Beauty Trends

How to make your fake tan last longer

At Cult Beauty HQ, we’re of the mind that sun damage can do one. Gone are the days when we lounged in the sun sans SPF, slowly burning to a crisp while causing all sorts of we’ll-regret-it-later damage to our cherished skin cells. Wised up in the art of skin care, beauty buffs everywhere are reaching for the bottle more than ever to achieve a {sun-kissed glow} without the unwanted side effects – and with a tidal wave of hi-tech formulas hitting our shelves along with some clever tricks, they can last just as long (if not longer) than the real deal. Sold? Here’s how to make your fake tan last longer…

Prep your skin

To ace your faux glow, you need lay the groundwork. Enter: Isle of Paradise’s {Prep It – Primer}, an ingenious self-tan priming spray designed to help you achieve a richer, deeper tan that’ll last up to three extra days! Formulated by world-leading tan expert Jules Von Hep, the formula is infused with an intelligent Oxy-Glow complex as well as good-to-skin avocado, chia seed and coconut oils to intensely hydrate, nourish and ensure your faux glow lasts ever longer than normal.

Call it even

To stop your tan getting patchy, gentle exfoliation is key. Slather yourself in frank body’s {Original Coffee Scrub} 24 hours prior to your self-tan sesh to remove dead or flaking skin that could cause patchiness. Post-tan, gently exfoliate every 3-4 days with a washcloth to remove any dead skin cells and keep your faux glow nice and even.

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise

… Did we mention, moisturise? Keeping your skin hydrated won’t only help your tan to last longer, it will help to prevent streakiness and patchy fading. Apply it pre-tan, focusing on dry areas such as your elbows, ankles and knees to avoid the dreaded orange joints (*shudder*), then apply it daily post-tan to lock in hydration and leave your skin buttery smooth.

As the tan eventually begins to lighten, switch up your moisturiser for a gradual tan formulation to extend the life of your beachy glow. Quick-drying, streak-free and non-sticky, St. Tropez’s easy-to-use {Gradual Tan Watermelon Infusion Moisture Miracle Everyday Body Lotion} builds a natural-looking sun-kissed glow, while hyaluronic acid and watermelon extract deeply moisturises skin for up to 72 hours. Who needs a sun lounger, eh?



Cult Beauty

Cult Beauty

Writer and expert