Why Your Skin Feels Drier in Fall—and What That Means for Your Skin 

Cooler weather can change the way your skin looks and feels. Here’s how to adjust your routine and keep your sunless tan smooth and even all season long.

Fall means cooler weather, lower humidity, and—sometimes—skin that suddenly feels a little drier than usual.

As the seasons change, you may notice more dryness or flaking, especially on areas like your arms, legs, knees, and elbows. And if spray tans or self-tanning products are part of your beauty routine, those changes can affect your tan, too.

The good news? A few simple adjustments to your routine can help keep your skin hydrated and your SUGARED + BRONZED glow looking smooth throughout the season.

Here’s what you need to know.

Why Does Your Skin Get Drier in the Fall?

Cooler temperatures and lower humidity mean there’s typically less moisture in the air. Indoor heating and longer, hotter showers can also contribute to skin feeling dry.

You may start to notice:

• Skin feeling tight after showering

• Dry or flaky patches

• Rougher-feeling arms and legs

• Certain areas needing more hydration than they did during summer

Your skincare routine naturally changes with the seasons, and your tanning routine may need to change with it.

What Does Dry Skin Do to a Spray Tan?

A sunless tan develops on the outermost layer of your skin. When skin is very dry or flaky, color can develop unevenly in certain areas or look patchier as it fades.

This can be especially noticeable around naturally drier areas like the elbows, knees, hands, and ankles.

That’s why keeping your skin smooth and hydrated is an important part of maintaining a natural-looking tan—especially during the cooler months.

1. Keep Up With Exfoliation

Exfoliation is an important part of preparing for a spray tan or applying self tanner at home.

Before tanning, use the S+B Exfoliating Mitt and S+B Exfoliating Scrub to help remove dead skin cells and create a smoother canvas for your color.

The key is timing.

Once you’ve been spray tanned, avoid unnecessary exfoliation while you’re trying to maintain your color. Save the mitt for when you’re ready to remove your fading tan and prep for the next one.

A little consistency goes a lot further than over-exfoliating.

2. Add More Hydration to Your Routine

If your skin tends to get drier during fall, this is the time to give hydration a little more attention.

Keeping your skin moisturized helps it feel soft and smooth and can also support a more even-looking fade as your sunless tan wears off.

S+B Hocoba Oil is an easy addition to your fall routine. Apply it to slightly damp skin after showering to help lock in moisture and keep your skin feeling hydrated.

Simple, but important.

3. Be Mindful of Hot Showers

We understand the appeal of a hot shower when the temperature starts dropping, but your skin may prefer something a little less intense.

Very hot water and long showers can contribute to dryness. If you’re also trying to maintain a spray tan, spending extended periods in hot water may make your color fade faster.

Try keeping showers warm rather than extremely hot, especially when you’re fresh from a spray tan.

4. Maintain Your Color Between Spray Tans

Your spray tan will gradually fade, but your glow routine doesn’t have to stop there.

The S+B Sunless Tanning Collection makes it easy to maintain or refresh your color at home.

Use S+B Sunless Tanning Lotion when you want gradual body color while keeping your skin feeling hydrated.

If your face starts fading faster than your body, S+B Sunless Tanning Water or S+B Sunless Tanning Glow Drops can help bring some color back.

And when you’re ready for a more noticeable full-body bronze, reach for S+B Sunless Tanning Mousse.

You can adjust your routine depending on how much color you want and where you need it.

5. Pay Attention to Naturally Dry Areas

Why does self tanner sometimes look darker on your knees and elbows?

Areas like the knees, elbows, ankles, hands, and feet tend to be naturally drier. Because of that, self tanner can sometimes develop more noticeably in those areas.

When applying an at-home tanning product, use a lighter hand around:

Elbows • Knees • Ankles • Hands • Feet

Taking a little extra care with these areas can help your final color look more even.

Can You Get a Spray Tan If You Have Dry Skin?

Yes. If your skin is feeling particularly dry or flaky, though, it’s a good idea to focus on skin prep before your appointment.

Gently exfoliate ahead of time, keep your skin hydrated in the days leading up to your tan, and arrive for your appointment with clean, product-free skin.

And if you didn’t get a chance to exfoliate beforehand, you can use a S+B Sunless Tanning Prep Wipe in-store before your appointment as an easy last-minute prep step.

Does Moisturizing Help Your Spray Tan Last Longer?

Keeping your skin moisturized is an important part of spray tan aftercare.

After completing your initial development and rinse instructions, regular hydration can help prevent the dry, flaky appearance that can make a fading tan look more noticeable.

Think of moisturizing as part of maintaining your glow—not just something you reach for once your skin already feels dry.

Adjust Your Routine, Not Your Glow

The change in seasons doesn’t mean you have to give up your tan.

As your skin adjusts to cooler weather, your routine can adjust with it. Focus on gentle exfoliation before tanning, consistent hydration, mindful shower habits, and maintaining your color with sunless tanning products when needed.

A few seasonal changes are all it takes to keep your skin feeling smooth and your glow looking fresh throughout fall.