A sunless tan lives in the outermost layer of your skin, so anything that speeds up shedding will shorten its life. A few simple habits help the color last longer and fade evenly instead of in patches.
Keep skin moisturized
Dry skin flakes unevenly, and a sunless tan flakes away with it. Moisturizing every day helps the surface stay smooth so the color fades gradually. Apply moisturizer after showering, while the skin is still slightly damp.
Be gentle in the shower
- Choose lukewarm water over very hot showers and long soaks.
- Use a mild cleanser rather than harsh soaps.
- Pat yourself dry instead of rubbing with a towel.
Pause the exfoliation
Scrubs, exfoliating mitts and exfoliating acids such as glycolic acid speed up the shedding of surface cells. That is exactly where a sunless tan sits. Save them for when you are ready to remove the tan or prepare for the next one.
Watch out for chlorine and heavy sweat
Long swims in chlorinated pools, saunas and hard workouts can all make a tan fade faster or unevenly. Rinse off and moisturize afterward.
When it starts to fade
As the color fades, gentle exfoliation helps even it out. Once most of it has gone, you have a clean base for your next tan.
Keep up your sun protection
A sunless tan does not protect you from UV. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection, SPF 30 or higher and water resistance. It advises that most adults need about 1 ounce, roughly enough to fill a shot glass, to cover skin not covered by clothing, and that sunscreen should be reapplied about every two hours, or after swimming or sweating, according to the directions on the bottle.