To encourage the gradual tan to set in the skin, avoid exfoliating your skin immediately after applying the gradual tan and in the days that follow. On the other hand, if you notice that your tan is becoming uneven , a regular exfoliation can aid in fading the pigment.
The Gradual Tan will slowly fade off the skin evenly. If a more immediate removal is required we recommend using our Self Tan Removal and Exfoliating Mitt.
Step 4: Enjoy the glow!
After 4-8 hours, your gradual tan will be fully developed into a natural, sunkissed glow. To achieve a deeper bronzed look, reapply your gradual tanning lotion daily to build your tan.
Body Oils. Oils are great to break down the tan. Run a hot bath with some body or bath oil in it and soak in for as long as possible. If you're a shower person, apply oil all over your body, let it sink into your skin completely and take a hot steamy shower to wash it off.
Once applied, you can wash skin after just 1 hour, but for a deeper, longer lasting tan, leave on for up to 8 hours.
Utilising gentle exfoliating scrubs or tools, such as exfoliating gloves, helps buff away impurities without causing irritation or abrasion. To encourage the gradual tan to set in the skin, avoid exfoliating your skin immediately after applying the gradual tan and in the days that follow.
The initial development of your gradual tan will take place over the first 2–4 hours after application, so you should avoid showering during this initial period to allow your tan to develop properly. After this, showering every day should not make your tan slower to develop.
You can shave after tanning without removing all your newfound colour. Just make sure you wait at least 8 hours, so your tan has had time to develop. Then shave with gentle pressure, using a brand-new razor and an oil-free wash or shaving foam that won't break down your faux glow.
Optimal Time to Shower After a Fake Tan
Timing your first rinse is key to achieving a flawless, streak-free glow. Wait 4-8 hours before showering to let your tan fully develop, but avoid leaving it on for more than 24 hours.
If you notice your tan is starting to fade, pop on somegradual tan to help your glow last longer. Our Gradual Tanning products contain low-level tanning ingredients to provide a subtle, sunkissed glow, but when applied on top of your existing tan they can help to give you a boost of colour!
But Wong says it's unlikely that any skin aging effect would be pronounced. "The human studies so far have found that DHA mostly reacts in the top layers of the skin, which are dead. In skin aging, the concern is excessive free radicals forming deeper in the dermal layers of skin where collagen and elastin are."
When you perspire, tanning solution will transfer to your hand, and cause staining. If you know you'll be sleeping with your hand between your knees, it's best to wear loose pajama pants and an oversized t-shirt. We also recommend laying a towel over your pillow to prevent any bronzer transfer from your neck.
Applying too much product too quickly can result in streaking, patchiness, or an unnatural orange colour. Instead, stick to one application per day and build up your tan gradually over time.
You will still tan after having a gradual tan, the DHA is the active ingredient in self tanning products. This when applied to the skin will cause a chemical reaction to the amino acids present in the skin cells found in the top layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum).
Do I need to worry about tan coming off on my bed sheets? NO! If you are using a tanning product without a guide colour, like our Self-Tanning Waters, Glow Clear Mousse or Self-Tanning Drops, you are safe! These have no guide colour, which means no transfer onto sheets!
The longer you're swimming in the water, the more your tan will fade. A good way to maintain your tan if you're insistent about swimming is to pat yourself dry rather than forcefully with a towel. It's also a good idea to use a gradual tanner to top up the colour as well as moisturising.
Applying at night gives your self-tanner time to develop a natural tan look. Things like showering, rain, or tight clothes can mess up your tan when it's trying to settle. And some tanning products will also stain! As the self-tanner process can take up to eight hours, applying right before bed is super convenient.
what happens if i forget to shower off the tan? the longer you keep the tan on, the darker it will get. however, some skin types may experience discoloration (looking a bit orange or yellow) if left on too long past around 8 hours. you may also get a streaky tan as you're more likely to rub or wash off some sections.
Self tan doesn't stain, so don't worry if you're wearing a tinted tan and get some transfer on your clothes or sheets – it will come out in the wash!
Exfoliate
Use exfoliating mitts, loofah, or washcloth and gently rub your skin in circular motions to loosen the tan and exfoliate. Remove dead skin cells and remaining self-tanning residue with Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub and apply Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion for maximum nourishment and hydration.
What sets gradual tanning lotions apart is that they use far less DHA than traditional self-tan, and deliver it in a moisturiser product that doesn't need to be washed off.
It can be tempting to forego exfoliating or cleansing your skin properly before tanning, but then you risk a streaky tan! As our skin cells all turn-over and shed at different times, it's vital that you start with a fresh canvas so that your tan is applied evening and won't go streaky or patchy.
It is easily applied, smells gorgeous and most of all, it works. My skin feels soft and the tan starts to work almost instantly. After a few hours i have a natural looking golden tan. It doesn't stain bedding either.
Generally, a gradual tan lasts about a week, but with the right preparation, your sunless glow can stick around for up to ten days. The key is to knuckle down on preparing your skin in the weeks and days leading up to your gradual tan, and keeping your skin moisturised once you've applied.
Top tip, you're going to need a good Tanning Mitt. This is not only going to seamlessly apply the product to the skin, but will keep your hands completely stain free. Apply a generous amount of product to the middle of the mitt and buff the product into the skin using circular motions.