What to Put on Your Skin Before a Sunbed Session

What you put on your skin before a sunbed session has more impact on your results than the session itself. Most people skip the preparation entirely — which is exactly why their tan comes out uneven, fades within days, or never gets as deep as they want. This guide covers exactly what to put on your skin before a sunbed, in the right order, so every session counts.

For the full session-by-session routine — including timing, technique, and aftercare — read our complete guide to how to get a darker tan on a sunbed.

The night before — skin prep that makes a real difference

This is the step most regular sunbed users skip, and the one that makes the biggest difference to how even and deep your colour comes out. It takes ten minutes the night before and the results are noticeable from the very next session.

Exfoliate the evening before your session — not the morning of. Freshly exfoliated skin can be more reactive under UV, so give it a full night to settle. A gentle body scrub or exfoliating mitt is all you need. Focus on the areas where dead skin accumulates most — elbows, knees, ankles, and the backs of the heels. These spots are where patchy tanning shows up first.

Moisturise immediately after exfoliating and let it fully absorb overnight. Hydrated skin develops colour more evenly and holds it significantly longer than dry skin. Going into a session with well-moisturised skin is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your tanning routine.

Avoid fake tan or gradual tanning products for at least 24 hours before a sunbed session. These react unpredictably under UV and can cause uneven patching that is difficult to fix. If you use self-tan regularly, plan your sunbed sessions accordingly.

What to put on your skin before a sunbed — step by step

On the day of your session, follow these steps in order:

Shower and dry off completely. Apply all products to clean, dry skin — damp skin dilutes accelerators and significantly reduces absorption.
Apply your tan accelerator or sunbed tan cream 5–10 minutes before getting on the sunbed. Work in circular motions and cover all areas evenly. Pay extra attention to drier areas — the sides of the knees, elbows, and ankles — where colour tends to develop unevenly.
If you use a nasal tanning spray as part of your routine, apply it 15–30 minutes before the session — not during. For full usage guidance, read our how to use a nasal tanning spray guide.
Do not apply perfume, cologne, or deodorant to any area that will be exposed under the sunbed. These sensitise skin under UV and can cause irritation or uneven colour.
If you have tattoos, cover them or apply a dedicated barrier product. UV fades ink over time — protecting them during sessions makes a real difference to how long they stay vivid.
Drink a glass of water before your session. Hydrated skin tans more evenly and recovers faster after UV exposure.

Not sure if you need a nasal tanner or a tan accelerator? Read our comparison guide.

Which product should you use — accelerator or tanning cream?

Both work. The right choice depends on what result you're after and how your skin typically responds to UV. Here's how they compare:

Tan accelerator	Sunbed tanning cream
Lighter formula, absorbs quickly. Applied before a session to support UV response. Good for regular tanners who want a product that doesn't feel heavy on the skin.	Richer formula, often with bronzing ingredients for immediate depth. More hydrating — ideal if your skin runs dry or you want a deeper, more intense finish from each session.
Best for: regular sunbed users building and maintaining colour	Best for: users wanting deeper, more immediate colour with added skin conditioning

For those chasing maximum depth, the dark tanning accelerator range is worth a look — formulated specifically for users with an existing base who want to push their colour further. The tanning cream for sunbeds collection covers the full range of cream formulas.

Not sure which to start with? Browse the full sunbed tanning products range, or pick up a tanning bundle to try both together at better value.

What NOT to put on your skin before a sunbed

Knowing what to avoid is as important as knowing what to use. These are the things to keep off your skin before a session:

Heavy oils or oil-based products. Beyond causing uneven UV penetration, oils can damage the acrylic surface of a sunbed — most reputable salons will refuse a session if they detect oil on the skin. Stick to purpose-formulated tanning products.
SPF or sun protection products. SPF works by blocking UV — which means it will actively prevent your tan from developing. Even a low-factor SPF applied before a session will significantly reduce results.
Fake tan or self-tanning products applied within 24 hours. As covered in the night-before section, these react poorly under UV and cause patchy results that are hard to correct.
Alcohol-based products — certain toners, serums, and aftershave applied directly to skin. Alcohol sensitises skin under UV and increases the risk of irritation.
Perfume or cologne directly on skin. Photosensitivity reactions from fragrance under UV are well documented — keep it off any area that will be exposed.

Fair skin and first-time sunbed users — what to use

If you have fair skin or you are new to sunbeds, the principles are the same — but the approach needs to be a bit more gradual. Fair skin is more reactive under UV and takes longer to develop a base, so starting conservatively and building from there will give you better, more consistent results than pushing hard from the start.

Begin with a tan accelerator for fair skin rather than the dark or triple-strength variants. These are formulated to support colour development in skin that responds more slowly to UV — the formula is designed for where you are starting from, not where someone with an existing base is.

Keep sessions shorter to begin with and let your skin adjust before increasing duration. Moisturise consistently before and after every session — fair skin dehydrates faster under UV and dryness will hold back your results more than anything else. As your routine develops and you become comfortable with how your skin responds, a nasal tanning spray can be a useful complement to your topical products.

Complete pre-sunbed routine — quick reference

Here is the full routine at a glance:

Night before: exfoliate, then moisturise and let it absorb overnight
Day of session: shower and dry off completely before applying anything
Apply tan accelerator or sunbed tanning cream 5–10 minutes before getting on
If using nasal tanning spray — apply 15–30 minutes before the session
Avoid perfume, SPF, oils, and alcohol-based products on exposed skin
Drink a glass of water before and after your session
After your session: moisturise immediately post-shower to lock colour in
On rest days: use gradual tanning drops to maintain and extend colour between sessions

Ready to upgrade your pre-session routine?

Preparation is what separates a tan that builds consistently from one that fades by the end of the week. Get the prep right and every session works harder. Skip it and you're leaving results on the table.

Browse the full range of sunbed tanning products to find the right pre-session products for your routine, or pick up a tanning bundle to get everything you need in one go.