How to get perma-tan perfection

Keep your summer glow for longer with our body buffing tips.
When summer is drawing to a close, post-holiday blues aren’t the only downside for sunseekers. Once the sunshine starts fading, your healthy golden glow may be fast disappearing along with your carefree smile.

Those hours invested in slapping on the SPF and basking in the rays may have given you an enviable colour, but like your holiday, it doesn’t last forever.

“The length of time a tan will last is generally dependant on age and how you look after your skin,” says Caroline Young, director of training at St Tropez.

“On normal skin a natural tan will last for around a month but on older or severely-dehydrated skin it lasts for around six weeks.”

Upping your tan maintenance routine will help your suntan stick around for longer and improve the appearance of your skin.

So lose the holiday blues, but keep that bronzed glow. Here’s how.

AFTER-SUN SOS On holiday or embracing a rare at-home heatwave? If you’ve been busy sunbaking – safely of course – it’s possible to buy after-suns which contain low levels of self-tanner to immediately top up a tan.

“Gradual tanners can also be used as after-suns,” says Dove beauty expert John Gustafson.

“Not only will you get vital moisture back into the skin but also the self-tan will boost the colour you got from the day’s exposure.”

But if you have barrels of moisturiser hanging around your bathroom, it’s possible to create your own tan-transforming after-sun by mixing half moisturiser and half self tanner.

TRY: Tesco Soleil Beauty Tan Accelerating Aftersun Lotion,  L’Oreal Solar Expertise Tan Intensifier; Nivea Aftersun Tan Prolonging Lotion,   Bergasol After Sun Tan Extender, 

BODY BUFFING You might think exfoliation would be the last thing you do when you’ve got a golden glow. But buffing your body regularly with a scrub will revitalise even the most barely-there glow.

“Exfoliate 2-3 times a week as part of your regular body care routine,” Caroline says.
Exfoliating removes dead cells which have been burnt by exposure to the sun. Because gentle exfoliation provides the skin with oxygen and encourages a rise in melanin it makes your existing tan look ’shinier’ and healthier.

TRY: Sunspa Exfoliating Wipes; The Body Shop Smooth & Renew Body Loofah Mitt, Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy Distillations Cleansing Body polisher.

FADING FAST If you want to keep a tan, real or fake, moisturising needs to go top of your beauty-must list. Doing this religiously twice a day will help prolong a fast-fading suntan.

The more you moisturise your skin, the more your cells will be drenched in water so your skin will stay bronzed for longer. What you eat and drink can also effect the longevity and look of your tan, according to Caroline: “The best advice is to keep the skin well-fed and hydrated inside and out, so drink plenty of water and eat well,” she says.

TRY: Lush King of Skin solid body moisturiser, Givenchy No Complex Skin Softening Intensive Moisturiser, Primavera Bronzing Treatment Capsules, Boots No7 Toning Tan Maintainer.

INSTANT GLOW If it’s all too late and your holiday glow has long gone, then just fake it. Gradual tanners are a great way to get a subtle sun-kissed look that will appear super-natural if applied the right way.
John Gustafson has these top tips for application: :: Certain areas need special attention as they are exposed all four seasons. Your neck and throat area, upper chest, and hands are often the most likely spots to be missed when applying self-tan.

If you have any dry patchy areas, try to sort the problem out before you begin regular self-tanning. Dry patches will absorb product much more quickly and cause colour to develop unevenly.

Apply in long sweeping movements and wash hands after use.
TRY: St Tropez Everyday Body, Rodial Brazilian Tan Daily, Dove Summer Glow Beauty Body Lotion + Soft Shimmer.