Holidays are like Netflix binges: unless you quit your job, sooner or later they have to come to an end. But while returning home might rob you of your happiness, it needn’t rob you of your tan.

By following a few golden rules, putting to work a solid grooming regime and learning some clever tricks, it’s easy to get extra air miles out of your holiday colour. Here’s your ticket to getting the perfect glow (and keeping it).

How Long Does A Tan Last?

First, the science. A tan occurs when sun exposure causes the production of a brown pigment known as melanin in the skin’s outermost layer (known as the epidermis).

More than just for bragging that you recently hit the beach, this is the body’s way of protecting itself from damage caused by that big ball of radioactive mass in the sky, notably UVA rays (those responsible for accelerated ageing) and UVB rays (which cause sunburn).

However, because skin naturally sheds and generates millions of cells every day, the average life expectancy of a tan left to its own devices is only around 7-10 days once back under grey skies.

How To Make A Tan Last Longer

Prepare And Maintain

The key to prolonging a tan starts before you even get one. Scrubbing an already milky pallor might seem counterproductive, but exfoliating helps slough off old skin cells so that the sun can shine on new cells at the beginning of their life cycle.

“Using a daily exfoliating body wash two weeks prior to your holiday, and on every day on your trip will prepare your skin for prolonged sun exposure and ensure a deeper, more even tan,” says Kiehl’s education executive Bianca Blum.

Even after you’ve passed back through arrivals, continue exfoliating every two-to-three days to avoid a build-up of dead cells that can make skin look dull and lacklustre. And don’t worry, this won’t speed up the rate at which you return to your original hue. “A natural tan is much deeper in the skin compared to a fake tan,” adds skincare expert Andy Millward. “So unless you’re using strong acids or physical exfoliation daily, your holiday tan won’t be affected.”