How to Prep and Exfoliate for a Deeper, Longer-Lasting Tan
How to prep and exfoliate
for a deeper, longer-lasting tan.
The smoothest, deepest tans almost always come down to one thing people skip: preparation. A tan develops on the surface of your skin, so if that surface is dry, rough or covered in dead skin, your colour can look patchy and fade unevenly. Prep properly and you give every Delux session a clean, even canvas to work on.
Step one
Exfoliate around 24 hours before
Exfoliating clears away dull, dead skin so colour can build evenly and hold for longer. Use a gentle body scrub or an exfoliating mitt in the shower, working in circular motions, and pay extra attention to the drier areas that tend to grab colour: knees, elbows, ankles, knuckles and heels. Do this the day before rather than right before a session, so your skin has time to settle.
Step two
Shave or wax the day before
If you shave or wax, do it the day before you tan rather than straight before. This gives your skin time to calm down, which keeps your colour even and helps you avoid irritation.
Step three
Start with clean, dry skin
On the day, apply your Delux accelerator to clean, dry skin before your sunbed session or your time in the sun. Smooth it evenly over the body so there are no heavy patches or missed spots, and blend well around those dry areas you exfoliated. If your skin feels especially dry, a light moisturiser on those zones beforehand helps everything sit evenly.
No prep
PatchyThe colour lands on a rough surface and leaves the same way.
Ten minutes of prep
EvenA clean canvas, so every session builds on the last.
Step four
Lock it in afterwards
How long your colour lasts comes down to how hydrated your skin stays. Moisturise daily, keep showers warm rather than scalding, and go easy on heavy scrubbing between sessions so you are not buffing away the colour you have just built. Skin that is looked after holds a deeper tone for noticeably longer.
Step five
Build it up gradually
Delux is a tan accelerator and intensifier, not a fake tan, so it works alongside your own UV exposure on sunbeds or in the sun. There is no DHA and no bronzer, so you build a real, natural-looking colour. Always follow your salon's guidance, build gradually over several sessions, and never overexpose your skin. Consistency, not intensity, is what gives you that rich depth.
Prepped and ready?
Give your routine the right formula and let the prep do its job.
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