A Parent's Guide to Back-to-School Fake Tanning Routines

As the school year kicks off, it may be hard for your teen to balance between looking their best, maintaining their summer vacation tan, keeping up with their friends, and school activities. Between quick morning touch-up sessions and weekends dedicated to self-care, establishing routines can enhance and prolong their summer tan's life, ensuring consistent color week after week. Here are our tips on helping your teen maintain their summer tan throughout the school year—without sacrificing their studies.

Establish a Morning Maintenance Routine

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For those mornings when every minute counts, choosing the right fake tanning products that offer quick application and lasting results is key. You can help ensure your teen's glow doesn't fade or streak during the day, especially when they're running between classes, activities, and sports.

Here are some tips to share with your teen on how to incorporate fake tanning into their morning routine efficiently:

• Prep your skin: Ensure your skin is clean and exfoliated before applying any tanning product. This step helps in achieving an even application.

• Choose fast-absorbing formulas: Look for mousse or spray formulas that are designed to dry quickly. This means you can get dressed without waiting too long and avoid transferring the product onto your clothes.

• Use a tanning mitt: A mitt not only helps with even application but also prevents your hands from getting stained.

• If you're new to self-tanning, opt for gradual tan products. These products build up color over time and are more forgiving of mistakes.

• Hydrate your skin: After applying the tanner, use a lightweight moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. This step ensures your tan lasts longer and fades evenly.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more your teen incorporates these steps into their routine, the quicker and more efficient they'll become at achieving that perfect back-to-school glow.

Maintaining A Summer Tan With Quick Touch-Up Sessions

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Maintaining a flawless fake tan might sound like a lot of work, but it's manageable with the right approach. Homework, exams, and after-school activities demand significant time and energy, yet it's possible to keep a tan looking fresh, even for busy teens and parents. The key is to integrate easy touch-up sessions into existing routines.

To streamline this process, consider these strategies:

• Schedule wisely: Allocate specific times during the week for more thorough tanning maintenance, such as weekends or evenings when your teen has fewer academic obligations.

• Optimize your study breaks: Use short breaks, sleepovers, or movie nights for rapid touch-ups. A quick application of a gradual tanner can refresh your teen's glow, and can be a fun activity for them to do with their friends.

• Keep essentials handy: Keep a small kit with essential tanning products in your teen's bathroom or bedroom. This should include a fast-absorbing tanner, a mitt for application, and a moisturizer to ensure even coverage and prolong the tan's life.

• Choose multi-tasking products: Look for products that serve dual purposes, such as moisturizers with a gradual tanning effect. These can save time by hydrating skin while also helping to maintain a tan.

• Stay organized: Have your teen keep track of when they last applied tanner and when they'll likely need another session. This helps prevent the tan from fading unevenly or suddenly realizing they need a full reapplication at an inconvenient time—like right before a school dance.

By incorporating these tips into your family routine, you can help your teen maintain the beautiful tan they worked on over the summer. Remember, the goal is to find a balance that works for you both. If you or your teen decides to let their tan fade, there are products and techniques to help protect their skin and remove self-tanner with ease.

Weekend Routines For Sustained Color

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Maintaining a consistent fake tan requires attention, especially over the weekend when your teen may have more time to dedicate to their beauty routine. Here are steps to share with your teen if they are planning to follow a weekend self care routine:

1. Exfoliate: Start with exfoliating your skin to remove dead skin cells and any remaining patches from previous tanning applications. This creates a smooth base for a new layer of tan, ensuring even coverage.

2. Moisturize: Apply a generous amount of moisturizer to dry areas such as elbows, knees, and ankles. Hydrated skin absorbs tanning products more evenly, reducing the risk of streaks.

3. Apply tanner: Use your preferred tanning product from Ulta Beauty's selection, applying it with a mitt in circular motions for uniform distribution. Choose a formula that suits your desired level of tan and allows for buildable intensity.

4. Wait before dressing: Give the tanner enough time to dry completely to avoid staining clothes or uneven absorption.

5. Hydrate: Keep your skin hydrated throughout the weekend by drinking plenty of water and using a daily moisturizer. Hydrated skin retains color better and ensures a longer-lasting tan.

6. Touch-up if necessary: If you notice any fading or uneven areas, use the weekend to apply touch-up products specifically designed for quick fixes without starting from scratch.

7. Protect your skin: Remember to apply sunscreen over your fake tan. Sun protection prevents sunburn and protects your skin's health while maintaining the appearance of your tan.

By following these steps during the weekend, your teen can ensure that their fake tan remains vibrant as Monday classes roll around again.

Safe Practices For Frequent Use

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When using fake tanning products frequently, it's important to prioritize your teen's skin's health. Safe practices ensure that they can enjoy a glowing tan without compromising the well-being of their skin. Here are some guidelines for them to follow:

• Patch test: Before using any tanning product extensively, do a patch test on a small area of your skin. This helps identify any adverse reactions.

• Follow instructions: Each product comes with specific guidelines for use. Adhering to these instructions prevents mishaps and ensures optimal results.

• Limit exfoliation: While exfoliating is crucial for an even tan, overdoing it can damage your skin barrier. Limit this step to once or twice a week.

• Moisturize daily: Keeping your skin hydrated is key. Use a quality moisturizer from Ulta Beauty's range to maintain skin health and extend the life of your tan.

• Wear sunscreen: Even though you're using a fake tan, protecting your skin from UV rays is essential. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, especially on exposed areas.

• Avoid prolonged water exposure: Long baths, swimming pools, and hot tubs can fade your tan faster and dry out your skin. Keep water exposure moderate.

• Rotate products: Using the same product continuously can lead to buildup or tolerance. Rotate between different types of tanners to give your skin a break and prevent saturation.

• Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water benefits your overall health and helps maintain the elasticity and hydration of your skin, supporting a more natural-looking tan.

By helping your teen incorporate these practices into their routine, they can safely enjoy the benefits of fake tanning while keeping their skin in top condition. After all, knowing how to maintain healthy skin is the best beauty secret there is to learn.