Can you swim with a self-tanner?

Not blessed with legs that tan as soon as the sun starts to shine? No problem, self-tanner is THE solution. This way you create a beautiful complexion without your skin having to see the sun. When you are tanning with the self-tanner on, there is of course a chance that you will get warm and therefore want to take a dip in the pool or the sea. But is this possible with a self-tanner? Won't it stain? You can read it in this blog.

Yes, swimming with a self-tanner is possible

It is possible to swim with self-tanner on. Fortunately, you don't have to worry about getting a whole brown haze around you. You might not expect it, but the color sometimes only fades after swimming, while drying off. In this case, you should see a towel as a small scrub treatment. You then wipe the dead skin cells from your body. A self-tanner mainly adheres to the upper dead skin cells, so that the skin cells can be wiped off more quickly with the self-tanner. In addition to wiping the dead skin cells off your skin with a towel, the chlorine from the pool causes your skin to flake. This can also cause your brown skin cells to disappear more quickly.

Tips to make self-tanner last longer

Here are some tips on how to ensure you lose as little self-tanner as possible while swimming.

Shaving or hair removal

If you still want to shave, make sure you do this at least 1 day in advance. Your skin can then recover before you apply the self-tanner.

Scrubbing

It is important to scrub your skin well beforehand. This way you ensure that you scrub the dead skin cells from your skin. This prevents the self-tanner from adhering to the dead skin cells. The dead skin cells fall off immediately after swimming. That would of course be a shame. Scrub especially rough spots well, think of your elbows and knees.

Hydrate

What also helps is to use a hydrating lotion beforehand. This lotion ensures that you do not get dry spots from the self-tanner. If you skip this step, there is a chance that you will get dry spots and these can color differently than the rest of your skin. You do have to apply the lotion a while before the self-tanner so that it can be absorbed properly and does not leave a greasy layer on your skin.

Dry yourself well

Your skin must be completely dry when you apply the self-tanner. So it is better to wait fifteen minutes after showering before applying.

Use a tanning mitt

Also very important is that you apply the self-tanner very well. If you do not do this well enough you will get stripes. It is therefore wise to use a tanning mitt while applying the self-tanner.

Let the self-tanner soak in long enough

Every self-tanner needs time to be absorbed. Some longer than others. It is therefore important that you read the packaging carefully in advance to see how long your self-tanner needs. Many products recommend applying them before going to sleep.

Once your self-tanner has been absorbed well enough, you can dive into the pool or the sea with confidence. Please note that your self-tanner can fade due to the salty sea or the chlorine in the pool.

Body lotion

To prevent your self-tanner from fading quickly in salt or chlorine water, it is important that you keep hydrated all the time. So after swimming, immediately apply a nourishing body lotion to your skin to keep the moisture balance of your skin back on track.

In short

• Depilating your legs? Do this at least a day in advance.
• Scrub your skin well beforehand.
• Apply a moisturizing lotion beforehand. Let it soak in first.
• Make sure your skin is thoroughly dry.
• Use a tanning mitt to prevent streaks.
• Take time to let the self-tanner soak in.
• You can swim with peace of mind, although you may have to reapply your self-tanner more often.
• Stay hydrated.

If you have any questions or need advice about self-tanner, you can always contact one of our experts in the live chat. They will be happy to help you.

Curious about our entire tanning range? You will find it in the tanning collection.