The self tanner advice you hear on repeat is always “EXFOLIATE, EXFOLIATE, EXFOLIATE!” - but do you ever wonder why? The short answer is that it cleans away dead skin cells that can cause patchy tans. This becomes especially important when you're using professional quality high DHA self tanners, like GlowPro Tans. Exfoliating has lots of other benefits too, like unclogging pores, clearing acne and evening out your skin tone! It also increases cell turnover, which increases radiance and we’re all about a good GLOW.
- How much should I exfoliate?
Does this mean you need to rub your skin until it’s red and raw? Absolutely not! So how much exfoliation is enough? You just want togentlyrub off that outer layer of dead skin, to ensure you have a good base before applying any products – not just self-tanner! If your skin feels raw, tight or hurts hurts- you’re exfoliating too much.
- When should I exfoliate?
Our preference is a moderate exfoliation the day before tanning, with a lighter one the day of your tanning session. If you prefer to do just one heavier exfoliation session, the day-of, wait around 3 hours before applying tanner incase your skin barrier needs to settle. Do not apply moisturizer prior to tanning unless you have dry skin. It’s easiest to make this part of your evening showering routine, which is perfect for applying your self tanner and getting your 6-8 hour marinating time in while you sleep.
- When do I shave?
This is different than most advice you'll hear, but we recommend shaving after the exfoliation process to get a closer shave. Most tanning pros are going to tell you to shave then exfoliate because the lubricating strip on razors will prevent the tan for absorbing. This is sound logic but not functional since you'll end up with prickly legs quickly. You want tan and smooth legs, right? Easy solve. Exfoliate well, shave, then cleanse your legs + any other areas your shaved to get rid of the lube build up. Best of both worlds!
- What should I use to exfoliate?
For your body, the absolute best option is this exfoliating glove ($15) that is the perfect balance of being textured enough to remove dead skin and tanner build up, but fine enough that it won't damage your skin barrier. We're pretty anti-scrub here because so many scrubs contain heavy oils which leave your skin feeling soft and silky, but will prevent your self tanner from absorbing :( Only use a body scrub if you are willing to vet the ingredients for tan-compatibility. Normal to oily skin will get the best results from using a clear gel body wash. Dry skin can have many causes/solutions and we can't truthfully endorse a one-size-fits-all product or method.
Other benefits of exfoliation include cleansing skin, unclogging pores, and reducing color transfer from spray tans. If you’re deep cleaning your skin on a regular basis, you’re less likely to fall victim to bacne too. And remember, quality over quantity – you don’t have to exfoliate like a madman to have a good tan. A good scrub 1-2x a week prior to tanning and using professional grade tanning products and you'll be good to go! Shop the best self tanners here.
