As if post-spring break blues aren’t bad enough, it seems as if you can’t keep your tan for more than a few days after your big trip. You were away for an entire week and need this tan to get you to the next big spring weekend. You have vowed not to be pale the rest of the year yet want to stay out of the tanning beds. Here are some helpful tips to ensure your spring break tan lasts as long as possible.
1. Exfoliate Before You Go
When you are getting a tan, the sun is actually affecting the melanin in your skin, which ends up coloring the top layer of it. Every two weeks or so this layer sheds, which causes you to lose your tan. By scrubbing with an exfoliator right before you leave, you are ensuring that new skin cells will be on the top layer, and therefore will retain pigment longer. You can by an exfoliator at any drug store, or if you want to make it yourself – there are tons of recipes online.
2. MOISTURIZE
This is hugely important in keeping your glow even when you’re out of the sunshine. You MUST hydrate your skin, whether you are using your regular moisturizer or some aloe vera. The best bet of all would be selecting a lotion that has aloe already in it. It is recommended to moisturize twice a day after returning from your trip. If you’re looking for a tinted moisturizer to maintain your current tan and maybe give you a little boost, try Jergens Natural Glow. They have various shades to fit your complexion.
3. Eat the Right Things
Believe it or not, some foods can actually help you keep your tan longer. Our melanocytes (a pigment producing cell) need tyrosine to help make melanin. Tyrosine can be found in a number of foods but a few include: turkey, egg whites, cottage cheese, salmon, soy, almonds and avocados. These superfoods can significantly increase the duration of your tan, so EAT UP!
4. Drink Water
Water seems to be the cure to almost anything, and keeping your tan is no exception. When your skin dries, it flakes and you peel (BAD). It is essential to hydrate your cells and you can only do this by drinking lots of water.
Stay bronze, Collegiettes!