Should I wear sunscreen over my fake tan?

Yes! Always wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV rays, such as skin cancers, wrinkles, sun spots, sunburn and premature ageing, no matter whether you’ve used fake tan or not.

Fake tan doesn’t provide any protection from the sun! In fact, you can still develop a regular suntan on top of a fake one. And remember, even if you use a product that contains an SPF, once you’ve washed the product off in the shower your skin will be left bare. Your golden glow will not act as a barrier to the sun’s rays so you must safeguard your skin by applying sunscreen every day, especially during the summer months when there’s a greater risk of sunburn.

We recommend applying your fake tan before bed, allowing it to develop overnight and washing it off in the morning before slathering on some sunblock for the day ahead. Nowadays, many cosmetics like foundations, BB creams and tinted moisturisers contain an SPF. However, always check the level of protection and make sure they provide broad spectrum cover — that means they protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Plus, you’ll also need to apply sunblock over areas of exposed skin that your make up won’t cover, such as your arms and legs.

If you’re dipping in and out of the pool, select a waterproof sunscreen and follow the instructions on the bottle about whether you’ll need to reapply throughout the day.

Finally, remember that a fake tan is a safe tan. Get your glow from a bottle (apply sunscreen on top!) and invest in the long term health of your skin.