How to Moisturize Without Ruining Your Fake Tan

Applying self tanner is one thing, but maintaining it to still look good is ofter the real challenge. Imagine spending time and carefully applying your best self tanning product only for it to fade away a few days later. It can be pretty annoying, right? Thankfully, there is an easy way to keep your self tan intact.

First things first: dry skin is the enemy of fake tanning. When your skin is dry, your tan fades quicker, cracks, and can start looking uneven. If you're skipping moisturizer because you don't want to ruin your tan, you're actually doing the opposite of what your skin and self tan needs — the secret is how you moisturize.

Your Pre-tan Routine Matters

Skin prep might not be the most exciting part of self tanning, but it's one you don't want to skip because it could really make a difference. Your best tanning products sit on the very top layer of your skin, and if that layer is dry, the tan has nothing to cling to. The result? Faster fading and uneven patches. 

Here's what you need to do: Gently exfoliate your skin for atleast 24 hours in advance. You must take extra attention to dry or rough areas like elbows, knees, ankles, and feet.

Choose the Right Moisturizer

The function of a moisturizer is to manage dry skin conditions. As the name suggests, it adds moisture into the skin, keeping it soft, smooth, and hydrated so your skin doesn’t dry out. Your moisturizer choice actually matters when you’ve got fake tan.

Once you're done exfoliating, a self tanning hack is to go for a moisturizer that is something light, water-based, fast-absorbing, and low in oil. Ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin are also great for keeping skin soft but stay away from heavy oils, strong fragrances, alcohol-heavy products, and exfoliating ingredients like AHAs or retinol. Oils in particular can break down your self tanning product, causing it to fade faster.

Moisturize at the Right Time after Application

Timing really matters when it comes to moisturizing your tan. A good practice to follow is once your self tanning lotion or tan mousse has fully developed, which is usually 6-8 hours later, you can start moisturizing without messing with your self tan's color. Every day, try to moisturize at least once, preferably after showering when your skin is slightly damp to help lock in hydration. Nighttime is perfect for a little extra hydration, but remember to keep it light so you don't break down your tan while you snooze.

Give Tan Fan’s Self Tan Powder Kit a try and follow these three easy steps: Shake, Dust, and Done. Sprinkle self tan setting powder over your fresh tan to absorb moisture from your best self tanning product to get an instantly silky dry smooth skin. It's easy to apply, set your tan fast, and transfer proof — a must try tan setting powder indeed.

Rest Comfortably

After putting in your best effort to apply your best fake tan, the last thing you want to worry about is ruining it overnight like waking up to stained sheets. A tanning sheet helps keep your tan looking natural while protecting your bedding. With Tan Fan’s Self Tan Sleep Sac, a crowd-favorite self tan sheep protector, your can sleep comfortably knowing there'll be no mess or transfer even when sleeping with self tanner.

If there’s one thing to remember, it’s this: Moisturizing is actually one of the best things you can do for your fake tan. Skipping it leads to dryness, uneven fading, and those annoying streaky tan will show up too soon. When you make moisturizing a daily habit, your skin stays soft, your tan fades more naturally, and everything just looks better overall. After all, if you’ve gone through the effort of applying self tan, you deserve to enjoy that glow for as long as possible.