Body · Self-Tan · Sub-chapter 02
The self-tan goes on in ten minutes. What you do in the twenty-four hours before is what separates even colour from a patchy mess.
86 how-to's · Updated 3 May 2026 · Avg. 5 min per piece · Edited by Nelly · Beauty & Style Director
The prep window
DHA reacts with the surface of the skin. If that surface is uneven, rough, dry-patchy, or still has yesterday's product sitting on it, the colour will land unevenly. Exfoliate the day before, not the day of. Shave or wax at least twenty-four hours ahead. Moisturise dry zones generously the night before. Apply with a mitt using long, confident strokes. Go thin.
Prep sequence
- T-48 hrs: wax or use depilatory if applicable
- T-24 hrs: exfoliate, shave, deep moisturise dry zones
- Day of AM: light moisturiser on dry zones only (no oils)
- Day of PM: apply self-tan with mitt on fully dry skin
- Post-apply: loose clothing, no exercise, no water during development