The day before you leave, work over your face and body with a scrub in the morning, making sure to use a more delicate product for the face. It will get rid of dead skin cells (which allows the skin to tan evenly all over the body) plus it stimulates microcirculation and optimizes hydration. Then pamper your face and body with hydrating and enriched skincare treatments - hyaluronic acid, sugars, vegetable oils (sweet almond, apricot, argan) are your allies. In the evening, treat yourself to a face mask to hydrate and plump up the skin. Your skin will be left hydrated, nourished and soft, all ready to tan.
Be careful to choose products that don't contain photosensitising agents (they make the skin more sensitive to UV rays that can cause sunburn, eczema, and allergic reactions). The main culprits are perfumes, triclocarban (an antibacterial agent found in soaps and lotions), retinol, and essential oils of geranium, fig, citrus and verbena. Avoid irritating your skin before you leave or you will be spending your holidays hiding under a big hat. That means absolutely no harsh skin peels or hair removal. If you do want these treatments, go to your beautician at least three days before your holiday to allow your skin to recover and reconstitute the lipid barrier. If you self-tan before your holiday, don't forget a fake tan does not protect your skin, so stick to an SPF 50 for the first few days, then switch to a lower SPF as your skin gets used to the sun.