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FAQ's

Great tan is all in the prep; 24-48 hours before tan application we recommend exfoliating, removing unwanted hair and moisturising. Thoroughly exfoliating your body to remove dead, dry skin cells and removing old tan with our Miracle Tan Eraser will leave you with the perfect base for fresh tanning, and help you keep your glow for longer. We recommend using it with our double-sided Exfoliating Mitt for an even more flawless finish! Moisturising dry areas such as ankles, elbows and knees will also help to create a beautiful even glow.

We suggest you remove any unwanted hair 24-48 hours before applying tan, to create a flawless base and allow your pores to close (avoiding those little dotty marks).  We would also recommend exfoliating and moisturising your driest areas (including ankles, knees, elbows and hands) at the same time. This will ensure you are tanning smooth clean skin (rather than dead skin) with no lingering shedding skin cells that could cause the fake tan to look uneven or patchy. It will also help your fake tan to last longer! 

For those new to self tanning we’d recommend starting with either a Gradual Tanner to build up a subtle glow over a number of days, our Self-Tanning Whip or Self-Tanning Mousse which features a built in colour guide to help with application. These formulas will melt into skin and blend effortlessly, so it’s far harder to go wrong. Our Tan & Tone Self-Tanning Oil also provides an easy application experience – just spritz, buff in and go, no rinse required!

Hands and feet can be tricky! Firstly, make sure you've thoroughly exfoliated and moisturised 24-48 hours before applying tan; hands and feet can be dryer than other areas of the body, so the tan is more prone to sticking. We recommend applying the left-over excess tan from your application mitt and lightly feathering over the areas. Then use the Miracle Brush to buff around knuckles and in-between fingers and toes. You can also spritz a little Coconut Tanning Mist over the hands in a claw like position and leave to dry naturally for a few minutes, for a perfect professional ‘spray tan effect’.

 

We created our award winning Back Applicator to help you get to all those hard to reach places. Simply add your tanning product to the centre of the applicator and close ends together to distribute tan onto the fabric. Hold either side of the applicator handles and glide the applicator smoothly over your back (or other tricky areas) with a buffing motion and repeat as required.

We recommend applying all our self-tanners with our velvety soft Application Mitt, which features a waterproof lining to keep hands stain free. You can apply Gradual Tanners and Face Tanning Drops with your hands, buffing in with our Miracle Brush or Body Buffing Brush, but make sure to thoroughly wash them afterwards to avoid unwanted staining.

All Skinny Tan fake tans are suitable for face and body; we’d recommend using a small amount (or excess on the mitt) of your chosen tan and blending into the face using a mitt or brush. If you have sensitive skin or are looking for a more subtle result, why not one of Skinny Tan's Face Tanning Drops? These are formulated with skin-loving ingredients that can be added to your daily skincare to transform it into a gradual tanner! We also have our Notox Beauty Elixir or Coconut Water Bronzing Face Mist which are easy to integrate into your daily beauty regime.

While your tan is still developing we don't recommend using perfumes or deodorants, as this will impact the colour result. Our self-tan should be applied to clean, dry skin (with the exception of a light moisturiser that can be applied to any dry patches beforehand). It's fine to use deodorants and perfumes after showering, however some products do contain ingredients that may dry the skin and cause your tan to fade faster than normal in those areas. 

We recommend you wait 6-8 hours for your tan to develop before washing it off in the shower. However, if you’ve used one of our Express formulas you can wash it off in as little as one hour for a more subtle result that continues to develop over time.

Hydration is key when trying to prolong your tan; drink plenty of water and moisturise daily to prevent the dryness which causes the tanning results to fade. However, you can help your tan to fade more naturally by gently exfoliating with the pink side of our Exfoliating Mitt about 2-3 days after application; this will help to buff away any shedding dead skin cells and start the process of a natural looking ‘fade off’. We would also recommend the use of one of our gradual tanners to keep your tan topped up - apply every 1-3 days to see the best results!

If you want to start from scratch then we recommend thoroughly exfoliating your body to remove dead, dry skin cells and removing old tan with our Miracle Tan Eraser. This will leave you with the perfect base for fresh tanning, and help you keep your glow for longer. However, you can layer and top-up our tans to create a deeper result within the first few days of application. Our Tan & Tone Oil lasts up to two weeks with a second application within 48 hours! You can build up our gradual tanners over a number of days for a darker result, or they can be used over any of our self-tans to darken and prolong your colour.

Most of our self-tans need 6-8 hours to fully develop into the deepest result, so we would recommend only washing off after this period. However, if you desire a lighter result you can wash the tan off at a time that suits you. Our Express formulas can be rinsed off after as little as 1 hour for a light glow, 3 hours for a medium glow and 6 hours for a darker bronze, but the colour will continue to develop over 6-8 hours.

Our tans can be layered for a darker result, but also to keep your tan looking fresh for longer. Our Tan & Tone Oil lasts up to two weeks with a second application within 48 hours! You can build up our gradual tanners over a number of days for a darker result, or they can be used over any of our self-tans to darken and prolong your colour.

You can mix our range of Tanning Drops (including Cherry Face & Body Tanning Drops) with your chosen face or body moisturiser to build up a natural glow. However, we wouldn’t recommend mixing any of our other self-tan products with moisturiser as it may impact the development process. Always follow our instructions for the best results.

Simply mix between 3-8 drops with your favourite self-tan free moisturiser, ensuring a mixing ratio of 2:1 moisturiser to drops. Apply evenly to face and neck, blending well using our Miracle Tanning Brush and paying close attention to the hair line and ears. Don’t forget to wash your hands! By adding a few drops into your moisturiser, serum or foundation, you can transform your daily skincare into a gradual tanner - perfect for anyone wanting to maintain or build an everyday glow.

Skinny Tan products dry super fast for minimal transfer, however if you do buy a product with a guide colour some residue may transfer if you're hot and sweaty. Don't worry, any transferred tan will be easily removed in the washing machine! If you want extra confidence, our Dry Mist Finishing Spray will help set your tan - or you could try one of our products that has no colour guide built in such as our Coconut Water Range.

We always advise you to use a mitt to help apply and buff our products, which will help eliminate streaking and reveal a uniform glow. If the tan starts to streak when applying, don’t worry - this is because you have a product with a colour guide built in, which will be washed away after developing to reveal a gorgeous streak-free result beneath. 

Skinny Tan self-tans are known for a really natural and even fade off, but all fake tans will fade as your skin cells naturally shed, and this can vary from person to person. However, you can help it to fade more naturally by gently exfoliating with the pink side of our Exfoliating Mitt about 2-3 days after application; this will help to buff away any shedding dead skin cells and start the process of a natural looking ‘fade off’. It also helps if your skin is kept hydrated, so apply moisturiser each day and drink plenty of water. You can also keep your tan topped up by using a daily moisturiser with added gradual tanner.

Avoid delicate or intimate areas, including eyes, and be careful to avoid any broken or irritated skin. If you’re concerned about applying self-tan, we recommend a patch test 24-48 hours before full application and consulting a medical professional.

For stubborn tan we recommend applying our Miracle Self-Tan Eraser; it combines manual and gentle chemical exfoliation to leave skin smooth and prepped, ready for a fresh layer! It’s also great at fixing mistakes. Just massage into the required areas, leave on for a minimum of five minutes, and then scrub off in the shower using the pink side of the hard working Exfoliation Mitt. It will be super easy to slough off dry dead skin and lingering tan. You may find that tan clings to your elbows, so don’t be afraid to use the black side of the Exfoliation Mitt to really buff away dark remaining patches of tan.

For stubborn tan mistakes we recommend applying our Miracle Self-Tan Eraser; it combines manual and gentle chemical exfoliation to leave skin smooth and even, ready for a fresh layer of tan. Just massage into the required areas, leave on for a minimum of five minutes, and then scrub off in the shower using the pink side of the hard working Exfoliation Mitt. It will be super easy to slough off dry dead skin and lingering tan. 

Our formulas are made from up to 99% naturally derived ingredients, are vegan friendly and cruelty free. Every formula is also enriched with skin loving ingredients (such as Vitamin E, Hyaluronic Acid and Coconut Water) to help take care of skin with every application. Our nourishing formulas help to keep your skin glowing for longer, and some will actually help to improve skin over time too.

Our self-tanners will fade faster if you are regularly going into the pool or ocean, as the chlorine and salt encourage a faster skin cell turnover. We recommend taking your tan with you on holiday to top up or help maintain your colour; our Protect & Glow, Gradual Tanner or Tan & Tone Oil are perfect for this.

A self-tan offers no sun protection and will therefore not stop you from tanning naturally. You can and will tan through your fake tan, so be sure to use an SPF product to stay sun safe.

Yes, absolutely you can and you should! Once your tan has developed and you've rinsed off the initial guide colour, we advise to apply the SPF over the top to ensure you're fully protected from the sun's damaging UV rays. We also have our very own Protect and Glow range, which provides SPF sun protection with a built-in gradual tan - so you can tan and glow safely!

We currently only ship to the UK (including Northern Ireland). For customers shopping in Australia, South Africa and the USA we have separate websites to shop to these regions.

We currently ship via Evri and Yodel and offer free standard UK delivery on orders over £35. For orders under £35 charges apply, please see our delivery page for full details.

No, unfortunately we are unable to accept a PO box as your shipping address.

Once an order has been processed the order details can no longer be amended, but if you reach out to our Customer Service Team at info@skinnytan.com before the order is dispatched, they can assist you with changing the shipping address of your order.

We accept all major credit and debit cards (American Express, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa) and you can also pay via Apple Pay, Google Pay, Paypal and Shop pay via our checkout.

Standard delivery options should be delivered within 5 working days from order confirmation. Next day orders must be placed and confirmed by 5pm for next day delivery. Deliveries are collected Sunday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and no parcels will be delivered on Sundays. We aim to dispatch orders within 24 hours, however please allow for extra time to receive your order during busy holiday or promotional periods.

We’re really sorry your order hasn’t arrived, please contact our customer services at info@skinnytan.com or via the contact form with your order details and we will be able to assist you further.

You can contact our Customer Service Team at info@skinnytan.com before the order gets dispatched so they can assist you with your cancellation request.

Please contact our Customer Service Team at info@skinnytan.com and they can assist you with updating the email address on your order.

We’re sorry to hear this. Please email a photograph of your delivery and order details to our customer services team at  info@skinnytan.com and they will be able to assist you further.

We have a '30 day money back guarantee' on products bought directly from our website. If you are not happy for any reason, please contact our Customer Service Team at info@skinnytan.com within the 30 day period from the date the order has been delivered.

Returns are actioned within 14 days from the day they're received, and refunds take approximately 3-5 working business days to show once processed. You'll be refunded to the credit card or debit card originally used to pay.

We're sorry to hear you're not happy with your Skinny Tan product. You'll need to contact the retailer you purchased the item from and they will be happy to assist you further.

We don't currently offer product samples. However, you can try all products risk free with our 30 day money back guarantee when bought direct from our website. Click here for full details.

The ‘skinny’ in our name refers to our ‘skinny’ ingredients list. Just like your skinny cappuccino, we’ve squeezed out anything unnecessary and just left behind an up to 99% naturally derived, cruelty-free, vegan friendly and skin-loving ingredients. We were the first tanner available on the high street to offer such claims, and we’re proud to be skinny (in the ingredient sense!) 

We are passionately Cruelty Free and Vegan Friendly. We are Leaping Bunny Approved so you can be extra confident that choosing our brand means choosing cruelty free.

We have five manufacturers, three of which are UK based. Our packaging lets you know which country our products are made, but the majority of Skinny Tan is manufactured in the UK.

All products are shipped from our Warehouse in the UK.

Skinny Tan products are available to purchase in a number of stockists including Boots, Superdrug, Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Sephora and Amazon. 

Once opened, your product will last approximately twelve months. It's best if it is stored in a cool and dry place, out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.  For an unopened product, we recommend this is used within one year for best results.

Yes! We’re known for our natural-looking, long-lasting, easy to use tans that simultaneously care for your skin. With thousands of five star reviews and a global community of millions, once you try Skinny Tan you don’t go back.

All our formulas are up to 99% naturally derived, cruelty-free, vegan friendly and feature skin-loving ingredients to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy for longer. We’re known for our innovative textures that make tanning a breeze, as well as our delicious scents (including peach, coconut, cherry and even birthday cake) that ensure your tanning experience is second to none. Our formulas also provide the most natural fade off, thanks to being alcohol free and enriched with skin nourishing ingredients. With thousands of five star reviews and a global community of millions, once you try Skinny Tan you don’t go back.

Many of our self-tanners feature a guide colour, or tint, which helps you to see where you’re applying for easy flawless results. Our Coconut Water range is guide-free, meaning the transparent formulas are transfer resistant; just apply and go, with no risk to your clothes or bedsheets! The preference is purely yours, but we recommend choosing a self-tan with guide colour if you’re a new or nervous tanner.

How long your tan lasts for will depend on the products you use, your skin type and also how you maintain your tan after application. (Certain skincare, cleansers and chlorine will fade the tan quicker due to accelerated skin regeneration.) Most people find their Skinny Tan lasts up to 7 days, but our Tan & Tone Oil lasts up to two weeks (with a second application within 48 hours.) For your longest lasting tan, we'd recommend moisturising daily after each shower to keep the skin hydrated and happy. We would also recommend the use of one of our gradual tanners to keep your tan topped up - apply every 1-3 days to see the best results!

This will entirely depend on the self-tan you choose, your body and how much you apply per application. We estimate you will be able to achieve 4-8 full body tans from an average size bottle, but if you’re looking for added value our Notox Face Tanning Drops have been proven to last a whole year! (Based on 3 drops used every other day.)

Most of our self-tans need 6-8 hours to fully develop into the deepest result, so we would recommend only washing off after this period. However, if you desire a lighter result you can wash the tan off at a time that suits you. Our Express formulas can be rinsed off after as little as 1 hour for a light glow, 3 hours for a medium glow and 6 hours for a darker bronze, but the colour will continue to develop over 6-8 hours.

Yes, absolutely - you can and you should! Our tanning products contain no sun protection so once your tan has developed and you've rinsed off the initial guide colour, we advise to apply the SPF over the top to ensure you're fully protected from the sun's damaging UV rays. We also have our very own Protect & Glow spray which includes SPF in a gradual tanning formula.

Yes, absolutely! Many of our customers like to apply their chosen tanner before bed so it develops while they sleep. However, if you’re after a lighter result we suggest rinsing off before bed.

Skinny Tan products are developed to dry super fast for minimal transfer, but if you choose a tan with a guide-colour you may experience some colour transfer. Once the tan is fully developed and the guide colour rinsed away, you may experience some transfer onto clothes or sheets due to friction or sweat. But don’t worry, this can easily be removed in the washing machine! If you want extra confidence in your tan, our Dry Mist Finishing Spray will help set your colour in seconds and help prevent colour transfer, or our Coconut Water range is completely transparent.

It totally depends on your needs, experience levels and skin type! Some of our most popular tans include our Self-Tanning Mousses and Whips, our iconic Wonder Serum and long-lasting Tan & Tone Oil

Our darkest tanners include our Wonder Serum, Wonder Serum Express, Self-Tanning Mousse in Dark or our 1 Hour Express Mousse (left on for 6-8 hours).  However, all our tans are suitable for layering so you can deepen your result to suit your personal preference.

If you’re new to tanning or have a fairer skin tone, we’d suggest starting with a Mousse or Whip as these are so easy to apply and have an added guide colour so you can see where you’re applying. Our Tan & Tone Oil is also incredibly easily to use – just spritz, buff in and go! You could even practice with an instant or gradual tan to build your confidence first if you’re feeling nervous.

Our mousses offer a familiar and easy to use texture that's perfect for all level of tanning expertise. Our Self-Tanning Whips are even easier to apply, offering a lightweight whipped texture that's practically fool-proof and melts into the skin with ease. They're the easiest formula to use and perfect for nervous tanners.

All of our face drops are formulated with skin-loving ingredients that can be added to your daily moisturiser, serum or foundation to transform it into a gradual tanner. Each of the face drops offers something slightly different: Notox Face Tanning Drops are great for skin hydration, Coconut Water Serum Face Tanning Drops are great for skin radiance, and Face Tanning Wonder Drops are great for a subtle shimmer and anti-ageing properties.

Full ingredients list for all products are available on the product pages within the ingredients drop down menu.

Our products are all free from 'nasties' and made from up to 99% naturally derived ingredients; however, we'd always advise you check with your doctor before using.

Yes, all our products are vegan friendly.

We don’t add any gluten into our formulations, however products may come into contact with gluten during the manufacturing process.

Skinny Tan does contain Almond Oil in a cosmetic and topical form. Skinny Tan may contain traces of nuts, we recommend you don't use if you're allergic.

The Glycerine in Skinny Tan does not contain Soya or Soybean and is derived from Rapeseed Oil.

Yes, Skinny Tan products contain naturally derived DHA. If you’re looking for a DHA free self-tan, try our Instant Tanner. This no commitment hydrating body bronzer lasts all day until you’re ready to rinse it off, without transferring onto clothes. The smudge-proof quick-drying formula is suitable for both face and body, helping to smooth skin and minimise imperfections for a result so natural nobody will know you’re faking it! 

Our naturally derived DHA is based on renewable vegetable raw material (including rapeseed, wheat and sugarbeets) and has a minimized environmental footprint.

DHA (Dihydroxyacetone) is the ingredient used within all tanning products to achieve the golden colour you know and love. In its simplest terms, DHA is a 3-carbon sugar that reacts with the amino acids in the surface of our skin cells; this produces a darkening effect that simulates a suntan and makes us feel great. It doesn’t damage the skin in any way and will fade gradually as the upper layers naturally shed.

Once opened, your product will last approximately twelve months. It's best if it is stored in a cool and dry place, out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.  For an unopened product, we recommend this is used within one year for best results. 

Due to the natural ingredients in our tan, it can turn green when exposed to heat or direct sunlight - but you'll always still get that same Skinny Tan golden glow! If you’ve opened a new bottle and it’s green, please contact our Customer Services team for support: info@skinnytan.com

Like with all new cosmetic products we would advise you to carry out a patch test on a small area of your body before applying tan all over your body to check if there is a reaction. We are very careful about the ingredients included in our products, but if you know you have an allergy to a specific ingredient we would advise you to check the full ingredients list which is available on our product pages.

Firstly, we’re sorry to hear this. If you believe you've had an allergic reaction as a result of an ingredient in our product we advise you to rinse immediately, stop using the product and consult your doctor. It would be great to get more information from you so we can investigate thoroughly, so please contact our customer services via info@skinnytan.com and we will send you a form to complete.  

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