by liz, founderA fresh tan is easy. A day-six tan that still looks like skin — that is the skill. The difference is almost entirely hydration and shower habits.
moisturise like it is your job
Tan fades as your skin naturally sheds. Hydrated skin sheds slowly and evenly; dry skin flakes, and flaking tan is what reads as "patchy". Moisturise every day, ideally straight out of the shower while your skin is still damp. Using the Gradual Tanning Moisturiser as your daily body cream tops up the colour a shade at a time as the original tan fades — this is the single biggest week-long-tan trick.
shower short, pat dry
Long, hot showers and baths soften the tanned layer and speed up the fade. Keep showers warm and short, skip the exfoliating scrub, and pat — never rub — yourself dry. Chlorinated pools and spas are the fastest tan-removers there are, so save the swim for the last days of the wear.
end it on purpose
Around day seven, do not let the tan straggle out — take it off. A firm session with the exfoliating mitt in a warm shower resets your skin to an even base, which is exactly the prep your next application needs. The cycle is the routine: tan, hydrate, fade, buff, repeat.
quick answers
How do I stop my self tan going patchy?+
Moisturise daily from day one — patchiness is dry skin flaking unevenly. Avoid hot baths, long showers and chlorine, and pat rather than rub yourself dry.
Does moisturiser remove self tan?+
No — the opposite. Daily moisturiser slows and evens the fade. It's the single most effective way to make a tan last the full week.
