A sun-blessed glow from your travels is one of the best souvenirs you can return home with, as nothing says ‘well rested’ quite like sun-kissed skin. Plus, the vitamin D from the sun is said to counter the symptoms of anxiety and work wonders for your skin, bones and teeth. Though, as much as we love the sun, we all know how hard it can be to maintain a tan, post-travel.
However, there are many ways you’re able to keep your sun-blessed travel glow all year round.
Diet
Your diet can have a large impact on your skin and that includes the life of
your tan. If you are looking to make your tan last longer, you should eat foods
rich in beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a carotenoid containing a red-orange
pigment and can be found in many fruit and vegetables; think mangoes, carrots,
pumpkin, apricots, sweet potato, and cantaloupe melon, to name but a few.
Research shows that eating high amounts of these foods makes your skin appear
darker – a delicious and easy way to extend the life of your tan.
Hydration
As well as honing in on your diet, it’s important to stay hydrated. This helps
to prolong the life of your cells, including those tanned cells just above the
surface. It’s recommended that you drink two litres of water a day.
Cool showers
Water can play an important part in more ways than one when it comes to keeping
your sun-kissed glow. Hot baths can actually dehydrate your skin, leading to
faster peeling. Keep the
temperature of the water down to extend the life of your tan.
Moisturise
Unsurprisingly, your skincare routine will play a large part in just how long your tan lasts – no amount of moisturising is too much and reapplication can never be too excessive. Moisturising helps to keep skin cells soft and plump, meaning that your skin tone is more balanced; hence, your glow will stay in place for much longer. Plus, this works for both natural and faux tans.
Exfoliate
It’s important to keep exfoliation, albeit gently applied, as part of your skincare routine – dead skin cells can actually make the skin look duller and leave it bereft of that sun-kissed glow. Use a dry body brush or exfoliating shower sponge to gently top the exfoliation of your skin.
Use a fake tan
If the natural tan from your travels has started to fade a little too much, you
can always use natural tanning products to top it up – the best and safest way to make
your tan last longer. In fact, topping up your natural tan with a good-quality
tanning mousse can work wonders. It’s easy to maintain, and the subtle colour
will afford your real tan a huge boost. Apply the tan, either two-to-three
times weekly, to enhance your natural colour and avoid looking streaky. It’s
also recommended that you use a mitt to apply fake tan, in order to avoid
stained palms and knuckles.
