Hydrated and happy

Keeping your skin hydrated is a must after any kind of tanning. The epidermis of the skin is made up of mostly water so when it dries out you will get flaky skin and a patchy tan. 

Continually moisturising your skin will keep it hydrated, especially after bathing or showering when skin can become particularly dry. The best time to moisturise is five minutes after your shower to keep any initial moisture locked in. Try to steer away from shower gels that contain soap as these can dry out your skin and won't help to prolong your tan. Mild bath and shower solutions are best for prolonging any fake or sunbed tan.

It may come as a surprise to you that inner hydration is also key in prolonging your tan. Drinking plenty of water will give your skin a healthy glow when tanned and a happy hydrated body will help you to keep your tan longer. Drinking 5-8 glasses of water a day will help you to achieve this hydration, boosting the content of water in the skin. This is especially crucial after the consumption of alcohol. 

Scientists believe that water helps to prolong the life of your skin cells, so if you do the maths, the longer you hold on to your cells, the longer you will keep your tan.

If you opt to use sunbeds, a handy hint would be to use an after sun lotion alongside your regular body butter as many are specifically formulated to extend and accelerate tans. 

Beware when using mild scrubs and harsh cleansers as they shed skin cells quicker therefore your tan will shed, so opt for anything mild. 

If you want to keep your tan for a really long time, try to moisturise twice daily.