Sunscreen and exfoliation are essential tools in the fight to fade your tan, but they shouldn’t be your sole tools. Products containing melanin-inhibiting ingredients like niacinamide and glycolic acid – two potent K-beauty ingredients – may also help reverse discoloration.

Keep your skin hydrated to slow the fading process and preserve its glow for as long as possible.

Sunscreen

As part of your efforts to extend the life of your tan, sunscreen is key. Wearing sunblock when spending time outside protects against UVA and UVB rays that cause premature skin aging.

Sunscreen can help lighten tans by absorbing and reflecting away excess melanin that forms from UV damage, while some newer sunscreens even include melanin-inhibiting ingredients for added lightening of skin tone.

As well as using sunscreen, be sure to take lukewarm or cool showers (hot water dehydrates your skin and can hasten its fading), avoid harsh cleansers and exfoliation products which could strip away at your new tan faster, and opt for moisturisers containing aloe vera, shea butter, or niacinamide as they contain ingredients which hydrate skin hydration.

Exfoliation

Sunbathing typically only lasts 7-10 days before skin begins naturally exfoliating and renewing itself, and exfoliation should occur regularly (but not too often!) in order to prolong tan glow. By using tan extenders and exfoliating regularly (though not too frequently!), one may extend their tan’s glow for as long as possible.

Staying hydrated is also key for maintaining an even and bright tan as well as slowing the signs of ageing in your skin. Make sure you use moisturizer daily and drink lots of water!

Stay away from long showers or baths that use hot water as this dehydrates skin and speeds up fading of your tan. Instead, opt for showering in lukewarm or cool water instead. Furthermore, using our Tan Enhancing Body Polish can help remove dry, flaky skin to reveal its beautiful tan beneath.

Moisturize

Moisturizer may seem counter-intuitive, but moisturizer is actually one of the key factors in slowing fading. By providing your spray tan with an even base and keeping it hydrated over time, moisturizer can extend its longevity significantly. Moisturize once or twice every day (especially after showering), and drink plenty of water for healthy skin and to ensure its long-term look and lifespan.

Avoid products claiming to lighten your tan as these may cause skin irritation and are unsafe. Lemon juice, citric acid and other whitening ingredients could actually darken your skin tone by inhibiting melanin production and leading to further melanin formation.

Use our Tan Enhancing Body Polish and Exfoliator to reveal your beautiful tan! It contains moisturizing shea butter and virgin coconut oil to lock in moisture for soft, silky skin with longer-term glow.

Avoid Harsh Products

Avoiding sun damage is essential for healthy, youthful skin; however, for tans that don’t fade completely over time, reducing UV exposure may help delay its inevitable demise and delay the fading process by several years.

Reducing harmful products can also help, for instance by bathing with hot water; doing so will shorten the life of your spray tan; additionally, patting yourself dry rather than vigorously rubbing is best practice when drying yourself off.

An effective way to extend a spray tan is with tan extender lotion, designed for application like regular moisturizer and containing small amounts of the same ingredient used to produce it. Furthermore, they can help mask imperfections such as streaks and blotches and keep the color even and natural-looking.