Your tan will last 5-7 days. You should avoid rubbing your skin with your towel after washing; just pat dry. You can moisturise your skin daily with no issues. Towards the end of the 5-7 days, exfoliate your skin to remove any excess tan. Keeping your body hydrated can help your tan last longer, so make sure that you keep drinking plenty of water.

It’s best to exfoliate your body 2-3 days before tanning, especially if you are prone to dry skin or if you are applying your tan in winter.

For best results, shower at least 4 hours before applying your tan, and remove any deodorant or perfumes. It’s also a good idea to moisturise your hands, elbows, feet and knees before applying to ensure even coverage.

Sunbed users are more likely to experience flaking of their self-tan due to their skin being drier and more dehydrated than non-sunbed users. If you frequent sunbeds, you should exfoliate as usual before applying but pay particular attention to elbows, knees, hands, and feet. Moisturising your body daily before applying your tan can also help.

Choosing the correct shade for your self-tan depends on your natural skin tone and your desired level of tan. Fair-skinned users should start out with a lighter shade a build it up from there. If you have slightly darker skin and usually tan easily, medium or darker shades will work well. If you have olive to dark skin, our medium shade works very well for a more even skin tone and more depth of colour.

The active ingredient in self-tan is dihydroxyacetone (DHA) – a colourless sugar that reacts with the dead skin cells on the skin's surface. This creates melanoidin, which results in a tanned appearance on the skin's surface. This reaction only occurs on the skin's surface where the dead skin cells sit, so is not harmful.

For best results, apply your tan and leave for 6-8 hours before showering. Wash your skin gently, and pat dry (don’t rub) afterwards. 

Avoid swimming or showering immediately after applying your tan. Swimming or showering sooner can result in a lighter, uneven tan.

After Dark products are great for wearing for a natural glow on holiday. However, the the products do not prevent your skin from the sun’s rays, so you should always wear SPF.

Your tan will fade naturally with your skin. If you feel that some areas haven’t faded, you can use an exfoliation mitt to remove any excess.

After Dark products dry very quickly after application and produce a natural fade. The high-quality formula produces even, natural results and retains its depth of colour even after showering. 

The formula has a fresh, natural, non-chemical smell with no lasting scent after applying it. 

You should apply After Dark tan one or two days before a special event. If you want an everyday tan, we recommend applying the lightest shade appropriate for your skin tone once a week, perhaps on a Sunday evening. And then, for any upcoming special events, apply a darker shade a few days before. 

Fluctuations in hormone levels, like those experienced during menstruation, pregnancy, or due to certain medications, can affect your skin's pH levels, potentially altering the results of your self-tanner. It may lead to an uneven tan or affect the longevity of your tan. Contact us if you have any concerns or would like more information.