How to Keep Your Spring Break Tan Forever

The key to keeping your glow starts before you even step on the plane. Make sure to give your skin a good exfoliation a day or two before you leave. This way, you'll remove all the dead skin cells, leaving a fresh layer of skin to absorb the sun.

You may think it's counter-intuitive, but wearing sunscreen is so, so important. If you want your tan to last, you have to take care of your skin. If you burn, you'll risk peeling, meaning your tan will disappear in a flash.

While it's important to keep skin hydrated on the outside, it's just as important to stay hydrated on the inside. Drink lots of water to keep skin in tip-top shape and prevent flaking and peeling.

Make sure that you continue to moisturize every day while you're away. Pack it on in the morning before sunscreen and in the evening before bed.

While hot showers are one of the only good things about getting out of bed on a cool spring morning, they're wreaking havoc on your skin. Reduce the water temperature and reduce the water's drying effects (and watch your tan last for weeks).

Your daily moisturizer will help hold in that tan, but you'll want to switch to a super hydrating cream when you get home. Look for something with hyaluronic acid, and consider adding a moisturizing overnight mask to your routine.

Cleansing oils are less harsh on the skin than foaming cleansers, and will help remove dirt and impurities while keeping moisture locked in.

Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil, $15.

In addition to lotioning up after every shower, you can increase the moisture factor by adding a moisturizing body wash to your routine. Look for something with oatmeal (to soothe skin) and essential oils to replenish moisture.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash, $9.

It might be tempting to rub yourself down with a towel after your shower, but here's a tip: don't. Instead, pat yourself dry. Rubbing a rough towel against moist skin can remove dead skin cells, which normally, is a great way to exfoliate, but not so much if you're trying to maintain your vacation glow.

It's sad but true: the longer you're in an office and out of the sun, your tan is going to gradually go away, no matter what you do. Combat the natural glow's fade by adding some extra colour with a gradual tanning lotion. Not only will it keep skin supple, but it will top up your tan each day.

Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer, $13.

Like most powder products, powder foundation is made to absorb oil and keep skin matte. The problem is, when you have a tan, you want to keep those oils in your skin to maintain skin's moisture and keep your tan for longer. Pick up a moisturizing liquid foundation when you get home, to really amp up (and maintain) your glow.

Paul and Joe Silky Smooth Foundation, $45.

When all else fails, and you see your tan slipping away, it's time to pull out the big guns. St. Tropez Dark Tanning Mousse is one of the best self-tanning products on the market. It'll easily take you back to bronzed babe status in a matter of hours, without stepping foot on a plane, train or automobile.

St. Tropez Dark Tanning Mousse, $54.