Winter is coming to an end in Bondi, and we’ll soon be entering the transition months. But our excitement towards summer doesn’t mean that we’ll take our winter self-tan for granted. While we’re still in the colder season, here are ways to maximize the last of your winter tan.
Prioritize exfoliating.
We will never get tired of saying this: exfoliation is key. Putting in the prep work makes a huge difference in how even your tan will be. It is also important to pick out the right kind of exfoliant. If you’re the type who loves a good oil-based scrub for the colder seasons, you may be surprised to know that oils may actually repel your tanning formula. You can still enjoy your scrub by swapping it out with a gel-based formula.
Check for alcohol.
Give your self-tanner’s ingredient list a good scan to make sure that it doesn’t include alcohol or parabens. These two tend to dry the skin, which makes it harder for the self-tanning formula to cling evenly. More importantly, alcohol and parabens may cause your winter glow to break down faster, leaving you with cracked scaly skin—something you don’t want to have in the dead of winter.
If you initially thought we were talking about alcoholic beverages, you weren’t exactly wrong. Consuming alcohol on tanning day my dehydrate your skin and encourage a premature tan fading. Save your drinks for a day or two after.
Don’t go crazy.
Trust us on this: it’s a little strange to be overly tanned during the winter season. To get a glow that’s more healthy and natural looking in the cold weather, we recommend cutting your normal usage in half. Try out one layer first and see how it goes. You’ll want to go for that softly sun-kissed glow to match the season instead of going all out and looking super out of place.
Don’t forget your hands.
Contrary to popular belief, your skin is usually drier during the colder seasons. This is usually the case because of the use of heaters, the sudden switch from warm to cold climate, and our personal fave: red wine season. Dry skin loves to absorb tanning formulas, which may result in an unsightly streaky hand tan (especially around the palms and knuckles).
Our recommendation: Afterglow Drops mixed into your favorite moisturiser.
Target tan without shortcuts.
There is less need for skin exposure in winter but that is never license for you to be complacent. Even if it’s tempting to just tan places that will be seen from beyond your winter clothing, it’s good to be ready for any circumstance that may come your way. Always tan systematically to save yourself the hassle (and also to feel good about your body when you’re alone).
To be even more thorough with your self-tan, pinpoint the areas of your body that are usually on the drier side. Apply moisturiser to those areas before going into your self-tanning session. Use lip balm on your cuticles and nails to prevent the formula from being absorbed in those areas.