If you will soon be obtaining your first sunless tan, then you are likely excited to obtain a quick and convenient bronze glow that does not require multiple sessions in a traditional tanning bed to build. Everyone wants a smooth, even sunless tan that lasts as long as possible. However, some people make small mistakes that lead to their sunless tans not lasting as long as they could.
Read on to learn how to prolong the life of your sunless tan on your face and body so you can enjoy your golden glow for as long as possible after your sunless tanning session.
Prolong the Life of Your Facial Tan
Some people find that their sunless tans tend to fade more quickly on their faces than they do on the rest of their bodies. This can occur when skincare products used on the face only contain ingredients that increase skin cell turnover, exfoliate the face, or bleach facial skin.
Popular skincare products that increase skin cell turnover include retinoid creams and gels used to treat acne and prevent aging and products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). Exfoliating ingredients included in many skincare products include alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, and lactic acid. The skin-lightening agents hydroquinone, arbutin, and kojic acid can also lighten a sunless tan.
If you use any skincare products that contain any of these ingredient, skip their use to prolong the life of the tan on your face. In addition, remember that washing your face with a rough washcloth can also exfoliate your skin and shorten the lifespan of your facial tan.
Extend the Lifespan of the Tan on Your Body
While a sunless tan on your body can last up to 10 days
or longer, there are many factors that affect how long an allover sunless tan lasts. One factor out of your control is how quickly your skin naturally sheds old skin cells and replaces them with new ones. This is called your skin's cell turnover rate, and it varies from person to person.
When your skin has a naturally fast cell turnover rate, your sunless tan may not last as long. Fortunately, there are many factors that can prolong the life of a sunless tan that are in your control.
Exfoliate Well Before Tanning
The dihydroxyacetone (DHA) in sunless tanning solutions creates a chemical reaction with the amino acids in skin cells that changes the color of only the top layer of your skin. If you enter the sunless tanning booth covered in skin cells that your body is already getting ready to shed, then your body will quickly shed these skin cells along with your tan, revealing the lighter-toned skin underneath.
For this reason, exfoliate your entire body well before every sunless tanning session.
Stop Exfoliating After Obtaining Your Tan
After you obtain your sunless tan, stop exfoliating your skin temporarily. Exfoliating will remove tan skin cells before your body sheds them naturally, causing your tan to fade more quickly. Even if you don't use skincare products on your body that contain chemical exfoliants, you may exfoliate your skin more than you realize.
Every time you cleanse your body with a rough washcloth or rub your skin dry with a towel, you are manually exfoliating your skin. Instead, cleanse your tan skin gently with a soft sponge or shower pouf along with a mild body wash, and pat your skin dry with a soft towel.
Moisturize Your Skin
With an Oil-Free Moisturizer
Another way to extend the life of your tan is to moisturize your skin with an oil-free moisturizer at least twice a day after you obtain your tan. If you don't moisturize your skin regularly, then tan skin cells can become dry and flake off, causing your tan to fade faster. Choose an oil-free moisturizer because oils, especially mineral oil, are known to strip away sunless tans.
If you plan to obtain your first sunless tan soon, then follow these tips to extend the life of your tan and hold onto your golden glow as long as possible. Contact the staff at Golden State Tanning Studio to schedule your first sunless tanning
session today.
