8 Tips on how you can prolong your tan

You may not be back from a holiday with a tan but you may have managed to pick one at home this summer. If you have gained a natural tan, used a gradual tan or had a professional spray tan, looking after your skin post tan is essential for maintaining your radiant glow.

Here are five simple steps how to make your tan last longer.

How to maintain your tan?

Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the first step, dead skin cells can make your skin appear duller and less glowy. By exfoliating your skin (gently) you are giving the tan a fresh healthy layer of skin to apply itself to. It is key to exfoliate as regularly as your skin can take it. This will keep skin smooth, and healthy.

Avoid the common skincare mistake of using a microbead exfoliator. Instead, try using an exfoliator shower sponge or gloves, simply apply a small amount of shower gel and begin to scrub gently in circular motions to start the dead skin cell shedding process. Be sure to give your elbows, feet and knees extra TLC, these areas are prone to dryness.

Once you have exfoliated from head to toe, let the water run down your body to rinse off any residue.

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise

If there is one thing we love is to do lather ourselves in moisturiser.  After exfoliating, your skin is fresh and ready for hydration.  Apply your favourite body lotion to everywhere you have just exfoliated. No amount of moisturiser is too much, apply it as frequently as your skin needs it, and never allow your skin the opportunity to become dry.

Keeping your skin hydrated is essential if you want your tan to last if the skin isn't moisturised regularly your tan will appear patchy and it will fade quicker. 

The day you are applying a gradual tan or getting a professional spray tan you shouldn't apply moisturiser to your whole body just to the dryer areas, like elbows and knees. Once you have showered off all the residue you should apply moisturiser every day to enhance and maintain your glow. 

Suncream

Applying an SPF should be the first thing you do every morning. You must apply SPF to your face every single day even if the sun isn't shining. Although your body is a little different.

Don't let the weather fool you, protect your skin.

Some people may think that they can't protect their skin and maintain a tan at the same time. However, this is not true. In order to make tan last longer, be sure to avoid oil-based lotions and those that contain alcohol. This will help you to prevent streaking and tan breakdown, allowing you to main a healthy radiant tan.

Drink water

Just because you are not in the 30-degree sun, doesn't give you the reason to drink less water. Keeping on top of your water intake is important for our bodies to function and it is essential for healthy skin.

You can not depend on drinking 8 glasses of water a day to solve your skincare problems, keeping your skin hydrated takes a combination of steps.

Cool showers

Long hot baths can be very appealing however they not good for maintaining a tan. Hot baths and showers can dehydrate your skin, therefore if you are trying to make your tan last longer try having cool showers.

TIP: To give your skin an extra boost use a moisturising shower oil/lotion for extra hydration.