Everyone wants to look and feel better. Having a nice tan can make you look younger, thinner, healthier, and more radiant. There are many ways to get a tan, but there are none more natural looking than the one you get from natural sunlight. The following guidelines will help you get a great tan while enjoying a fun and relaxing summer day at the beach.

Exfoliate your skin. You can use a loofah with your regular body wash to do this. Exfoliating will help get rid of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin to reveal the new, smooth skin underneath. Don't scrub too hard because this can irritate the skin.

Apply suntan lotion. You should look for one that contains both a moisturizer and SPF 10 to 15. Suntan lotion will help tan your skin gradually and make it more bronze rather than pink. The moisturizer will help your skin stay healthy and the SPF will help avoid a sunburn.

Position yourself directly in line with the sun overhead and change positions every 20 minutes to avoid tan lines. Peak tanning times are generally between 10 am and 2 pm, when the sun is highest in the sky. However, this will depend heavily on where you are in relation to the equator. If you are in a pool or the ocean, you will tan faster because water reflects the sunlight.

Drink lots of water. Drinking water is a great way to help your skin look youthful and smooth. It is always important to keep hydrated, but even more so if you spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun.

After you are done tanning, take a shower. Afterwards, apply a moisturizing lotion to your skin. Aloe vera is a great moisturizer and will also help soothe your skin after a sunburn.