Tanning ABC
Aug 30 2008 by Hannah Davies, The Journal
WHEN summer is drawing to a close, post-holiday blues aren’t the only downside for sunseekers.
Once the sunshine starts fading, your healthy golden glow may be fast disappearing along with your carefree smile.
Those hours invested in slapping on the SPF and basking in the rays may have given you an enviable colour, but like your holiday, it doesn’t last forever.
“The length of time a tan will last is generally dependent on age and how you look after your skin,” says Caroline Young, director of training at St Tropez.
“On normal skin a natural tan will last for around a month, but on older or severely-dehydrated skin it lasts for around six weeks.” Upping your tan maintenance routine will help your suntan stick around for longer and improve the appearance of your skin. So, lose the holiday blues, but keep that bronzed glow. Here’s how.
AFTER-SUN SOS
On holiday or embracing a rare at-home heatwave? If you’ve been busy sunbaking – safely of course – it’s possible to buy after-suns which contain low levels of self-tanner to top up a tan immediately.
Dove beauty expert John Gustafson says ;“Gradual tanners can also be used as after-suns. Not only will you get vital moisture back into the skin, but also the self-tan will boost the colour you got from the day’s exposure.”
TRY: Tesco Soleil Beauty Tan Accelerating Aftersun Lotion, £6; L’Oreal Solar Expertise Tan Intensifier, £8 (Boots nationwide); Nivea Aftersun Tan Prolonging Lotion, £5.99 (Boots nationwide); Bergasol After Sun Tan Extender, £9 (Boots nationwide).
BODY BUFFING
You might think exfoliation would be the last thing you do when you’ve got a golden glow. But buffing your body regularly with a scrub will revitalise even the barest glow.
Exfoliating removes dead cells which have been burnt by exposure to sun. Because gentle exfoliation gives the skin oxygen and encourages a rise in melanin it makes your tan look “shinier” and healthier.
TRY: Sunspa Exfoliating Wipes, £4.95 (01923 892988/ www.sunspa tanning.co.uk); The Body Shop Smooth & Renew Body Loofah Mitt, £5; Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy Distillations Cleansing Body polisher, £15 (01443 445566/ www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk).
FADING FAST
If you want to keep a tan, real or fake, moisturising needs to go top of your beauty list. Doing this twice a day will prolong a fast-fading suntan. TRY: Lush King of Skin solid body moisturiser, £4.95 (01202 668545/www.lush.co.uk); Givenchy No Complex Skin Softening Intensive Moisturiser, £27.50 (01932 233824); Primavera Bronzing Treatment Capsules, £28.90 (01557 870560/ www.primaveralife.co.uk); Boots No7 Toning Tan Maintainer, £10.50.
