← The Glow GuideHub · 2 piecesprep & aftercare.
prep & aftercare.
the skincare hub. before, during, after.
A tan only ever looks as good as the skin under it. Prep is what separates a tan that lasts seven days and fades evenly from one that streaks on day two and patches on day four.
This hub covers the full 72-hour countdown, the in-shower priming routine, post-application aftercare, and the small acts of maintenance — gradual moisturiser on day three, cold rinses, no chlorine until day five — that turn a one-week tan into a ten-day one.
Last reviewed 18 May
every piece in this hub.
- Exfoliating MittAn exfoliating mitt is a coarse-textured fabric glove used to slough off dead skin cells before self tanning or to remove and fix mistakes after.
- Tan Priming ShowerA tan priming shower is the shower taken immediately before a self tan application: warm water, gentle body wash, exfoliating mitt, finished with a cold rinse to close pores.
- Cold RinseA cold rinse is a final cool-water rinse at the end of a shower, used to close pores and reduce post-shower redness.
- Tan ExtenderA tan extender is a moisturiser containing a low dose of DHA, applied between full applications to maintain colour and slow fade.
- Tan AftercareTan aftercare is the maintenance routine following a developed self tan: daily moisturising, no hot baths, no chlorine, no harsh exfoliants.
- HumectantA humectant is a skincare ingredient that draws moisture from the air and from deeper skin layers into the surface, including glycerin and hyaluronic acid.