Have you ever noticed that all body builders tan—excessively? It’s comical to see them flexing on stage while a radioactive glow is emitted from their body. You may assume that bodybuilders are simply driven by the aesthetics of tanning, which is true, but not necessarily why you think.

Bronzed skin is obviously prized in Western culture, but bodybuilders tan to bring out their muscles. When you skin is tan, it creates a shadow effect on your body which accentuates the striations, making you look more cut. Not only does tanning work to help bring out bulk, it also has a slimming effect for long, lean muscles, which is why you’ll see airbrush tanning systems on the sets of photo shoots. Tanning is a great way to instantly improve your physique, but unlike the body builders, remember to use a little tanning discretion.