How to Prepare Your Skin for Flawless Self-Tan Application

Yes, it is possible to have a natural-looking, year-round bronze glow. All it takes is a little bit of strategic prep. Here’s how. 

No matter what shade of tan or formula you choose, the secret to that streak-free, long-lasting golden glow is all in the preparation. Which is why we pulled together the ultimate self-tanning guide, that will talk through the entire self-tanning process and leave you with that desired, radiant glow.  

Why do I need to prepare my skin to self-tan?

If you want a really natural-looking, streak-free tan, it requires preparation: nothing gives a faux-tan away quite like elbows, knees and heels that appear three shades darker than the rest of your body. Patchy wrists, feet and hands are also the antithesis of our ‘naturally bronzed’ ambitions. Properly preparing your skin will avoid the appearance of darker patches and streaks, leaving your skin with a golden glow that lasts. 

Do I need to moisturise before?

The short answer is yes, absolutely. A good quality moisturiser is everyone’s best friend, as it leaves your skin hydrated, your skin barrier protected against environmental stressors and helps to maintain the skin’s integrity.

Their benefits also stretch to facilitating a killer self-tan, as moisturising before its application will create an even base and prevent any scaly or patchy mishaps. Focusing on the tell-tale areas (your elbows, knees, hands and feet), will reduce the areas of dryness that your self-tan will cling to, increasing its natural, even appearance. Regularly moisturising once your tan has developed also allows you to prolong its effects, as your skin cells will shed slower and maintain its colour for longer. 

Can I shave right before self-tanning?

Ideally not, and watch out: this is a common mistake. The problem? It can leave you with a ‘speckled’ tan. This ‘dappled’ effect occurs when your pores and hair follicles don’t have enough time to close up after hair removal, and get clogged with self-tan, resulting in your legs (or any other areas) looking like they’re covered in tiny dark spots. 

To avoid this you will need to shave, epilate or wax 24 hours before applying your tan to ensure that the hair follicles have closed back up, your skin is less sensitive and there are no unattended shaving cuts (yes, we’ve all been there). This will prevent any irritation, leaving your legs silky smooth and ready to be bronzed when the time comes.

Exfoliation?

Yes, this is the most crucial step to achieving an even-toned, long-lasting tan. You want to start with the smoothest canvas possible, which means getting a high quality exfoliant that removes dead skin cells (and any previous tanner that may have stuck around), while deeply nourishing and hydrating the fresh, healthy cells below. Note: as with moisturising, pay particular attention again to the areas prone to dryness when you are exfoliating.

The fresher your skin is before applying self-tan the longer your golden glow will last. Self-tan works by darkening the cells on the very top surface layer of the skin, which naturally flakes away over time. If you apply tanner to skin that hasn’t been exfoliated this regeneration process will be much faster, and consequently reduce the life cycle of your tan. So, if you want the maximum glow for minimum effort, exfoliate exfoliate exfoliate.

Our ultimate step-by-step guide 

Day 1: The shower routine

Massage a generous handful of our Dry Oil Sugar Scrub onto dry or very slightly damp skin and using circular motions, allowing the scrub to melt and spread before rinsing it off. 

Day 2: Tan day!

Directly before applying your self-tan, shower and follow up with your favourite body moisturiser. Smooth the cream into all areas you will be applying the tanner using circular massaging motions to increase absorption and microcirculation. 

Then, bring out the star of the show. We recommend using Awesome Bronze™ Super Formula No-streak Self Tanning Mousse and messaging the mousse evenly into the skin in circular motions, using a tanning mitt. Allow 3-4 minutes to dry and 4-8 hours before showering. (Don’t forget to wash hands immediately after use!).

Day 3: After care

The following day (and every day afterwards) apply a soothing body lotion or moisturiser to extend the life of your tan. Do a light scrub to ensure your tan fades evenly (or top up again if you want to build up the colour). This golden glow should last you around 3 - 5 days, depending on your skin type and lifestyle. 

Useful tips and tricks

A tanning applicator - like a mitt or a brush - will be your new best friend. 

Apply your tan (mousse works best) directly onto the applicator, and then massage it in using circular motions, not forgetting the hands and feet. Fool-proof, streak-free and mess-free.

Use tanning drops on your face. 

While we can’t have your face giving away your faux-tan secrets, we also don’t want any tan-induced breakouts. So, we recommend applying a few drops of skincare-infused tanning drops (Awesome Bronze™ Gradual Self-Tanning Drops is brilliant) onto a well cleansed and exfoliated face and watch a gorgeous glow-y tan develop. 

Allow your tan to dry before dressing.

This is self-explanatory, there really is nothing worse than putting in all the hard work, just for it to rub off on your OOTD.

Top up your tan, after a gentle exfoliation.

If you feel your glow fading and that winter-prone lacklustre complexion returning, gently exfoliate your skin with your favourite scrub and reapply a light layer of your tan. Et voilà, you’re back and bronzed.

After 3 - 5 days, remove all traces of your previous tan and repeat the process for a fresh golden glow.