Here’s How to Hang On To Your Summer Glow

Can you believe it will be March next week?

We’re coming to the pointy end of Summer, and while I’m not particularly looking forward to the impending drop in mercury—seasonal changes tend to send my complexion haywire—it often signals the inevitable fading of my summer glow.

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Nathalie Kelley wears Suboo Midsummer Knitted Bandeau and High Waisted Bottoms. Giselle Hoops.

When I speak about said summer glow, I’m of course talking about faux tan. And despite the fact that your pins may be swathed in denim, or your arms tucked away in a cozy knit, this Autumn we’re planning on holding onto our golden skin tone. From prep work to maintenance and a few extra makeup touches, here are a few of our go-to tips we’ve picked up to help you along your way.

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DO YOUR PREP WORK 

Repeat after us—it doesn’t matter how many times you top up your self tan with additional coats of colour during the week, if you don’t prep your skin prior, you’re likely going to see the telltale signs that you’re actually wearing tan. Think patchy colour, uneven fading, and rough edges, which is exactly what you want to avoid—you want to make it look like you haven’t applied anything at all. Start by gently sloughing away dead skin cells using a body exfoliant, but steer clear of any formulas that have an oil base—it prevents the colour from adhering to your skin, leaving you with a streaky finish. Try La Mer The Body Refiner, which provides a really gentle yet still hydrating exfoliation thanks to finely milled diamond powder and sea kelp.

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Suboo Gold Knit High Cut One Piece. Vintage Palm Earring.

USE A BUILDABLE TANNING FORMULA

We’re no longer in the thick of Summer, so rather than select a shade that is multiple hues darker than your skin tone, opt for gradual or buildable formulas to allow your colour to still look natural. I’m obsessed with St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Water Mousse Purity. It doesn’t have a strong scent—in fact, it barely has a scent at all—it doesn’t leave any residue, anywhere, and after one application your skin is, quite literally, naturally sun-kissed. For the fake tanning newbies, it’s important to note that that the formula is clear, not tinted, which means that whilst you’re applying it, you really need to ensure you have covered every surface to avoid missing any spots. Another option is a gradual tanner, like Endota Spa Lilly Pilly & Lime Gradual Tanner, which you apply daily until you reach your desired shade. This one provides a creamy, beautiful colour and simultaneously leaves your skin silky smooth, thanks to the addition of aloe vera.

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Suboo Zanzibar Belted One Piece (available March).

MOISTURISE (THEN MOISTURISE SOME MORE)

It’s always so important to keep your skin hydrated, even more so as the temperatures drop and dry skin tends to be more prominent. That goes double for those applying fake tan—not only will it extend the life of your colour, but also keep it looking fresher for longer. A win-win, really. Apply a lightweight but still nourishing body lotion like Kora Organics Enriched Body Lotion, and slather it on liberally both morning and night.

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Suboo Savanah Belted One Piece (available March).

ADD A LITTLE BRONZE AND HIGHLIGHT

If you’re going to keep up the fake tan, you also need to ensure your face blends into the rest of your tanned bod. But even if you aren’t tanning, turning to a little extra bronzer also has the instant ability to make your eyes look brighter, and in turn your skin look healthier. I’m attached to NARS Bronzer in Laguna (a forever staple in my makeup bag) but I can also recommend MAC Cosmetics Bronzing Powder  for it’s sheer, buildable formula. Subtle highlights along the high points of your face also dial up the luminosity—which we’re about all year long. Try NARS Super Radiant Booster, a gel-like formula that you can mix in with your foundation, or alone for more glow.

Which beauty steps are you taking to hold onto your Summer glow?