The summer is here. A bathing suit, the smell of sunscreen, sea bathing, and endless evenings is the way to go. One of your summer goals is to remain tanned as long as possible. Can moisturizer help to keep your skin sun-kissed?
Calypso Cavallo tells you everything you need to know about moisturizer to keep tan!
Moisturizer to keep tan
Why and how can a moisturizer help keep your summer glow longer?
First, remember that prolonged exposition to sunlight may harm your skin and fasten skin aging. The first tip for a gorgeous and long-lasting tan is to use sunscreen when sunbathing. If you don’t, you will burn your skin, making it regenerate. The skin constantly regenerates in its original shade. Avoiding burning your skin not only saves you that awful sunburn feeling but also ensures your skin will remain sun-kissed longer.
Let’s discuss how tanning and skin regeneration works to understand why moisturizing the skin helps to remain tanned longer. First, tanning results from UVA penetrating the skin’s lower lever and triggering melanin production, which causes the skin to darken. This reaction is a natural protection from sunburn caused by UVB, the part of sunlight that cause sunburns and skin cancers.
More tanning process explanation here: https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/tanning.html#:~:text=UVB%20radiation%20burns%20the%20upper,brown%20pigment%20that%20causes%20tanning.
The skin constantly regenerates itself. The upper level of the skin is made of dead skin cells that gradually fall. It takes about a month for the skin to be entirely new. It is the main reason it is advised to wait at least a month to see the results of a skincare product. In the case of tanning, the dryer the skin is, the faster the dead skin will fall. Moisturizers help the skin to remain hydrated and look tanned longer. It also helps to avoid patches when the tan is going away.
Moisturizer to keep tan: how to stay tanned longer?
Staying tanned forever without regular sun exposure (which may be dangerous depending on your skin type) is impossible. The skin regenerates in its original shade. To keep your sunkissed glow longer, you can exfoliate your skin a couple of days before your beach or pool day to get rid of dead skin. However, never exfoliate your skin before going out in the sun, as it could damage it. Exfoliating sun-damaged skin will worsen the pain and is not recommended.
Proper sun protection while out in the sun will help avoid sunburns. It is not necessary to go for the highest SPF you find, as the most important is to re-apply often. Re-apply sunscreen at least every two hours and after swimming.
Apply a rich moisturizer after your tanning session to rehydrate your skin. Shea butter is an excellent ingredient to restore skin moisture. Aloe vera works great on light sunburns and avoids peeling. Apply a moisturizer daily to keep your tan longer and ensure your skin will smoothly return to its natural color without looking patchy or funny.
As a general skincare rule, applying a body moisturizer daily after bathing or showering is an excellent idea to keep your skin good-looking, comfortable, and healthy. Skincare is not just about face.
Alternatives
Now we know more about moisturizer to keep tan, let’s discuss tanning alternatives.
You want to remain tanned forever, but you can’t often be sunbathing? The self-tanning lotion is an excellent and safe alternative sun tan. The process of sunless tan is entirely different as the product stains the upper level of the skin. It does not involve UV light, so it is less likely to cause skin cancer. However, self-tan often washes out after 4 to 5 days, so you must often reapply to keep your summer glow forever.