What better way to show off your new glow than to take a dip in the pool? A self-tanner is the secret to looking younger and attractive in your swimsuit without harming your skin.
But swimming and self-tanners don’t mix. The water and chlorine can cause your tan to fade. The elements in the water can interfere with your newly bronzed skin. If you swim a lot, you’ll find that self-tanners don’t last as long as a natural tan.
But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your love of self-tanner or swimming. Even some of the world’s best swimmers enjoy tanning just as much as they enjoy swimming. You just need to be extra cautious when it comes to extending your tan and taking a dip in the water.
To maintain your tan, you should follow the directions on the product. You should also exfoliate your skin beforehand, so the self-tanner penetrates into the skin and avoid any contact with water following application.
Before You Swim
Of course, self-tanners aren’t made to last. That doesn’t mean you should get out of the pool with a streaky or fading tan. If you sweat or shower a lot, then your self-tan could last two to three days. It’ll gradually fade away and you’ll have to reapply more of the product. Reapplying the self-tanner will maintain your tan, especially if you’re a swimmer.
Effects of Chlorine & Water
Water can cause your tan to fade in less time. Ideally, you shouldn’t swim eight hours after applying self-tanner. But you can wait up to four to five hours to go for a swim. If you’re still confused, you can always read the label on the back of the product to determine how much time you need. You need to give it plenty of time to settle into your skin and to appear, so it doesn’t get washed away.
Different Types of Self-Tanners
The fastest and easiest way to get a tan is with self-tanner. Self-tanners come in various forms, such as creams, gels, lotions, mousses, and sprays. However, you’ll notice that self-tanner doesn’t last as long as a professional tan. Only self-tanners that contain the active ingredient DHA will tend to last longer, especially for swimmers.
But there are still some self-tanners on the market that don’t mix well with water or chlorine. For example, if you use spray tanner, then you may want to avoid swimming for a while. The chlorine can cause bleaching and streaking to occur.
Prolonging Your Tan
Since most swimming pools contain chlorine, you don’t want to ruin your tan the minute you jump in the water. Instead, you should focus on maintaining your tan. For example, you don’t want to spend the entire day in the water. Every time you get out of the pool, gently dry your skin with a soft towel. Don’t rub your skin, as it can cause your skin to dry out and your tan to fade in patches.
What to Do While in the Pool
There’s not much you can do in the pool while swimming to prevent your tan from fading. But one of the best ways to prevent fading is to take regular breaks from swimming. You should also ensure that each swim is a quick dip in the pool. That means you shouldn’t spend several hours at a time. Once you’re done swimming, make sure you’re completely dry and apply self-tanner and moisturizer to maintain your tan.
After Your Swim
After you’re out of the pool, you can consider using a gradual tanner, such as B.Tan self-tan mousse, that gives you a bronze glow and enhances your tan. This type of self-tanner will make your tan last longer. Most gradual tanners are lotions that are packed with nutrients and multivitamins that keep your skin hydrated and nourished. You may even want to consider a combination body butter and gradual tan that keeps your tan even in between swim sessions.
What You Should Know
While some self-tanners contain SPF, it doesn’t provide as much protection as sunscreen. It’s very important to wear sunscreen in and out of the water. You should also reapply your sunscreen upon leaving the water, so you don’t get sunburnt. There are plenty of drugstore and brand name sunscreens on the market that will provide the right amount of skin protection you need.
As you can see, you don’t have to give up your self-tan or love of swimming. You just have to prepare for the water so you can maintain your tan all summer long.
