How To Prolong Your Tan?

When exposed to the sun, the skin tends to naturally thicken and to take on a brown coloration to protect itself from UV rays. Contrary to popular belief, exfoliating will not make your tan disappear. In fact, one or two peels a week are beneficial because they remove dead skin cells from the skin's surface. These treatments help to bring out your tan.

Furthermore, in response to sun exposure, the skin tends to become thicker to protect itself. Exfoliation also prevents your complexion from becoming dull as a result. To accompany you throughout the year, even in summer, Typology offers several exfoliating skin care products:

• Our Exfoliating Mask, which consists of an exfoliating complex with four AHAs and one PHA, removes dead skin cells to unclog pores and refine skin texture. It leaves an even complexion and smoothed skin texture. In the long term, it helps reduce blackheads.

• Our nourishing body scrub contains sweet almond oil (INCI name: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil) with nourishing properties and lavandin essential oil (INCI name: Lavandula Hybrida Herb Oil) known for its regenerating and anti-scarring properties. It rids the skin of dead skin cells thanks to the apricot seed kernels. The exfoliated and nourished skin is soft, supple, and pleasant to touch.

Nutrition also plays a role in maintaining a tan. Carotenoids are pigments synthesized by plants and are responsible for their red and orange colors. These compounds are involved in numerous metabolic reactions, including melanogenesis, the process of melanin synthesis that makes tanning possible. So eating carrots, tomatoes, peppers, peaches and apricots will help keep your complexion nice and tan.

Bonus: carotenoids also have antioxidant properties. They effectively fight the damage caused by repeated attacks of free radicals to the cells and proteins of the body. As a reminder, free radicals are highly reactive compounds that are naturally produced by the body but are created in excess by certain factors such as stress, pollution and UV radiation.

If your complexion is starting to look more pale, you can opt for a self-tanner to prolong the tanning effect. The advantage of a tanning session is that you don't have to worry about UV rays. This type of care usually contains a molecule called dihydroxyacetone (DHA).

When applied topically, this compound induces a tanned complexion within 4 to 6 hours by reacting with amino acids in the stratum corneum of the epidermis through the Maillard reaction to form pigments called melanoidins, which are responsible for coloring the skin.

Often found in self-tanning products is erythrulose, a sugar found in red fruits. This compound acts similarly to DHA, but more slowly. The combination of DHA and erythrulose provides a more natural and even tan. In addition, erythrulose has moisturizing properties that counteract the drying effects of DHA.