How to maintain your tan: tips and useful products

Summer is the ideal time to achieve a perfect golden tan, but what should you do in order to maintain it for as long as possible?

The key to a lasting complexion lies not only in the days spent in the sun, but also in caring for the skin before, during, and after exposure.

Preparing the skin properly, keeping it moisturized and protecting it from damage are essential steps to prolonging your tan. In this article, we'll explore the best tricks and products to help you keep your skin smooth and glowing for an even, long-lasting result.

The importance of preparing the skin with scrubs and sun activators

The very first step to maintaining your tan even during the winter months is to properly prepare your skin.

This begins with using a scrub, whose exfoliating action is ideal for quickly preparing the skin to achieve and maintain that classic tan for several weeks. The action of SCRUB PLAISANT AUX NOIX D'OLIVE ESTĒREL, exfoliating scrub-mask face & body eliminates dead cells, smog, dust making the skin smooth, toned and compact, promotes cell regeneration and stimulates the melanin synthesis process, making the skin ready to welcome the sun's rays, for a better tan, with a bright, uniform complexion and fewer spots.

A clean and impurity-free skin has a greater chance of tanning properly and preserving the acquired tan even after the summer period.

In addition to scrubs, there are also sun activators, products enriched with antioxidants, vitamins, and plant extracts that facilitate melanin production. The ESTĒREL’S ATTIVATORE DELL’ABBRONZATURA (HYDRATING TAN ACTIVATING SKIN FLUID) is an excellent example.

Thanks to its active ingredients, this product is designed to stimulate melanin production, effectively preparing the skin for sun exposure. To maximize its effects, it's advisable to use the tanning activator at least one month before initial sun exposure, allowing the product to prepare the skin, intensify the tan evenly, and protect it from oxidative damage caused by UV rays.

Sun Exposure and Proper Protection

After the preparation phase with scrubs and sun activators, let's move on to the actual sun exposure.

To achieve a deep and long-lasting tan, it's essential to always use adequate sun protection. Why?

Sunscreen not only defends the skin from strong solar radiation, but simultaneously stimulates melanin production. Through a protective layer that shields UV rays, the sun cream reduces oxidative stress on the skin, hydrates and nourishes the skin, counteracting the annoying phenomenon of peeling and leaving the skin luminous and healthy for a long time.

In contrast, sunburns and sun erythema are not only extremely harmful, but they accelerate cell turnover, eliminating the melanin produced up to that point and nullifying the acquired tan.

If you would like to learn more about sun protection and find out how to identify the correct SPF for each skin type, we have already covered this topic here.

The importance of the aftersun

When it comes to maintaining a glowing, long-lasting tan, it's not just a matter of preparing the skin before sun exposure, but also properly caring for it afterward.

An essential step in this routine is the application of an effective after-sun cream. This treatment not only soothes and nourishes the skin, but also plays a crucial role in preserving the acquired tan, repairing UV damage, and maintaining skin elasticity.

Therefore, it's crucial to choose a good after-sun product that can effectively replace your regular moisturizer used throughout the year. During this transition, the product should be formulated with specific active ingredients capable of repairing UV damage, soothing the skin, deeply hydrating it, and preserving its elasticity.

ESTĒREL’S DOPOSOLE (AFTER SUN SOOTHING CREAM), formulated with active ingredients such as maritime pine extract, avocado oil, olive oil and vitamin E, soothes and moisturizes the skin through soothing, repairing and refreshing action, helping to maintain healthy, glowing skin post sun exposure.

Long-Lasting Tan and Hydration

A long-lasting tan is closely linked to proper hydration, and the reason is simple: consistently and correctly hydrated skin is never dry and does not peel, thus avoiding melanin loss.

So, how can you effectively hydrate your skin?

Hydration starts at the table, with a healthy and balanced diet. Consuming copious amounts of seasonal fruits and vegetables is essential, as these foods are rich in water, vitamins and antioxidants, elements that are essential for keeping the skin hydrated from the inside out. Some examples of particularly beneficial fruits and vegetables include cucumbers, watermelons, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes and spinach.

Additionally, it's essential to drink at least two and a half liters of water daily, even more if you engage in physical activity or spend a lot of time in the sun. Water is the main component of skin cells, and proper hydration helps maintain elasticity, preventing dryness and peeling.

Finally, avoiding habits that contribute to skin dehydration is equally important; these include: reducing excessive sun exposure, limiting the use of harsh cleansers, and maintaining a skincare routine that emphasizes protection and hydration throughout the year.

Other Useful Tips

In addition to the products mentioned and the advice on how to use them effectively to ensure an even and lasting tan, it's also beneficial to mention other practical tips that contribute to maintaining a golden and healthy complexion for longer.

As already anticipated, we recommend, first of all, that you avoid prolonged exposure under the sun's rays, and in case you are at the beginning of the season and your skin is not yet accustomed to the action of the sun, limit your exposure as much as possible and protect yourself with high protection factors, and then reduce as your skin has become familiar with the sun's rays.

Then, whether you are at the beach or at the pool, consider that staying in the water for a long time contributes to the process of dehydration of the skin and consequently to peeling; in particular, chlorine is a substance that possesses a rather bleaching effect on the skin, consequently affecting the tan; for this reason, if possible and if you want to prolong the tanned effect, limit swimming in the pool, taking care to rinse the skin well with soft water afterwards, to wash away the chlorine molecules that are able to remain trapped on the skin.

Once back home, it's time for a refreshing shower! During this process, it's advisable to avoid using excessively hot or cold water, opting instead for lukewarm water. An equally important step is using non-aggressive, refreshing, and moisturizing shower bath gels, such as ESTĒREL’s GEL DOUCHE formulated with coconut oil and lichen extract, to gently cleanse, providing softness and elasticity.

You can try this product, along with the previously mentioned scrub and tanning activator, through a convenient skin-balancing kit, ESTĒREL’s SUMMER SCRUB OILY SKIN, particularly suitable for treating skin in summer and balancing oily skin.

After showering, another important aspect is drying; instead of rubbing the body vigorously with a towel, gently pat dry to avoid irritating the skin and prevent peeling.

Lastly, after sun exposure and more generally in summer, we strongly suggest that you do not use glycolic acid or salicylic acid-based skincare products to avoid over-exfoliating the skin and heightened sensitivity to UV rays.

Conclusion

By following these guidelines, achieving and maintaining a compact, even, and radiant tan is an achievable goal! Follow the practical advice outlined in this article, and you can enjoy not only a golden complexion during summer but also preserve it in the following months without compromising the health of your skin.