Tan Tips · 16 September 2026
Shave, exfoliate, tan: the right order
Your practical pre-tan checklist: when to exfoliate and shave, how to prepare dry areas and why your tan needs eight hours before rinsing.
Start the day before
Gently exfoliate around 24 hours before tanning. If you remove body hair, shave in advance too. Give skin time to settle; wait longer if it still feels irritated. Hair removal is optional, not a condition of an even tan.
Get skin ready
On application day, start with clean, dry skin. Use a little moisturiser on dry elbows, knees, ankles and hands, allowing it to absorb. Avoid a heavy all-over layer immediately before tanning unless the product directions call for it.
Apply with care
Work in sections with a tanning mitt. Blend carefully at wrists and ankles, using a lighter touch over joints. Check your application in good light and wash your palms afterwards.
Give it eight hours
For this body-tan routine, leave on for eight hours before rinsing. Avoid workouts, sweating, showers and swimming while it develops. Let the product dry before dressing in loose clothes, and follow the bottle's first-rinse directions.
Make the routine repeatable
Keep your mitt clean and allow it to dry between uses. Pick a regular application evening that fits your schedule. A calm, familiar routine is easier to repeat than a rushed bathroom session before going out.
