Prepare Your Skin
You'll want to shower, shave and exfoliate at least a day before your tan (preferably two!). We recommend using our Premier Collection® body washes as the perfect pre-tan prep. Exfoliating is especially important.
Moisturise your skin with a non-oil-based lotion after your shower & exfoliate. It's important to keep the skin hydrated, this will prolong your tan! Avoid putting on perfume or deodorant, this can cause a barrier to the UV lamps and your skin.
Prepare your skin
Then, cleanse the skin and apply an oil-free moisturizer to lock in hydration, focusing on the chin, nose, behind the ears and the back of the neck. Top Tip: Oil can prevent the face tanner from absorbing properly, so avoid using any oil-based skincare products 24 hours prior to tanning.
Leading up to the tanning bed session, moisturise your skin daily. Right before your session, exfoliate your skin thoroughly.
Aftersun creams and lotions such as Aloe Vera lotion will help with cooling down the skin. Many people keep Aloe Vera plants in their homes for several different purposes. If you have an Aloe Vera plant at home, cut one of the leaves from the plant and rub the aloe sap directly onto the burn for cooling relief.
The skin on your face is different than the skin on the rest of your body. Number 10 is the most important aspect of tanning. USE A TANNING LOTION! 1/4 of the time you are tanning is lost without the use of tanning lotion.
LOTIONS Avoid any oils or lotions that use mineral oil (petroleum), baby oil, coconut oil, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (which is found in most body washes). I have found the best lotions to use are Aveeno, Cetaphil, Hempz, and CeraVe. Lotions with perfumes contain high alcohol levels and tend to dry out the skin.
To avoid patchy tan, we suggest applying a light layer of moisturiser to dry areas, like the Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion, prior to applying the tan. This will create a slight barrier between your skin and the product, so that these areas remain perfectly tanned without appearing blotchy and uneven.
Ten minutes in a sunbed can be roughly equivalent to 1-2 hours in natural sunlight, depending on factors like sunbed intensity and skin type. However, this varies widely based on geographical location, time of day, and weather conditions. Always adhere to recommended exposure times to minimise skin damage risks.
Skin Type and Sensitivity
Not all skin reacts to UV the same way, and understanding your skin type is key to setting realistic tanning goals. For example, if you are a red head and have very light skin, you'll more likely struggle to tan due to low melanin.
Apply tanning lotion just before
If you don't have your own, ask your tanning bed provider if they have any available for purchase. Here at Formula One Gym, we provide sachets and bottles of tanning lotion to suit all skin types and will even provide friendly advice on the most suitable lotion for you.
☀️Tanning Tip Tuesday☀️ How to avoid the “bunny tail” or white spots on lower back or under your arms or sides: ✅ when using a lay down bed always reposition your body every few minutes to achieve an even tan. Switch from side to side and rest your arms behind your head .
TIP #1 - PREP YOUR SKIN
Exfoliating helps prepare your skin before you tan and remove any dead skin cells. Take time to exfoliate so that your skin will be more than ready to get exposed to the rays in a tanning bed. Apply a moisturiser after you shower to ensure your skin is not dry prior to your sunbed session.
Fact: Lotions activate your tan much more quickly! DHA is the main ingredient found in tanning lotions that help bronze your skin. DHA stands for dihydroxyacetone, but our Beaches Tanning Consultants will refer to it as DHA.
Moisturizing creates a smooth, hydrated base that helps your self-tanner glide on evenly. Without it, dry areas of your body—like elbows, knees, and ankles—soak up more product, leaving you with darker, blotchy areas.
Depending on your skin color, in general the average person can develop a base tan in 3-5 sessions which then can be maintained with regular sunbed use. Two sessions a week should be enough to further deepen your tan in a safe and gentle manner.
As you progress in your tanning journey your skin becomes thicker. This means it is harder for UV light to penetrate your skin. That is typically when you will reach a point where your skin is not getting any darker.
Always wear FDA-approved protective goggles when using a tanning bed. Regular sunglasses are not sufficient as they do not provide the necessary protection against intense UV rays emitted by tanning beds.
Avoid using harsh or fragranced products immediately after tanning, as they may further irritate the skin.
Tanning your legs using indoor sunbeds or natural UV light outdoors can be a breeze when you follow these helpful tips. Remember to exfoliate, use high-quality accelerator creams with bronzers, position your legs correctly, rotate your body, and increase your tanning time gradually.