Prolonging Your Tan
We are often asked how to prolong a glowing tan.
First of all, it’s important to know that our skin completely regenerates after around 28 days and it is pointless to try to keep your suntan after this period without regular top-ups.
We advise having a complete skin scrub before having a sunbed session, in order to slough off all the surface dead skin cells. This will enhance your sunbed session and give more gloss to your skin. If the scrub is done AFTER the sunbed session, you will not only remove the dead skin cells but also a part of your recently gained colour, shortening the duration of your suntan.
The great enemy of suntan and skin is dehydration which takes gloss and colour away from our skin, desquamating it, and increasing the visibility of wrinkles. The solution is to moisturise with a good moisturiser and a proper after-sun cream and use them daily.
Also, we prefer to shower rather than use the bath because the latter tends to wash away the natural sebum which covers our skin, tending to dry it out. Speaking of which: have you ever noticed that coming back from exotic places we often lose part of our suntan? That’s the effect of the air travel which, with its dry air, accelerates the process of suntan loss.
A further “help” for your suntan comes from your diet. Beta Carotene is a carotenoid, widely distributed in fruits and vegetables forming part of their natural yellow and orange pigment. Beta Carotene is also a natural precursor to vitamin A which stimulates the production of melanin. It also has a protective function from the harmful effects of UV rays.
Beta Carotene also has countless advantages, such as a general protection from potentially harmful substances, an aid for your sight, for tissue repair, and to maintain soft and smooth skin.
Beta Carotene is found not only in carrots but in all orange fruits and vegetables. It is also present in large quantities in cod liver and in cod liver oil.
Lastly, we advise not to use self-tanning ranges. The suntan we get with these products is not natural and uniform.
If your summer suntan is vanishing too quickly remember to hydrate your skin often and, if you need a more lasting colour, top up with professional sunbed sessions.
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