How to prep your skin for perfect face tanning

A streak-free, natural tan on your face is the ultimate feel-good factor, especially in the Winter months. But the standard of your face tan depends on the standard of your prep, meaning that if your skin is not properly prepared, you might be looking at a face tan fail.

Here’s how to prep your skin so that you end up with an even, golden glow that makes you look and feel fantastic:

DOUBLE CLEANSE

In the past, people used face scrubs and exfoliants to prep the face for tanning, but now your regular skincare routine should have you covered. If you have a consistent routine that combines cleansing with light exfoliation, you won’t need extra exfoliation and therefore won’t risk throwing your skin barrier off balance.

Double cleansing is the process of cleaning your face twice and is normally performed at night. The first cleanse wipes away makeup and all traces of spf, while the second cleanse gently polishes and illuminates the skin. Using a warm face cloth as part of your cleansing routine provides light exfoliation so that skin is left smooth and clean for even face tan application.

REFINE THE SURFACE OF YOUR SKIN

Enlarged pores and dead skin cells lead to coagulated tan and clumps of colour. To prevent this, we need to refine the surface of the skin and reduce pore size.

We recommend incorporating an acid toner into your basic routine to speed up cell turnover and give you the best possible base for tanning. Choose a gentle, hydrating acid like lactic acid if you have sensitive skin and allow it to absorb into your skin after cleansing.

A good acid toner will remove dead skin cells and naturally make your skin smoother and boost circulation so that tan glides on evenly.

MOISTURISE

Hydrated skin is key for successful tanning but it’s important not to slather on thick moisturiser on the night of! What you are looking for is consistent hydration, not a quick-fix. To this end, choose a lightweight moisturiser, treat your skin to a hyaluronic serum for extra hydration, and let everything sink in before applying tan.

Glow Drops self-tanning drops contain hyaluronic acid which means that on the night that you use them, you can skip your serum. Simply mix the drops with your moisturiser or night oil and you’re good to glow. They slot effortlessly into your regular routine and deliver hydration and tanning in one go.

USE A TAN WITH SKIN BENEFITS

While face tan formulas have improved by leaps and bounds over the years, some of them still contain alcohol and high levels of the tanning agent DHA (dihydroxacetone), both of which dry out the skin. Choose a product that delivers skin benefits as well as tanning action to minimise the likelihood of irritation or flakiness. A good face tanning product should work to treat the skin at the same time as tanning it.

Look for face tan formulations that contain moisturising ingredients like hyaluronic acid and are alcohol-free. The best approach when facial tanning and negotiating your regular skincare is to use tanning products with effective skincare benefits.

Glow Drops self-tanning drops contain hyaluronic acid which means that on the night that you use them, you can skip your serum. Simply mix the drops with your moisturiser or night oil and you’re good to glow. They slot effortlessly into your regular routine and deliver hydration and tanning in one go.