summer is almost gone ... and so is your tan

sure, you may have a great tan NOW ... but as September signals a return to regular work hours, less frequent long weekends, and shorter periods of available sun ... your tan turns from fab to ugh!

you can prolong the glow of your awesome colour by applying some self-tanner and mastering bronzer, but eventually it will become dry, flaky and patchy. by that point - i'm pretty sure you just want to get rid of it.

try gently exfoliating the skin to help slough off peeling skin and dry patches. the key word is "gently" ... work only with the areas where you see that peeling has begun. you can pick up for yourself an exfoliating product at your skincare counter of choice, or add some brown sugar to your current skin cleanser and mix into a paste. a soft but nubby wash towel can work wonders too.

dark spots that are visible but aren't peeling could be a sign of deeper damage and excessive scrubbing can cause more harm than good.  for these areas, you may want to wait it out and should it not start to peel, lighten or fade - consult a dermatologist.

after exfoliating and cleansing, the key is moisturizer (in fact, the key to ANY skincare routine is moisturizer) ... repair, smooth and soothe with a moisturizer suitable for your skin type.

until next summer ...

-s-