How to prepare your skin before fake tanning

A little preparation goes a long way.

Use our pre-tanning guide to ensure your skin looks stunning for party season.

Don’t do anything to your skin apart from applying Sienna X self-tanner this yuletide and you’ll look fabulously festive, gloriously glamorous and splendidly sophisticated. However, if you follow our pre-tanning tips and take a little extra care on creating the perfect base, you’re skin will shine brighter and your golden colour will last longer.

So where to start?

Begin by exfoliating – use Polishing Body Scrub to remove dead skin cells and any existing impurities that are lying on the surface of your skin. The fine pumice within the formulation will also soften and improve your skin tone as well as improve circulation. Exfoliating helps to create a smooth surface for your fake tan to stick to to and reduces the risk of streaks and patches of colour developing on the skin. Be sure to exfoliate at least 24 hours before you plan on self tanning so that when the time comes for your treatment you will be able to build up a uniform, balanced and even colour finish.

You should also shave or wax a day or two before your sunless tan to allow any open pores to close up. This will again encourage an even end result

Try to avoid using any products that can leave a residue on the skin, such as deodorants and perfumes, on the day of your tan. These products tend to prevent fake tan from adhering to the skin resulting in less than optimum results.

Once you’ve applied your tanner allow the colour to develop for six to eight hours before washing off in the shower. Use a gentle product like Balance Body Wash on your skin instead of harsh shower gels that can strip away your new golden tan. Pat your skin dry and apply a rich moisturiser, such as Radiance Body Balm, all over your body to hydrate your skin cells and boost the life of your colour. Moisturise every day and you’ll benefit from a long-lasting tan and promote an even fade-off.