Quick answer
Usually a few weeks. Your skin constantly sheds its outer layer, so a tan fades gradually as new skin comes through. Colour from a bronzer fades faster, often within days. Keeping your skin moisturised and avoiding harsh scrubbing helps your colour last longer, and keeping a tan takes far fewer sessions than building one.
Why a tan fades
The colour of a tan sits in the outer layers of your skin, which are always renewing. As older skin is shed and replaced, the colour fades, gradually rather than all at once.
What affects how long it lasts
- Hydration: dry skin flakes away faster.
- How you wash: long hot showers, harsh scrubs and exfoliating mitts speed up fading.
- Bronzer vs tan: the cosmetic colour from a bronzer sits on the surface and washes away much sooner than the tan underneath.
- Your skin type: some skin holds colour better than others. See what's my skin type?
Making it last
See how to make your tan last longer for a full routine. A tan-extending moisturiser is designed to help.
Don't chase it with extra sessions
Once you have colour, you need far fewer sessions to keep it. UK guidance advises limiting sunbed use, so let a fading tan go rather than topping up often. See how often you can use a sunbed.
