Must-Read Spray Tanning Tips + FAQ’S

So I’m not sure if you’ve heard but laying out in the sun too long or frying in a tanning bed day after day isn’t good for your skin. As a soccer player I spent a lot of time outdoors and would tan very easily (and had beautiful soccer tan lines to go with it). I loved to lay out by the pool and cover myself in tanning oil every summer in the hopes of getting that olive rich skin.

I think it was high school when the tanning bed craze started and it seemed like EVERYONE had a membership. I remember you could put stickers on while you tanned almost like a little tanning tattoo to show how dark you got.

I wasn’t a regular in the tanning beds. Mainly because of financial reasons and the fact that my parents thought it was stupid. But they did allow me to set up a month every now and then before special occasions like soccer banquets and prom (I mean my shinguard and shorts tan lines were awful they probably felt bad for me…). As much as the salons preached it wasn’t bad for you and how laying out in the sun is a million times worse than ten minutes in a tanning bed, I think I knew in the back of my head that it probably wasn’t good for me. I continued to do it here and there throughout college until I started hearing story after story of younger girls getting SKIN CANCER. In a lot of these cases, tanning beds were to blame. As someone who has dealt with pigmentation issues of their own (I was diagnosed with morphea and vitiligo when I was younger) and has a dad who had a good chunk of skin cancer removed, I knew I needed to start taking better care of my skin.

This is where spray tans came in!

If I’m being completely honest I used to think spray tans were too “fake”. I liked the idea of my actual skin being tan and my natural color coming out and had seen too many girls look orange. But I got over that pretty quickly because I’ll choose a spray on tan over potential skin cancer any day and I also realized how important it is to find the right product or person to do your spray tan (I promise there are options out there where you do not turn orange!). Keep reading…

Here are a few spray tanning tips on how to make the most of your tan along with some FAQ’s!

BEFORE THE TAN

1. Exfoliate! Use a mitt or loofah to scrub skin the day before you tan. I usually take a really hot shower but sitting in a bath is better if you have the time. Just soak for ten minutes then start scrubbing away. I really like this mitt I ordered off Amazon under $10!
2. Be sure to use an organic body scrub or body wash – you do not want a scrub that leaves any sort of residue on your skin!
3. Shave or wax the day before or at least 12 hours before and hydrate skin.
4. Manicures and pedicures MUST be done the day before you tan. DO NOT go get a pedicure after your tan because your tan will be scrubbed off and you will look like a hot mess.
5. You can hydrate skin the day before but do not apply lotion to your skin within a few hours before your tan or it will end up splotchy! Trust me. I’ve made this mistake before.
6. Wear dark loose clothing when going to get a spray tan. I usually wear a black jumpsuit.
7. Go to tan fresh faced. Don’t wear makeup.
8. No deodorant.
9. If you’re going to get a facial, I recommend doing it at least 24 hours before. You want the pores in your face (and entire body) to be closed so the tan sits on top and not in your pores where it could cause congestion or black heads! I usually do a face scrub or detox mask. If you have peel pads like these M-61 ones, those are great to use a day or two before a tan as well! Again, not the day of!

AFTER THE TAN

1. Stay away from water! Do not let any part of your skin get wet right after the tan. That includes sweat!
2. Leave it on as long as possible. I usually sleep in my tan then wash it off in the morning. If you’re going to sleep in it be sure to wear long sleeves and long pants as you do not want to ruin your sheets! *some spray tan places offer “express tans” meaning you NEED to wash it off after a few hours so be sure to clarify with your salon when to wash off your tan.
3. Try to avoid hot showers (this is always hard for me). It’s best to keep the showers short and gentle.
4. When towel drying be gentle again and pat dry.
5. LOTS OF LOTION! You want to keep your skin hydrated as sometimes spray tans can be drying. Stay away from mineral oil. I use this drug store lotion and love it!
6. Do not use any oil based products and try to only use organic.
7. NO BATHS!
8. I try to not wear much makeup when I get a spray tan. Every time you wash your face you’ll be losing some of your tan. Don’t use any face scrubs and definitely no detox masks as that will completely strip your tan.
9. DO NOT spray perfume on your skin. It will strip your tan. Spray it on your clothes or I sometimes put some behind my ears.

*Be sure to do research on WHERE you’re getting your spray tan. Most spray tan businesses have Instagram accounts and websites that show their work so you have an idea of what to expect! I went to Kari at Simply Glowing for a couple of years and loved her but unfortunately she is moving soon! I started going to Brie at Southern Glow Airbrush in the Southlake Town Center recently (it’s closer for me) and Brie uses the same solution as Kari so the tan looks the same! The tan never smells and I never feel sticky after like I’ve heard about other tanning places. The solution they use is vegan, paraben free, formaldehyde free, phythalate free and SD-alcohol free. Basically it is all natural ingredients so nothing harmful is going on your skin. I was even able to get spray tans from Kari while pregnant! I got a spray tan a couple of times while breastfeeding but I had them stay away from my chest. *Every business is different so I would definitely check with the particular spray tan place you go to (especially if pregnant!).

FAQ’S:

What self tanner do you recommend?

I love St. Tropez and have used the regular bronzing mousse and the extra dark one. I prefer doing two coats of the Classic Bronzing Mousse as sometimes the extra dark one can be streaky. If you have time to leave the extra dark one on and then shower (best to apply in the evening before bed then wash off in the morning!), it looks great! But if I want to put some on and then go, I’d go with the classic.

I recently tried Loving Tan 2 hour mousse in DARK and I’ve been loving the color! It wasn’t streaky and you just wash it off after a couple of hours! Buy it from AMAZON HERE or buy it from ULTA HERE!

What lotion do you use for after your tan?

I love this one by Alba Botanica.

What was that lotion you used to make your legs look airbrushed?

BODY BLUR! This stuff is amazing. It’s almost like makeup for your skin so I always mix it with lotion and then apply it to my skin. If I have a special occasion I will use it on my arms and legs and sometimes chest if I’m wearing something low-cut (I had it on New Year’s Eve as seen in these photos…). I just noticed it’s on sale right now at Macy’s so I would GRAB IT ASAP! There is also one for your face that I will use when I don’t feel like wearing makeup! This IT Cosmetics product is my main go-to for days I don’t want to wear makeup but still want a little coverage (best part is it’s SPF 50!!)!

Is spray tanning safe during pregnancy?

ALWAYS ask your doctor. Always. When it comes to pregnancy I think it is always better to be safe than sorry so no matter what, run it by your doctor. With that said, when I get professional spray tans from Simply Glowing or Southern Glow Airbrush, the ingredients are 100% safe so it was fine for me to get them while pregnant!

What is your favorite brand for self tanner?

Again I love St. Tropez but I know there are several great self tanners out there that I haven’t tried! I’ve used Jergens Instant Sun mousse and had good results for a more affordable option.

What do you use for your face?

So I’m probably not supposed to do this but I just apply the same self tanner I use on my body for my face as well. It is so important to blend it in as you do not want your face to be splotchy! I usually just put a little on my hands and apply it to my face in a circular motion making sure to get in my hairline and by my ears! Don’t forget to wash your hands after!

Another product I love are Tan-Luxe tanning drops. I’ve used their tanning drops for a little over a year now and definitely recommend them! I usually only apply at night. Basically you take take your moisturizer and apply 3-4 drops, mix it up in your hands then rub on your face. You will wake up with a subtle glow which I love. They have one for your body as well that you do the same way. The more drops you apply, the darker you’ll be. This is a great option if you’re looking for something subtle. BE SURE TO WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER APPLYING!

How can I make my tan last longer?

HYDRATE! I apply lotion at least once or twice a day. It is so important to keep your skin hydrated. I also keep my showers short and gentle. Stay away from baths. Wear minimal makeup. Every time you use makeup remover and wash your face you will lose some of your tan. Make sure the products you’re using are organic and do not have mineral oil.

Have you found one that doesn’t smell?

I don’t think St. Tropez smells and my professional spray tans never smell!

Does it come off on your clothes?

When applying self tanner at home I always wait at least 10-20 minutes before putting on my clothes. If I’m wearing white I am extra careful when putting on my clothes. The only time I have spray tan come off on my clothes is when I sweat. Depending on what you’re doing sweating might be inevitable. I’ve never had an issue with it not coming off in the washer.

Did you feel comfortable using self tanner while nursing?

I didn’t use it much while nursing but when I did, I never applied it to the chest area. I definitely didn’t want to take the risk of it getting on Mila or her somehow ingesting it. You can also tell the person doing your spray tan to steer clear of that area too.

What do you wear to tan?

LOOSE clothing like these black jumpsuits and dresses below…

Do I have to wear sunscreen if I have a spray tan?

YES! Always wear SPF! Just because you have a spray tan does not mean your skin is protected from the sun. I always wear sunscreen at the beach with a spray tan.

Where do you tan?

I go to Southern Glow Airbrush in Southlake!

Tell Brie I referred you and you’ll get 20% OFF YOUR TAN! Or book online and use code: NATALIE20.

Ok that was A LOT! Please feel free to leave a comment with any questions or feedback you have! Oh and if you think this dress is as gorgeous as I think it is you can get it HERE! I am seriously obsessed with it. It’s pretty pricey (currently on sale for $299) but the quality is amazing! I think it would be so perfect for a special occasion like a birthday or bachelorette party. It would also be great if you’re planning a glam Valentine’s Day too! I’m linking a similar dress option half the price below too!

I found my shoes on clearance at Macy’s for $20 (crazy, right?!) and they sold out online but I found a few sizes in stock HERE for $35! Linking a few similar options below too!

By the way you can hover over any of these pictures to pin to Pinterest so you can always reference this post! I also created a little graphic above if you want to pin that one so you can easily remember what the post is about! 

I hope these spray tanning tips and FAQ’s were helpful!!

Thanks for reading!

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Photos by: Angie Garcia