The best thing about going on a sunny vacation is coming back with a beautiful, bronzed tan. But how long does a tan last? Frustratingly, it seemingly starts to fade as soon as you get home. So, how can you maintain a gorgeous, golden glow long after the vacation is over? Knowing how to keep a tan will help you to keep that care-free vacation feeling for longer. With that in mind, here is our advice on how to keep your tan from fading in 6 steps.
- Moisturize
- Exfoliate
- Avoid hot showers and baths
- Apply a face tanning serum
- Use a St.Tropez gradual tan
- Wear white to emphasize tanned skin
How To Keep A Tan
So, how long does a tan last? When left to its own devices, a tan will naturally begin to fade after 7-10 days. Luckily, with a little extra care and attention, you can keep your skin tanned long after you’ve left the beach.
1. Moisturize tanned skin
@samanthaguerrero0 via @sttropeztan on Instagram
Want to know how to keep a tan from fading? If there’s one essential step that will help you to keep your tan after a vacation, it’s moisturizing. After spending days basking in the heat of the sun, your skin will feel dehydrated. Look for products that are rich in oils and creamy butters and ensure that you start to moisturize before your skin becomes dry. Once it starts to peel, unfortunately your holiday glow’s days are numbered.
Our Tan Enhancing Body Moisturiser blends Shea Butter with Apricot Kernel Oil and Jojoba Seed Oil to keep the skin hydrated. Apply it religiously twice a day to keep tanned skin glowing for longer and feeling velvety soft and smooth.
Top tip: If you’re looking for tips on how to keep a tan, make sure that you’re also drinking plenty of water. If your body is dehydrated, your skin will be too.
2. Exfoliate to keep skin tanned, healthy and glowing
It might seem counter-intuitive, but exfoliation is a great way to keep tanned skin from fading. After a vacation, your skin will be particularly dehydrated, and dead, dry cells will have accumulated on the surface. This will make your tan look duller and less glowy. By buffing the skin gently, your beautiful sunkissed tan will be revealed underneath.
Our Tan Enhancing Body Polish and Exfoliator is essential for a flawless glow. Specifically designed to enhance your tan, it gently buffs away dry, lackluster skin to reveal the radiant tan beneath.
Top tip: For best results, apply our tan-extending exfoliator with our gentle Buffing Mitt
3. Stick to lukewarm water
You don’t want to undo the results of moisturizing and exfoliating, so don’t risk dehydrating your skin by taking a bath or shower that’s too hot. Instead, stick to cooler, lukewarm water and use a nourishing shower oil or cream.
4. Illuminate your complexion with a tanning serum
@afroglory_ via @sttropeztan on Instagram
If you want to enhance your overall bronzed look, make sure that your face looks tanned. As the first thing everyone will see, it will set the tone for your entire golden glow.
The good news is that knowing how to keep a tan on your face has never been simpler. To keep your skin tanned and beautifully hydrated, try our Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water Face Serum. Supercharged with Hyaluronic Acid, Peach Flower Extract, Green Mandarin Water, and Vitamin C and D boosters, it mimics the effects of the sun, brightens your skin and protects against external aggressors. It also offers up to 72 hours of hydration. Mix our tanning serum into your usual moisturizer and it will develop into a medium golden glow over the next 4 to 6 hours.
Top tip: Alternatively, apply a bronzer to the areas of your face the sun would naturally hit (think nose, cheekbones, forehead and temples). Our 3-in-1 Bronzing Powder boasts three complementary tones to create that gorgeous vacation glow.
5. Enhance your glow with a St.Tropez gradual tan
If you want to know how to maintain a tan, the easiest method is to keep topping up your glow. A St.Tropez gradual tan lotion will keep your skin hydrated, while also enhancing your tan a little more each day.
Our Gradual Tan Tinted Everyday Body Lotion is perfect for this. Not only does it illuminate your skin and blur imperfections where your tan has already started to fade, but it gradually develops into a long-lasting natural golden glow over 4 to 8 hours. Apply it every day using an Applicator Mitt to make your bronzed look last longer.
6. Wear white to emphasize the appearance of tanned skin
A tried and tested trick, wearing white or light-colored clothing will give the illusion of darker skin. White nail polish and bold lipstick will have that effect too. While not strictly a tip on how to keep a tan from fading, you can trust us when we say that tanned skin will look deeper, darker and more bronzed – instantly!
So, how long does a tan last? The real answer is as long as you want it to! Follow these six simple rules and you’ll never have to wonder how to keep a tan after a vacation again.
