Forgetting to moisturise daily is one of the key reasons that your sunless tan has faded faster than you'd hoped. While many of us moisturise daily already as part of your normal skincare routine, moisturising when you have a tan is important to help maintain that glow for longer.
Stop your skin from drying out
Moisturise regularly to prevent your tan from fading unevenly. Hydrated skin will hold onto the tan better and keep it looking flawless for longer.
However, it's important to keep your skin moisturized to maintain the longevity of the self-tan. For those with dry skin, self tanner may only last for 0 to 1-2 days. Dry skin tends to absorb less self tanner, so it may fade more quickly. It also sheds faster, leaving you pale.
Neglecting the aftercare
Another self-tanning mistake is taking your faux glow for granted. To ensure an even, natural-looking fade, repeat after us – hydration, hydration, hydration. This means smothering your skin in moisturiser each time you shower (or twice a day if you're super keen).
Unfortunately, your epidermis skin sheds a staggering number of cells per day, meaning that your tan will fade as fast as your epidermis sheds and will almost always be temporary.
Once you have washed off your fake tan moisturise your skin daily to increase the longevity of your tan. Dry, dehydrated skin will cause your dead skin cells to shed quicker, taking the fake tan you worked so hard for with it. Use an oil-free moisturiser as oil can break down the product [2].
Why won't my tan go away? When the cells become damaged with pigment, discoloration that doesn't fade occurs, leading to a tan that doesn't fade. In fact, it tends to stay dark unless you choose to have this hyperpigmentation treated professionally.
Excessive Exfoliation
Additionally, exfoliating or shaving right before you apply your tan is not recommended as that can cause the tan to develop in an uneven manner and ultimately wash off in the shower. We recommend lightly exfoliating at least 24 hours before self-tanning.
Shaving Before or After Spray Tan FAQ
Spray tan may fade slightly when shaving, especially if done immediately after the session. Waiting 8-12 hours before shaving and using gentle strokes can minimise the impact on the tan.
when there's no such thing as too much of a good tan, you can now b. tan forever + ever (well up to 11 days anyways). while nothing may last forever, we've come pretty close with this ultra long lasting tan that lasts… and lasts… and lasts!
Dry patches are a magnet to fake tan which can leave muddy streaks instead of a smooth skin kissed glow. When your fake tan goes wrong in this way, an easy fix is to soak in a bath with a generous glug of bath oil for at least 15 minutes. The warm water and oil will help to soften and loosen the dry patches.
So, does the tan go away or not when you exfoliate the skin? Not only does it not go away, but it also makes it last longer and makes your skin look softer and more beautiful. Your tan has to do with melanin pigmentation and exfoliation does not affect this at all.
Although steaming your face and body is excellent for cleansing your skin, opening up your pores and removing blackheads, it can also make your tan fade a little quicker. This is because treating yourself to a steam actually encourages your older skin layers to flake away to reveal fresh, smooth skin.
Excessive water exposure can make a tan fade faster, so avoid long baths or showers. Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils and moisture, so shower with lukewarm or cold water to keep your tan. Gentle exfoliation can also help a tan last.
We generally recommend sticking to one self tanning product per application. If you do not find the color to be as deep as you would like, you can always apply a second coat 30-60 minutes after initial application, or the following day.
Your skin type: If your skin is more on the dry side or it's winter and you're a little more drier than normal your dead skin cells can shed faster which can result in your fake tan fader faster.
Compared to the rest of the body, skin on the legs does not produce the same amount of melanin, which results in legs getting less tan. Skin on the legs is thicker and harder and the UV light from the sun or sunbeds cannot easily penetrate it.
It may not be the nicest thing to think about, but the human skin sheds and then generates millions of cells everyday. When the tanned skin cells are replaced with new, untanned skin cells, your body will gradually return to its normal colour.
"DHA has been shown to cause an increase in free radicals in the skin," says Chere Lucas Anthony, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Boca Raton, Fla. "This can contribute to skin aging as the free radicals break down collagen and elastin in the skin, which leads to wrinkling and skin aging."
If you want to prolong your tan, taking cold showers is the way to do this. When trying to maintain your skin's healthy glow, you should aim to keep yourself as hydrated as possible and exfoliate as little as possible.
AFTER THE TAN
Shower lightly in cold – lukewarm water for 45 seconds ONLY after your desired development time. Use plain water, don't use shower gels, scrubs, shampoos or loofah during the first 24 hours after your treatment. Pat your skin dry. Do not rub or scrub your skin.
The best moisturiser to prolong fake tan is an oil-free moisturiser like Purity Repair Skin Conditioning Treatment will help keep lock in moisture, and help to keep the skin nourished and hydrated. While also extending the life of your self-tan by up to 48 hours.
**Risk of Over-Tanning**: Applying a second layer can lead to a much darker and potentially unnatural appearance. This may result in an uneven or patchy finish, especially in areas where the product tends to gather.