Moisturize for a Longer-Lasting Self-Tan

Moisturize For A Longer-Lasting Self-Tan

Maintaining your spray tan should be easier than maintaining your summer fling. What sunless tanning shouldn't be is something we consume ourselves with in our bathrooms. Could maintaining your spray tan be as simple as moisturizing?

Before getting a spray tan, there is definitely some homework to be done, like prepping the skin before stripping down. But what happens after you have been spray painted like a golden trophy?

The Importance of Skin Hydration

"I can't stress enough to my clients how important it is to moisturize the skin twice a day to hold on to your tan and lock in your color. If the skin is dry, the tan has nothing to bond with, and everyone's worst fear of a blotchy spray tan then occurs," says Tanya Pongrac, expert tanner for Fake Bake.

Factors that may eat away at your tan include pools, Jacuzzis, sea water and steam rooms. Pongrac says: "Many of my clients will get a spray tan right before vacation, but there is some work that needs to be done on their part in order for the tan to last the duration of their trip." You don't need to stress while enjoying the pool, but remember to lock hydration into the skin. "I love applying thick moisturizers and body butters, especially focusing on the hands, feet, and neck," she continues.

Moisturizer Options to Extend Your Self-Tan

When moisturizers are applied daily, your spray tan will fade evenly, and you will be the least likely to be blotchy at your summer BBQs. And, surprisingly, you don't need to stick to oil-free body lotion after a spray tan, according to Pongrac.

"There are so many myths about oils and soaps eating away at spray tans. As long as it's moisturizing the skin, it is great for a spray tan. A bit of coconut oil mixed in with your lotions is an ideal method to hold onto color. But do avoid any washes that use glycolic acid," suggests Pongrac. She also recommends applying a tan extender a few times each week to lock in the work of your master spray tanner.

Start Your Tan Off Right

Oh, and a long-lasting tan doesn't just come back to a good moisturizer applied periodically. You also have to know how to properly prepare your skin for tanning so that the product stays vibrant and beautiful for longer. Equally as important as lotion is pre-application exfoliation.

Don't skip this step! It helps ensure that your self-tanner - and the moisturizer you'll use to protect it - will absorb into the skin and create a gorgeous glow. So, as you can see, a little homework goes a long way before and after your self-tan.

Pongrac's suggested products to make your Ibiza glow last throughout your work week include:

• Fake Bake Gradual Self-Tan Lotion
• Nivea Essentially Enriched Body Lotion
• Oribe Côte d'Azur Restorative Body Crème

Now you can buy your favorite self-tanning products direct from Fake Bake when you create your free personal Fake Bake account!