Tanning Before a Holiday: Your 2-Week Prep Routine

Q: How long before a holiday should I start tanning?

Two weeks is the minimum for a noticeable result. Four weeks gives the best outcome, particularly for a nasal tanner loading phase. Starting the week before travel produces limited results — the nasal tanner will not reach full effect and the sunbed base will have barely started.

Q: How many sunbeds should I do before a holiday?

Aim for 4–6 sessions spread across 2 weeks. Two to three in week one builds the base; two in week two consolidates it. Stop 3 days before departure to let colour settle and avoid drying the skin before travel.

Q: What should I use for a fake tan before holiday?

Avoid traditional fake tan in the 2-week pre-holiday window if also doing sunbeds — it creates an uneven layer that blocks UV. Gradual tanning drops are better: they build natural-looking colour gradually without blocking UV or disrupting the natural tan base you are building.

14 days. That is the sweet spot for 2 week tanning prep before holiday uk. Start now and you arrive on holiday with a base tan already building, melanin production elevated from a nasal tanner loading phase, and skin that is primed to go deeper in the first 48 hours of sun than unprepared skin manages in a full week. Here is the exact countdown — day by day, product by product.

Your 2-week holiday tanning countdown at a glance:

Day 14: Start nasal tanner loading phase. Full body exfoliation. Book first sunbed session.
Days 13–10: Sunbed sessions (2–3 this week) with tan accelerator applied 30 minutes before each.
Day 7: Assess base tan. Start gradual tanning drops in the evening moisturiser. Light exfoliation.
Days 6–3: Final sunbed sessions (2 max). Continue drops and nasal tanner daily.
Day 3: Stop sunbeds — let the colour settle. Continue drops. Pack holiday tanning kit.
Day 1: Final drops application. Moisturise thoroughly. No fake tan.
Day of travel: Final nasal tanner dose. Moisturise after the flight. Read the holiday maintenance guide.

Why 2 weeks is the right window

Three reasons the timing matters — and why starting earlier is better than starting later:

A nasal tanner loading phase needs 7–14 days to reach its full effect. Starting the day before departure produces nothing. Starting two weeks out means melanin production is already elevated when you step off the plane.

A base tan from sunbeds requires multiple sessions spaced 48 hours apart. You cannot compress this safely. Four to six sessions over two weeks builds a solid base; four sessions in three days produces burning, not tanning.

Gradual tanning drops need five to seven days of daily application for visible, even colour to build. Starting two days before travel gives you very little — starting a week out gives you noticeably deeper colour before you land.

For the full background on why skin prep matters and how each product works, see the complete holiday tanning prep guide. This post is the countdown.

Your 2-week holiday tanning countdown: day by day

When	What to do
Day 14	Start nasal tanner loading phase. One spray per nostril, once daily from today. This is the most time-sensitive step in the entire routine — every day you delay the start costs you results. Use the nasal tanning spray range. New to nasal tanners? See the how to use a nasal tanning spray guide first. Full body exfoliation. Thorough scrub all over — focus on elbows, knees, and ankles where dead skin is thickest and tans most unevenly. Dead skin cells create patches that no amount of product fixes later. Moisturise fully after exfoliating. Skin is temporarily stripped after exfoliation — moisturising restores the barrier and prepares it for tanning. Book your first sunbed session for Day 13 or Day 12. Give skin 24 hours to recover from exfoliation before UV exposure.
Days13–10	Sunbed sessions: 2–3 this week. Space them 48 hours apart — no back-to-back sessions. Apply sunbed tan accelerator 30 minutes before each session, not in the changing room. For technique, see how to get a darker tan on a sunbed and what to put on your skin before a sunbed session. Continue nasal tanner daily. Same dose, consistent timing — morning is easiest for building a habit. Moisturise every evening. Skin that is dry cannot hold the base tan you are building. Non-negotiable. Avoid long baths and hot showers. Both strip the skin's oils and slow tan development.
Day 7	Assess your base tan. You should have visible colour by now. If the progress feels slow, increase sunbed frequency slightly in the coming week. If you are happy with the base, maintain the current schedule. Start gradual tanning drops. Mix 6–8 drops with your evening body moisturiser and apply all over. Do this every evening from Day 7 to Day 1. See the gradual tanning drops range. Continue nasal tanner daily. Same dose. Light exfoliation — remove any uneven patches. A gentle pass with an exfoliating mitt is enough. Do not over-exfoliate or you will strip the base you have spent a week building.
Days6–3	Final sunbed sessions — 2 maximum. Keep sessions at a sensible length. Overdoing it this close to travel dries the skin out and the colour fades fast in the first days of holiday. Quality over quantity. Gradual drops daily — every evening without exception. The colour is compounding. By Day 3, the difference from a week of consistent drops will be clearly visible. Nasal tanner daily — same dose, same routine. Hydrate well. Drink enough water throughout the day. Skin condition directly affects how deep and even the tan looks as it approaches its peak.
Day 3	Stop sunbed sessions. Skin needs 48 hours to settle and the colour from the final sessions to fully develop. Going on the sunbed on Day 1 leaves skin in a slightly depleted state for travel — stop at Day 3 for the best colour on departure. Continue gradual drops — the colour from the past week is building to its peak. No waxing or shaving with a new razor. Hair removal sensitises skin and disrupts the surface. If needed, do it on Day 7 not Day 3. Pack your holiday tanning kit. Nasal tanner, accelerator, and gradual drops. See the kit list in H2 4 below.
Day 1(day before travel)	Final nasal tanner dose — morning. Final gradual drops application — mixed into your evening moisturiser after showering. Your colour is now at its pre-holiday peak. Moisturise thoroughly. Skin that arrives on holiday well-hydrated retains colour for significantly longer. This is your last chance to top up your skin condition before the dehydrating environment of a flight. Do not fake tan. It interferes with the natural tan base you have spent two weeks building, blocks UV, and goes patchy in the heat.
Day of travel	Final nasal tanner dose before leaving. Check your product is under 100ml for hand luggage, or pack it in a cool bag in your checked luggage. For travelling rules, see Can I Take Nasal Tanners on Holiday?. Moisturise after the flight. Aircraft cabins are extremely drying. Your tan holds better when your skin is hydrated on arrival. Ready to make the most of it? See how to maintain your tan for 7 days on holiday — the next step in the routine.

What if you have less than 2 weeks?

Not ideal — but workable. Here is the adjusted plan by how much time you actually have.

10 days out

Start the nasal tanner immediately — 10 days still gives a meaningful partial loading phase.
Do 3 sunbed sessions in the first 6 days, each with an accelerator applied 30 minutes beforehand.
Start gradual drops from Day 7 — four evenings of consistent application will build visible colour by departure.

7 days out

Nasal tanner starts today. Seven days gives partial results — better than nothing, and it will be active throughout the holiday.
Two sunbed sessions maximum — space them 48 hours apart. Do not rush and burn.
Gradual drops daily from Day 5 — morning and evening application will give a visible colour boost before you leave.

5 days or fewer

Skip sunbeds — there is not enough time to build safely without burning.
Start gradual tanning drops immediately — morning and evening application for four to five days produces visible colour. This is the fastest safe option when time is tight.
Start the nasal tanner anyway — it will not produce significant results before departure but will be active for the holiday itself.

For fair skin readers with a short timeline, see best tanning products for fair skin UK and the tan accelerator for fair skin range for lighter formulas suited to pale skin.

Products you need for the 2-week routine

Nasal Tanning Spray — Days 14 to travel, daily loading phase. Start on Day 14 — no exceptions. For dosing, see how many sprays of nasal tanner. For safety reassurance, see are nasal tanners safe?. Browse the nasal tanning spray range.

Triple Strength Nasal Tanner — experienced users only. Not for beginners — build tolerance on standard strength first. Browse triple strength nasal tanners.

Sunbed Tan Accelerator — Days 13–3, applied 30 minutes before each session. Browse the sunbed tan accelerator collection.

Gradual Tanning Drops — Days 7–1, evening application mixed into moisturiser. Browse gradual tanning drops.

Tanning Bundle — the complete holiday prep kit in one order. Everything above with same-day dispatch. Browse the tanning bundles.

Common pre-holiday tanning mistakes to avoid

Starting the nasal tanner too late. Beginning three days before departure produces almost no result. The loading phase needs seven to fourteen days minimum. This is the mistake that leaves the most results on the table — start on Day 14 without exception.

Over-doing sunbed sessions in the final week. Three sessions in the five days before travel dries the skin out and the tan starts fading before you even land. Two sessions in week two is enough to consolidate the base — more is not better at this stage.

Skipping the exfoliation on Day 14. Building a tan on unexfoliated skin causes patchy results that no product fixes. The Day 14 exfoliation is not optional — it is the foundation everything else builds on.

Fake tanning the day before departure. Fake tan blocks UV, goes patchy in the heat and humidity, and interferes with the natural tan base you have spent two weeks building. If you have followed this routine, you do not need it — the gradual drops are doing the same job without the drawbacks.

Stopping moisturiser because 'it will wash off in the sea'. Daily moisturising is not just about the product persisting — it is about keeping skin supple, hydrated, and receptive. The better your skin condition when you arrive, the faster and deeper the holiday tan builds from day one.

Frequently asked questions

How long before a holiday should I start tanning?

Two weeks is the minimum for a noticeable result across all three product types in this routine. Four weeks gives the best outcome, particularly for the nasal tanner loading phase which builds progressively over time. Starting the week before travel produces limited results — the nasal tanner will not reach full effect and the sunbed base will have barely started.

Can I start tanning 1 week before my holiday?

Yes — but manage expectations. One week is not enough for a nasal tanner loading phase to reach full effect. Focus on gradual tanning drops applied morning and evening, and one to two gentle sunbed sessions with an accelerator. You will arrive with some colour and elevated melanin production, just not as deep as two weeks of consistent prep would produce.

How many sunbeds should I do before a holiday?

Aim for four to six sessions spread across the two weeks. Two to three sessions in week one builds the base; two in week two consolidates it. Stop three days before departure to let the colour settle fully and avoid drying the skin before the dehydrating environment of travel.

Should I use a nasal tanner before my holiday?

Yes — but start 14 days before departure. The loading phase takes seven to fourteen days to build meaningful melanin elevation. When you then hit sun exposure on holiday, your melanin production is already running higher and you tan significantly faster than you would on unprepared skin. Starting the week of your holiday is too late to see the full benefit for that trip.

What should I use for a fake tan before holiday?

Avoid traditional fake tan in the two-week pre-holiday window if you are also doing sunbeds — it creates an uneven layer that blocks UV. Gradual tanning drops are better: they build natural-looking colour gradually, do not have the fake tan smell, do not block UV, and work alongside the natural tan base you are building rather than on top of it.

Everything you need for the countdown in one order: browse the tanning bundles for the complete holiday prep kit with same-day dispatch before 3pm. Once you have arrived, the holiday tan maintenance guide picks up where this one ends.