How to Prep Your Skin for Tanning: Face & Body Guide
Prepping your skin properly is the secret to a smooth, even and long-lasting tan. Whether you’re using our Self-Tan Drops or Self-Tan Mousse, hydrated, exfoliated skin helps your glow apply seamlessly and fade beautifully.
This simple face and body prep routine will help you get the most out of your tan, without making it feel like a chore.
How Do You Prep Your Skin for Tanning?
To prep your skin for tanning, exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and old tan, then hydrate skin well. Smooth, moisturised skin helps self-tan apply evenly and fade naturally.
Should You Exfoliate Before Tanning?
Yes, exfoliating before tanning helps remove dry patches and ensures your tan develops evenly on both face and body.
Why Skin Prep Matters Before Tanning
Exfoliating and hydrating your skin removes dead skin cells and old tan, allowing your new tan to develop evenly. Proper prep helps prevent patchiness, improves colour payoff and ensures a more natural-looking fake tan.
Smooth Your Skin
Removing old tan and dead skin cells helps your new glow sit evenly.
The easiest way? Gentle exfoliation.
How to Exfoliate Your Body Before Tanning
Exfoliating Body Mitt
Our double-sided Exfoliating Body Mitt helps remove rough skin and dead cells, leaving skin silky smooth and ready to glow. It’s a must-have for prepping your body before tanning and for helping tan fade evenly over time.
How to Exfoliate Your Face Before Tanning
Choose a facial exfoliant that suits your skin type and routine:
Creamy Face Scrub
Our Face Scrub gently buffs away dead skin using finely ground walnut shell powder, while pomegranate, rosehip and jojoba oils help nourish and hydrate skin.
Exfoliating Tonic with AHAs & PHAs
The Exfoliating Tonic is a chemical exfoliant that smooths and hydrates using AHAs and PHAs, with aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to soothe and comfort skin.
Pineapple Enzyme Face Mask & Cleanser
The dual-action Enzyme Face Mask and Cleanser brightens dull skin using pineapple enzymes to gently exfoliate. Can be used as a mask or daily cleanser, with squalane, green tea and pink clay to calm and protect skin.
Prolong Your Tan
Hydrated skin means a longer-lasting glow. After tanning, use your favourite moisturiser or body cream daily to keep skin soft and help your colour stay vibrant for longer.
Well-hydrated skin also helps your tan fade more evenly over time.
Our Hand & Body Cream locks moisture into the skin leaving it looking and feeling soft, smooth and nourished.
Keep It Even
To avoid patchy fading, repeat gentle exfoliation as needed. Regular, light exfoliation helps remove dry areas and ensures your tan fades gradually and naturally.
How Often Should You Exfoliate When Tanning?
Exfoliate gently before tanning and again lightly as your tan fades to help prevent patchiness and uneven wear.
Prep, Tan, Glow
Prepping your skin doesn’t need to be complicated. A simple exfoliate-and-hydrate routine helps your tan apply better, last longer and fade beautifully, whether you’re tanning your face, body or both.