Q&A Skin Prep & Hair Removal: Everything you need to know!
Nailing your skin prep before your show tan really does make a difference, it results in a smoother finish and clean, even tan all over the body. Skin prep is probably one of the most underestimated parts of competing and there is always a lot of questions surrounding this topic! Read on for the full breakdown of everything you need to know. Especially when your tan can be judged on, don’t leave anything to chance and look after your skin!
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WHEN should I start exfoliating?
We recommend starting this when you start prep and make it a habit. This way you can ease your body into regular exfoliating, especially if it’s not something you’d usually do often. This can then be increased in terms of how often as the weeks go by, without causing irritation.
How OFTEN should I be EXFOLIATING?
This depends on your skin, some people have really tough skin that tolerates exfoliation well, whereas others may feel their skin becomes sensitive if done too often. Say you are 12 weeks out, start twice a week to ease yourself in, 8 weeks out, start to increase - maybe to 3 times a week. The closer you get to show, you will be able to gage with your skin how often you need to do this and how much your skin can tolerate.
How OFTEN should I be MOISTURISING?
Moisturising needs to be done every day. If your skin is dry in certain areas your tan will cling, which will show in the form of darker patches. This step is really important to be doing pretty much constantly, every time you get out of the shower. Start this when you start prep and make it a habit.
WHY is skin prep so important?
The tanners can always tell when they spray if the person has looked after their skin and prepped it well ready for the tan. When you’ve nailed it you can really notice more of a “glow” and you will get so much more out of your tan. Well-prepped skin will create a smooth surface for even distribution and evade blotching. You’ve worked so hard to bring your best physique, so you want to present it the best you can on the day!
What do people FORGET the most about this part of prep?
The biggest thing that people forget is to start! A lot of people don’t start this process early enough, and it is so beneficial to be getting yourself into the routine of looking after your skin as early as possible. Another common thing that is missed is exfoliating your neck! It’s a body part that for some reason is often left out and is just as important as everywhere else!!
WHAT skin prep PRODUCTS should I be using?
All of the products we recommend are the ones we stock on the website. These products have been tried and tested by ourselves for a lot of years, with amazing results. For moisturiser use the PH Neutral Aquaeous Cream. This is the perfect product for moisturising the skin, with no added nasties and no risk of throwing the PH of the skin off.
For shower gel the Sanex shower gel is going to be the best bet with the least amount of ingredients and no added nasties. It is kind to skin and again we want to keep things as neutral as possible.
For exfoliating Get Buffed is what we recommend to use. A lot of the time you will have a Pro Tan base coat and top coat as your tan, and the Get Buffed works in conjunction with this. We have never heard anyone have any issues with people using this product with other tans either - such as Black Magic and Liquid Sun Rayz. The Deluxe Body Exfoliator is a great product to use with this to make sure you get everywhere and waste minimal product. It is also charcoal-infused which draws our impurities & closes pores.
Everyone’s skin is different. Some people may have past issues with their skin, so it’s good to note that everyone’s PH is different and everyone will have different reactions to products. But one thing to really be aware of is when you’re going through prep, your hormones can fluctuate, which can affect your skin. It’s really important to be using the right products because of this - PH balanced, neutral products with minimal fragrances.
HAIR REMOVAL
There are different methods of hair removal as we all know, but this is what you need to know about them relating to your show day, peak week and prep.
Method #1 - Shaving/Razor
Make sure you’re shaving at least 24 hours before your first coat of tan. You want to give your skin time to recover from this as open pores will cause the tan to seep in, which can leave a speckled appearance. We recommend just using something like the Sanex shower gel rather than a shaving foam, so you haven’t got any excess product on the skin that could potentially react to the tan.
Method #2 - Waxing
Waxing must be done at least 1 week before your first coat of tan. If you are new to waxing, you must start waxing at least a few months leading up to your show so your skin can get used to waxing. For some people their skin can become very sensitive especially during prep!
Method #3 - Hair Removal Cream
Hair removal creams should also be done at least 24 hours before the competition, so the skin pores have time to close. Always make sure you wash well to make sure all excess is off your skin!
Method #4 - Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is something that your skin also needs to recover from. Speak to your consultant beforehand about the fact that you’re competing if you’re concerned, and just make sure you’re doing it a little way away from your show.
Is it beneficial to build my tan up on a SUNBED beforehand?
This is a common question and our straight answer would be no. You don’t have to get yourself more tanned before having a show tan, you can simply have more layers if you’re especially pale. There is also the risk of burning yourself from using sunbeds which will affect how you take to the tan. If you are already using sunbeds then we would recommend doing your last sunbed at least a week before your show, as again you’re giving your skin time to recover.
We hope this gives you a good overview on what you should be doing in terms of skin prep in the lead-up to your show! Don’t overthink it, don’t panic, everyone knows their own skin. The number one rule is just to give yourself enough time! Any questions please don’t hesitate to drop us a message!