and sugar or should include a natural substance like alpha hydroxy acid or tea tree oil that act as an exfoliating agent. Apply the cleanser using a mildly abrasive applicator such as a loofah, coarse sponge or even soft brush. You have to exfoliate your skin atleast two times daily and then apply a natural stretch mark cream for hydration.

You can get many effective lotions and topical creams for stretch marks available which are manufactured out of holistic and natural ingredients. These lotions and creams are the best way to get rid of stretch marks in an inexpensive, safe and simple manner. Numerous skin lotions that are truly effective at reducing stretch mark scars contain ingredients such as skin proteins elastin and collagen which are naturally produced by the body and help keep the skin layers supple and flexible. There are many other folk type remedies that can be employed as a topical therapy to assist in reducing and removing scar tissue from stretch marks. Included in these folk remedies are lemon juice, coconut oil, jojoba oil, emu oil, aloe vera, shea butter and cocoa butter.

You can use skin exfoliation, massage and stretch mark skin lotions to reduce and eliminate your stretch marks but the single best approach to get rid of stretch marks is for you to use an effective all-natural stretch mark lotion. Keep in mind that massage therapy and skin exfoliation work better in combination with a holistic stretch mark cream.