Exfoliation After Tanning: A Guide to Longer-Lasting Colour

The Importance of Exfoliation

Exfoliating the skin is an essential step to incorporate into your tanning or daily routine. It removes dead skin cells and promotes the epidermis to renew skin cells, which will help you maintain a long-lasting tan.

Regular exfoliation can improve the skin's texture and tone, making it an essential step in your skincare routine. To prevent the buildup of dead cells that can cause the tan to appear dull, exfoliate regularly at least 1-2 times a week to promote new skin cells and reveal new, radiant skin.

Benefit	How It Works	Why It’s Important
Removes Dead Skin Cells	Exfoliation sloughs away the top layer of dead cells, revealing fresh, healthy skin underneath.	Prevents dullness, promotes an even tan, and avoids patchy areas when tanning.
Promotes Skin Renewal	Stimulates cell turnover and allows new skin cells to surface.	Improves skin tone, texture, and glow while maintaining long-lasting tans.
Prepares Skin for Tanning	Smooths the surface for even UV penetration or spray tan application.	Enhances tanning results by allowing UV rays or self-tanners to adhere evenly.
Unclogs Pores	Removes impurities and excess oils trapped in pores.	Prevents acne, ingrown hairs, and uneven skin texture.

How to Exfoliate for Optimal Results

To achieve the best results, below are our MEGATAN tips:

How to Exfoliate for Your Skin Type: Personalised Recommendations

Skin Type	Recommended Exfoliants	Frequency	Why It Works
Oily Skin	Products with BHA (Beta-Hydroxy Acids), such as salicylic acid.	2-3 times per week.	BHA penetrates deep into pores to remove excess oil and unclog them.
Dry Skin	Gentle scrubs or chemical exfoliants with AHAs (e.g., glycolic acid).	1-2 times per week.	Removes dry patches and promotes hydration for smoother skin.
Sensitive Skin	PHAs (Polyhydroxy Acids) or low-concentration AHAs (lactic acid).	1 time per week.	PHAs are non-irritating and gentle, making them suitable for delicate skin.
Acne-Prone Skin	Chemical exfoliants with salicylic acid or retinol.	2-3 times per week.	Targets acne, unclogs pores, and prevents breakouts.

 

Choose a gentle exfoliating product that is the most suitable for your skin type, whether you have oily, dry, or sensitive skin.

For Oily skin, select an exfoliant that contains ingredients such as BHA (Beta-Hydroxy Acids). BHA works by exfoliating the surface of the epidermis and inside the skin's pores to unclog them, helping the skin appear fresh. This is great if you are more prone to oily skin.

If you have more sensitive skin, opt for exfoliants that contain PHA (polyhydroxy acid). PHA has multiple benefits for the skin, including being non-irritant. It does not penetrate as much as AHA and BHA, which are gentle on the skin.

Mechanical exfoliants are not recommended for acne-prone, sensitive, or dry skin. This type of exfoliant uses granules that can cause the skin to be even more sensitive and even damage the skin caused by the abrasive granules they contain.

If you have sensitive skin, use a gentle chemical exfoliant that contains a low concentration of AHAs, such as glycolic, mandelic, or lactic acid.

Exfoliate your skin in the direction of hair growth to avoid ingrown hairs and irritation. Do not over-exfoliate—this can damage the skin's barrier, causing tears and irritation.

Exfoliate at least 1-2 times a week, depending on your skin's needs and type. This will maintain healthy, glowy skin all year round.

Removing dead skin cells at least 24 hours before your tanning session, whether on tanning beds or through sun exposure, will allow UV rays to penetrate the skin deeper, helping you achieve a faster tan.

Invest in your skincare and aid in any skin conditions you may have. Chemical peels and a chemical exfoliant are recommended treatments to treat people with acne scarring.

Maintaining a Longer-Lasting Tan

Myth	Fact
Exfoliating after tanning removes your tan.	Exfoliating doesn’t remove your tan but ensures even fading by removing dead skin cells.
Mechanical scrubs are better than chemical exfoliants.	Chemical exfoliants are gentler and more effective, especially for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Exfoliation is only necessary for dry skin types.	All skin types benefit from exfoliation to maintain a healthy glow and smooth texture.
You should exfoliate daily for best results.	Over-exfoliation can damage your skin barrier. Limit to 1-3 times per week based on skin type.

 

Once we achieve that perfect tan and golden glow from tanning, it is essential to maintain it and keep the tan from fading.

Unfortunately, tanned skin does not last forever and will eventually fade away due to the skin naturally peeling and regenerating new skin cells. Exfoliating tanned skin does not cause the colour of the tan to fade quicker; it actually prevents a buildup of dead skin cells and unblocks the pores.

To maintain a longer-lasting tan, gently exfoliate your skin at least 1-2 times a week to remove dead skin cells and promote new skin cells.

Exfoliating the skin's surface prior to sun exposure will allow the UV Rays to penetrate deeper into the skin, helping you tan faster and achieve the desired colour of tanned skin.

Use an exfoliating product such as a scrub to remove the dead cells. Scrub in circular motions using an exfoliating mitt or exfoliating gloves. Exfoliating the skin cells will help the skin feel soft and appear healthy.

Keep your skin hydrated and moisturised as much as possible! To moisturise the skin, use a suitable product for your skin type to keep your tan and skin looking fresh and healthy.

Incorporate a sun protection product with UV protection into your daily routine when moisturising to further protect the skin against premature ageing, wrinkles and sunburn. It is crucial to protect the skin when tanning to minimise the risks of skin cancer.

Avoid using products that contain harsh ingredients, which will strip your skin of its natural oils and cause the tan to fade quickly. Opt for products that contain natural ingredients formulated to be more gentle and nourish the skin.

Consider sunless tanning options such as spray tans or self-tanning products to maintain a golden glow all year round without the damage of sun exposure, or even use them to maintain the tan you have naturally achieved.