5 Thieves that Will Steal Your Tan

We can all see summer on the horizon and the familiar horror comes every year when that first eighty-degree day comes.

We excitedly pull out our favorite sun dress, slip it on, look in the mirror, and pale legs blind us.

Worse yet, most times we forget that consistent shaving of our legs is back in our shower routine and prickly hairs and pasty legs make us put that sun dress back on its hanger.

Building our tan in preparation for those warm days ahead is imperative, but that is only half the battle.

Keeping our tan is a whole other ball game.

Once you get to your desired color, be on guard for these 5 little thieves that are out to steal your tan:

TAN THIEF #1: EXFOLIATION

Easy does it with the loofah in the summer months. Though you should be exfoliating thoroughly before you begin building your tan with a UV bed and ESPECIALLY before you go in for a spray tan, once you reach your ideal shade, exfoliate sparingly and gently.

Of course, clean yourself. Dead skin isn’t what we want, but in terms of the sugar scrubs and exfoliation beads in your body wash, shift gears for the summer so you can keep your tan!

Be wary of using shower gels, washes, and soaps as well. Instead, opt for body oils that can clean your skin as well as offer you some hydration.

TAN THIEF #2: LAZY AFTER-CARE

As much as prepping your skin to receive a tan is important, so is giving it the after-care to make that tan last. How do you do this?

One word: Moisturize.

Moisturize. Moisturize. Moisturize.

Do we have to repeat ourselves? MOISTURIZE!

We love Bath and Body Works, Dove, Jergens, you name it, but the lotion you’d buy at Target will not cut it here. After-tan lotions have ingredients specifically geared toward giving your skin what it needs to hold its tan.

Why spend the time and money gaining a color that cheap products will diminish?

Ask a Bottoms Up associate for their best recommendation for YOUR skin next time you visit.

TAN THIEF #3: SWIMMING POOLS

It’s not hard to believe that chlorine can steal the color from your skin. Chlorine makes our skin dry, those dry particles fall off, and there goes the tan you worked hard to achieve, but we also get that it’s summertime.

It’s hot outside, you look great in your new suit, and you want to go for a dip. We totally understand. Just promise you’ll give your swim a modest time limit!

TAN THIEF #4: DEHYDRATION

It can’t be stressed enough not only in terms of your tan, but also your overall wellbeing: drinking water is ESSENTIAL to feeling, looking, and living healthy.

Even when you don’t have that feeling of thirst, your body needs water and it needs a lot of it. Make it your personal mission to always have a big water bottle with you. Based on the size of that water bottle, figure out how many times a day you’d have to refill it to drink about 2 liters of water per day and vow to make sure you get that water in your system.

Every part of your body will thank you. Especially your skin and especially your tan.

TAN THIEF #5: HOT WATER

Hot showers and time in the hot tub will welcome in that enemy we keep talking about: dryness.

Instead of your normal steamy shower or bath, take quick, cool showers. Cold water not only closes your pores helping prevent acne, but it also helps your hair appear shinier and protects your tan, and all the time and attention it took to get it, from going down the drain.

Happy tanning Nor Cal lovelies!

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While Bottoms Up Tanning Salon uses all reasonable efforts to ensure that this information is current and complete on the date of publication, no representatives or warranties are made (expressed or implied) as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of such information. Bottoms Up Tanning Salon, therefore, cannot be held liable for any loss or damage arising or indirectly from the use of, or any action taken in reliance on, any information appearing in this publication.