Glow For It - How to Stay Bronzed and Beautiful
Autumn is on the Way but You Can Still Hang on To Sun-Kissed Skin
Aug 30, 2009
Most people like to return from holiday with sun-kissed skin, but it’s not always easy to hang on to that golden glow when you’re back under grey skies.
They key to prolonging your tan is a combination of exfoliation and moisturising, with a little helping hand from a bottle along the way
Want to stay beautifully bronzed through to autumn? You’ve got to treat your tan with TLC.
Exfoliation is an Essential Part of Tan Preservation.
Whether it’s a body scrub or exfoliating gloves in the shower (The Sanctuary do a great pair!), buffing once a week gently removes the dead cells which can make skin look dull - and contrary to popular belief, it won’t make your tan fade faster.
Hang on to that holiday feeling with the zingy Champneys Citrus Glow Hydrating Sugar Scrub, £7.50, Sainsbury’s.
A good scrub will get circulation going and stimulate tired and lifeless skin, sloughing away all those dead cells, leaving it silky smooth and moisturised. Also try Laura Mercier’s delicious range of sugar scrubs, especially Creme Brulee, £35, a heavenly-scented formula that leaves skin smelling good enough to eat.
The Key to Tan Maintenance? Moisturise, Moisturise and Moisturise Some More!
Keep skin hydrated and supple to ensure maximum tan mileage. Slather on Olive Body Butter, £12, from The Body Shop, for a serious skin smoothing boost or try Piz Buin After Sun Tan Prolonger Lotion £9.99, which contains Tanimel, a natural plant ingredient that helps skin to sustain its natural melanin production and reduce the loss of tanning pigments, making a natural tan last longer.
Keep That Glow Going
The only safe way to achieve a healthy, radiant complexion is to fake it. Don’t even consider stepping near a sunbed. When you’re naturally bronzed, don’t be tempted to layer on the fake tan, it’s a subtle glow you’re after, not the deep mahogany stain of stars like Jordan. Fake Bake Gold Tri-Pack, £49.95 is easy to apply and gives great results.The pack contains Pomegranate and Passion Fruit Body Polish and an oil free moisturiser.
Clarins Delicious Self Tanning Cream, £19.50 is a light gel formula that can be used on the face too. It’s perfect for lighter skintones as it delivers a subtle hit of colour. St Tropez Whipped Bronze Tanning Mousse, £30, is another self-tan heavyweight which is loved by millions for its genuine colour and the mousse formula suits those who hate hanging around for their tan to dry.
Do it Daily
Gradual tanners, moisturisers with a hint of fake tan, are an excellent way to top up colour and all the big beauty brands are doing them, from the trailblazers Johnson's Holiday Skin and Dove Summer Glow to Clinique, Piz Buin and Lancaster.You get to custom-build your tan over the course of a few days, resulting in a super-natural colour.
Pale may be interesting, but bronzed is beautiful. And after this year’s wash-out summer, sometimes we all need a little boost from that sunshine in a bottle.
