Tanning

Tanning can transform everything from how our clothes look to how to feel. Have you ever put a crisp white shirt on over a beautiful, glowing tan? When the sun is out, tanned skin is usually seen all around but here at Health and Serenity we prefer to ditch the idea of the sun and gain our tans from the much safer bottle. So, whether you’re new to tanning, an old hat at the bottle at home or planning on a spray tan – here are our top tips for a better tan.

Use an exfoliant

The day before your tan you should scrub off any dead skin using a body scrub. Whether you’ve bought one or you make your own sugar scrub, ensure you work it into your skin in circular movements concentrating on your knees, elbows, ankles and heels to get an even coat with the tan.

 

Remove hair 24 hours prior

Whether you wax, shave or use hair removal cream, all your hair maintenance should be completed 24 hours prior to the tan.

 

Come in clean – no moisturiser, perfume or deodorant before the tan

Moisturiser, perfume and deodorant can cause a barrier leaving you with an uneven tan so however you intend to tan, apply it to a clean slate for the best results.

 

Wear loose, dark clothing after tanning

Not only do you not want to stain your clothes but often tight clothes can disturb the tan ‘setting’ so it’s important to wear loose fitting clothing while the tan develops.

 

Moisturise daily after tanning

Once you’ve washed off your guide colour, ensure you moisturise your new tan daily. This will keep it lasting longer as dry skin flakes off leaving behind a patchy colour.

 

Body scrubs are your friend

When your tan starts wearing around 5-7 days after it was first applied, be sure to use a body scrub. This will make sure your tan fades evenly without noticeable patchiness before your next top up.

 

Chlorine makes your tan wear faster

If you’re a regular swimmer, chlorinated water will make your tan wear faster than someone who isn’t exposed to chlorine, so your typical wear time will be around half that of someone who doesn’t swim in chlorinated water with their tan.

 

Tanned skin still needs sun protection

Even though you may have a gorgeous brown glow, your skin is still highly susceptible to sun damage. It’s imperative to still apply sun cream to any exposed areas of skin so you don’t contribute to damage.