You came to Tommy’s tanning salon to get a solid base tan before heading to the beach (yay, you!), and then you headed to the waves for some sunbathing. You were smart and wore shades to protect your eyes from the UVA and UVB rays, but, when you took your sunglasses off at the end of the day, you found yourself with a serious case of reverse raccoon eyes. In other words, you developed a tan everywhere except underneath your sunglasses, and now it looks a little awkward when you take them off.
The good news is, if you plan ahead, you can prevent reverse raccoon eyes.
Step 1: Visit Tommy’s Tanning Salon
Before you head to the beach, the lake, or even your backyard, a good base tan over your entire face will help keep the color consistent. At our tanning salons in CT, you can wear goggles that literally cover, oh so much closer to your eyeballs, so you will have a gorgeous glow from your forehead to your cheeks to your chin.
Step 2: Use Sunscreen Everywhere
Once you arrive at your destination, it is important to apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to your entire face. Make sure it’s applied evenly so the skin all receives sunlight at the same rate. The point here is to prevent a suntan or sunburn, because you don’t want lines, so sunscreen is vital.
Step 3: Consider Shade Sources
Of course, there is something to be said for tanning next to the ocean waves or splashing water at the pool, so if your point is to darken your tan, you won’t want to hide under an umbrella all day. But something as simple as a wide-brimmed hat—or even baseball cap—can keep the skin on your face protected from getting too much sun exposure while allowing the rest of you to get the sun you crave.
Step 4: Reapply Sunscreen and Vary the SPFs
If you are going to be out in the sun for longer than two hours, you will want to reapply the sunscreen to keep away those reverse raccoon eyes. However, when reapplying, use a higher SPF on the parts of your face that will not be covered by your sunglasses. Your sunglasses do block out some of the UVA/UVB rays, so by using different SPFs, you can keep them equally protected.
Step 5: Foundation Tricks to Salvage Reverse Raccoon Eyes
If it’s too late for you and you are already dealing with reverse raccoon eyes, don’t worry; there is still a solution. Find a foundation that matches the tanned skin and carefully apply it to the reverse raccoon eyes. By blending it in, you will be able to eliminate the vast difference in skin tone, so the reverse raccoon eyes won’t be so obvious (use foundation, NOT concealer, because it blends much easier). Finish off with some light brown eye shadow to make everything consistent.
There you have it! Now you can have a relaxing, enjoyable day outside without having to worry about reverse raccoon eyes when you are done. Stop by one of our 14 Connecticut tanning salons to complete step one before your next trip to the beach, and reverse raccoon eyes will be a worry of the past.
