The lotion and the oil are both a part of our 1-2 step process, playing both different but important roles in supercharging your glow. The Key is to PREPARE then TAN. Prepare: We recommend the lotion to be used liberally 5-7 days prior to sun exposure. The goal here is to prepare your skin with our new tanning technology so you can tan deeper, darker, faster. Tan: For our tanning oil, this is designed to be used in the sun, for instance at the beach or by the pool.