Fake tan preparation.

#letsbefrank, a fake tan is one of the few fake things I like. It keeps your skin out of the sun, and it keeps some babes happy.

But tanning needs planning. Here's how to prep your skin for a streak-free result every time — and what to avoid so you don't undo all that prep work.

DO: Exfoliate the night before

Exfoliating removes dead skin, dry patches, and any remnants of your last tan — all the things that make a new application go streaky. Do it the night before (not the morning of) so your skin has time to settle and your pores have time to close before you apply.

My Original Coffee Scrub is the classic pre-tan choice: coarse coffee grounds buff away the dead layer while cold-pressed oils hydrate overnight. For a scrub with chemical exfoliation built in, my Glycolic Body Scrub dissolves dead skin cells at the follicle level as well as buffing the surface — useful if your skin is prone to patchy texture or KP, which can both cause uneven tan development.

Pay extra attention to elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. These areas are thicker and drier, and they'll absorb more tan colour if you don't exfoliate them thoroughly first.

DO: Exfoliate your face too

Use my Original Face Scrub rather than a body scrub — the pumice is finer and suited to facial skin. Buff away any dry patches so your face glow matches your body glow and the colour develops evenly across both.

DO: Moisturise in the days leading up to your tan

Soft, hydrated skin holds a tan for longer and develops colour more evenly. Moisturise daily in the days before your tan session, paying particular attention to dry areas. My Smoothing AHA Body Lotion is a strong option in the lead-up — the lactic acid keeps skin smooth and the formula hydrates deeply. Just switch to a plain moisturiser in the final day or two before you tan (see the DON'Ts below).

DO: Shave or wax at least 24 hours before

Hair removal opens pores and can leave skin irritated and uneven. Give your skin at least 24 hours between hair removal and tan application so pores can close and any redness can settle. Shaving or waxing after you've applied your tan will lift colour and cause patchiness.

DO: Moisturise after your tan

Your post-tan routine matters as much as your pre-tan prep. Moisturising morning and night after application keeps skin hydrated, which slows the natural shedding process and extends the life of your tan. Use a lightweight, non-oil-based moisturiser to avoid breaking down the colour.

DON'T: Apply oils on tan day

Oils create a barrier between your skin and the tanning solution, which can cause it to develop unevenly or slide off altogether. Skip any oil-based products — including body oils, oil-based moisturisers, and oil-based shaving products — on the day you're tanning.

DON'T: Use AHA products on tan day

Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and other AHAs accelerate skin cell turnover — which is exactly what you want for smooth skin, but not on the day you're applying a tan. AHAs will cause the colour to develop unevenly and fade faster. Use them in the days before, then switch to a plain moisturiser from the night before application until you're ready to let your tan fade naturally.

DON'T: Moisturise on the morning of application

Moisturiser on tan day — even a plain one — can create a barrier that stops the tanning solution from absorbing evenly. Apply your tan to clean, dry, product-free skin. Moisturise afterwards, once the tan has fully developed.

DON'T: Shave after applying

Shaving after a tan removes the top layer of colour. If you need to shave, do it before. If you accidentally shave a patch after, apply a thin layer of tan to the area and blend carefully.

Fake tan or no tan, babe — you look good either way.

x frank