First thing you need to do is stick to the rinse off time and instructions.
Rinse with lukewarm water for 30 - 60 seconds only, with no product and then gently towel dry. No product on your skin at all for the next 12 hours!
Moisturise…after your 12 hours is up.
The most simple way to boost the life of your spray tan is to become dependent on your moisturiser! It seems too good to be true, but moisturising twice daily can have a significant influence on how long your spray tan will last. We recommend that you moisturise both morning and night once your tan is fully developed, which is 12 hours after your first rinse. One thing to be mindful of is what moisturiser you are relying on to extend the life of your tan, as some lotions will perform better results than others. When choosing the right moisturiser for your spray tan, try to choose a basic lotion which is not rich in oils as this will actually act to remove your tan faster rather than prolong the life of your tan. Not only is it best to avoid anything high in oil content, but also try to avoid lotions with fragrances or fragments of alcohol. If you are struggling to think of any moisturising lotions that don’t include these ingredients we stock many products which are great investments for any tanners who want to make the most of their tan! Some great options are:
Black Magic Tan Nourish
Nourish body lotion is a great investment for prolonging the life of your tan, as this moisturiser is designed to fulfil this very purpose. Nourish moisturiser is made up of all the ingredients you would want to find in a lotion- cucumber, Aloe Vera and green tea to leave your skin feeling refreshed, glowing and relaxed, but also has the additional benefit of ensuring that your tan stays on your skin as long as possible. Another additional benefit of the Nourish is that it is SPF-15, meaning that if you are out in the sun a lot, you don’t have to worry about applying sunblock on top of your lovely tanned skin as some sunscreens can also break down a spray tan prematurely.
Black Magic Tan Xtend
Xtend moisturiser contrains the same gradual tan that is in your professional spray tan solution, so really brings the tan back to life once it even-slightly begins to fade. As a result of the Tan Xtend containing the self-tanning product, Tan Xtend should only be used from day 4 onwards, to really revive the life of the tan! Tan Xtend is ideal for anyone going on holiday for a couple of weeks, as it will ensure that your spray tan lasts a lot longer.
Azure Nourish and Glow Gradual Tan Lotion
If you are wanting to keep your spray tan alive once it starts to fade, another option is to invest in a gradual tan moisturiser which will slowly develop a new natural tan on your skin once your spray tan starts to fade. Azure Nourish and Glow Gradual Tan Lotion is ideal for anyone who wants to re-start their tan once it starts to fade, so that they are constantly keeping their glow at all times. Azure Gradual Tan lotions consist of Ceramide Complex, which enhances the skin’s moisture and the skin’s protection – which means the Gradual Tan Lotion will re-hydrate your skin to be
soft and healthy. Not only does the Gradual Tan Lotion hydrate your skin of all its nutrients following a spray tan, but is gradually tanning your skin at the same time, so that you are maintaining a constant hydrated glow! The Gradual Tan Lotion is very easy to use, simply apply the lotion to your skin once daily in circular motions and blend the lotion evenly over your whole body. The awesome thing about the Gradual Tan Lotion from Azure is that there are different shades to choose from depending on your original skin-tone, and your desired outcome of darkness. You can choose whether you wish to develop a light to medium gradual tan, or whether you wish to maintain a medium to darker shade of tanned skin.
Things to avoid
Whilst it is extremely important to practice positive actions in order to prolong the life of your tan, it is equally as important to be aware of what to avoid so that you don’t accidentally remove your spray tan at a faster rate than usual. Some things that we do unconsciously during our daily routines may actually be stripping a layer of our tans off, so it is helpful to know what to avoid in order to make your spray tan last as long as possible!
Exfoliants
The first thing to try avoid is anything that exfoliates your skin, remember – if it exfoliates your skin, it exfoliates your tan off. This means trying to minimise any rubbing or scrubbing whilst you have your spray tan. Some daily examples that may exfoliate your tan off could be using a loofa in the shower, rubbing yourself dry with a scratchy towel, using rich-in-oil body wash or lotions, using exfoliating lotions, and having sandy skin! Some easy ways to counter the potential for these daily routines to remove your tan faster is try using a bar of soap and try to avoid scrubbing the skin altogether within the shower. Be sure to invest in body wash that does not exfoliate the skin, try to pat yourself dry with a towel following getting wet, and rinse sand off your skin with fresh water asap to avoid the sand rubbing off your spray tan.
Water
Not only is water your least favourite element whilst you are waiting for your spray tan to develop before you rinse, but can actually act to remove layers of your tan faster even once your tan is fully developed! This means that to make your tan last as long as possible, you should try to avoid very hot water and soaking in water for long periods of time. One easy way to make your tan last longer is to keep your showers as luke-warm and short as possible. Soaking in water acts to remove a layer of your tan, so that means that minimising the amount of time you are soaking in water will minimise the removal of the tan from your skin. Not only is it best to avoid soaking in water generally, but especially true when talking about
chlorinated water, as this will remove the tan even faster. If you do swim in a chlorinated pool, simply try to rinse yourself with fresh water immediately afterwards, to ensure that you are removing the chemicals from your skin asap! Another good tip is to moisturise before your swim to create a barrier between you and the chlorine.
Extreme Workouts
Often the spray tan will fade faster in areas of the body which sweat more excessively than others, for example: the inside of your elbows, underarms, back of knees and feet. If you can minimise the amount of sweat you are generating whilst you have a fresh spray tan, you will avoid stripping a layer of the tan off. If you find that your body does sweat more in certain areas than others, you can always apply the Gradual Tan Lotion or Tan Xtend a bit more to these lighter areas, in order to balance and blend the natural glow of your whole body! Another good option is using our GlowDry Setting Powder for those extra sweaty areas while you work out.
Shaving
It is also true that shaving will remove a layer of your spray tan, so it is always best to shave your body the day prior to your spray tan appointment. Of course, it is completely fine to shave whilst you have your spray tan, although keeping it to a minimum will definitely improve how long your spray tan will last.
So there you have it- our best tricks and tips for prolonging the life of your tan! We hope to see you soon to get you gorgeously glowing!
