Why Use After Tan Moisturizer
(Photo: Mandi Gaga)
In most tanning salons I have noticed that the majority of the people use indoor tanning lotions, but hardly any of them use after tan moisturizers. This really concerns me as after tan moisturizers are very important to keeping your skin healthy and for prolonging your tan. Ultra Violet (UV) exposure from tanning and showering will cause your skin to dry out, after tan moisturizes offset this effect.
After tan moisturizers contain essential vitamins and nutrients that your skin needs but are lost during the tanning process. Applying after tanning moisturizer will repair your dry damaged skin and this will prolong your tan. Most people have a lot of question regarding after tan moisturizers and below are the most common and there answers.
When should I apply after tan moisturizer? The best time to apply after tanning moisturizer is after you shower. The reason for this is showering like tanning will dry out your skin, it is best to keep your skin moist for prolonging the tan. Also, letting your skin dry out will increase the aging process.
If I am not planning on showering after tanning, when should I apply after tan moisturizer? If you don’t plan on showering after tanning or till the next day, it is recommended that you apply after tan moisturizer about 2 to 4 hours after your tan. The reason for this is, you don’t necessarily need to apply moisturizer right after you are finished tanning because you already have tanning lotion on that is designed to moisturize the skin. However, after several hours the lotion is absorbed by the skin and the skin needs to be replenished with more moisturizer.
Can I use any kind of moisturizer? It is recommended that you use a high quality after tan moisturizer. This is because UV light from the tanning bed is really hard on your skin, and traditional moisturizers may not have all of the essential ingredients required to properly replenish your skin. For this reason it is best to purchase a moisturizer that is designed for after indoor tanning use. However if you are going to buy a moisturizer from your local drug store instead, stay away from moisturizers with petroleum, mineral oils, or Vaseline as they will actually damage your skin more than help.
