Best Sunless Tanners 2019
I've Gotten Over 100 Airbrush Tans, and These Are the Best Tips I've Heard From the Pros
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When I interview tanning experts, I feel a little deceptive. A lot of them are equipped to do some serious explaining about the concept of a fake tan to presumably someone who doesn't know much about how it actually works. But what most of them don't know about me is that I too was in the airbrush tanning industry before I got began reporting at POPSUGAR.
In college, I convinced my boss at the spa I worked at to acquire an airbrush tanning machine. Instead of using tanning beds (or "death beds" as I would later call them), we could give people a quicker, safer tan — like "all the big celebrities in Hollywood" had. (I was living in Texas at the time, with big dreams of a golden glow and a life in LA.) My plea worked, and with that I learned everything there was to learn about sunless tanning. Not only was I privy on the best ways to prep the skin and how to maintain a tan for 10 days, but I knew how the solution worked, what main ingredient is in most solutions, and why we tend to smell as it develops.
Once I divulge my background, it's almost a relief for many experts. "You get it." They don't have to convince me why or how their product works. Instead, we can talk about the good stuff, like the secrets they've learned from years of developing products or spraying celebrities, what makes their solution different, and horror stories, of course.
One of the most common tips I get from experts is to be aware of your body's pH level and anything that could affect it, like showering right before a tan or certain body washes. DHA, the ingredient in tanning solutions that creates the bronze colour, interacts with your skin's pH, which means things like your period and when you shower can affect how your skin accepts the tan.
"I can tell within two seconds, within that first spray, if you've showered right before, which is not good," said Brittney Bennett of Be Bronzed Tanning Studio in Los Angeles. "If you shower, I like a good 12 hours, but a minimum of 4 hours prior — shower, shave, exfoliate — because if you do it right before, your tan will be 20-30 percent less dark. Same thing with your period. The pH balance of your skin is what the tan is working with."
Kristyn Pradas, creator of Pradas Glow, added: "During certain hormonal stages, your body produces more oils that can affect the tan development, and the body wash will help remove excess oils. My favourite is Everyone for Everybody 3-in-1 ($8). Keep in mind, however, if you have experienced a lighter tan during a different hormonal cycle, it does not mean it will happen every single time." Another thing to note is that heightened stress and even drinking alcohol can also potentially alter the development of a tan.
A majority of experts expressed the importance of not sweating or getting wet while your tan develops — that means all strenuous activity is off limits. "Do not have sex after a spray tan. I'm talking no blow jobs, no 'I'm laying down so I don't sweat that much.' Don't let a man ejaculate on you. A bronzer in a spray tan is like wet cement. You put your hands in the wet cement, when it dries, they will be there. I can fix nearly anything, but I can't fix that," said Bennett. That said, best time to tan is in the evening when you have no plans afterwards, just don't go home to Netflix & chill. Go home to Netflix and actually chill.
There are a bevy of other tips I've accumulated over the years, plus so many new and wonderful tanning products on the market. (Of course there will always be the tried and true favourites, too.) Here are the best tips I learned from some of the self-tanning industry's most glowing stars, along with a few product recommendations.
Always Apply a Moisturiser to Dry Areas Before
"A common tanning mistake for beginners is applying too much tan to drier areas such as hands, elbows, knees, and feet, which results in an uneven finish," said Clara Anderson, head VIP tanner of Vita Liberata. "To avoid this, apply a light layer of an oil-free moisturiser to those areas prior to tanning and use a makeup brush to buff product lightly over the skin. Don't forget to wipe the knuckles and the palm of the hands clean when you're finished to remove any excess product, giving the most natural finish."
Anderson also suggested to always wear loose-fitting pants instead of a skirt, dress, or shorts so that the tan doesn't move if your legs rub together. "This will help the guide colour remain even on the skin, as well as ensure you don't rest your hand on your leg and have the product develop on your palm," she said.
Also, when getting a spray tan by a professional, discuss how many layers of tan you want. "When having a spray tan, sometimes less is more. Multiple layers of tan can leave the skin wet, making it harder to develop, as it will sit on top of the skin rather than sinking in, and take longer to dry," said Anderson. "Having one perfect layer on the body will still give an instant bronze effect but it will also dry instantly, making the development stage a lot smoother. If you want extra definition ask your spray tanner to add a little extra to your arms, legs and stomach, giving the tan a more sculpted, 3D effect."
Pictured: Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Self Tan Mousse, $54
Pay Attention to How Well You Tan in the Sun
If you burn before tanning, this is an indicator of how dark your can realistically get with a faux tan before your start to look orange. "From my experience, clients who have more melanin in their skin hold tans longer than those who have light complexions," said Tan-Luxe's lead artist, Alexandra DiMarchi. "Normally, I ask clients if they burn while tanning because it will give me an idea of what percentage DHA their skin can handle. I always say, 'everyone has their own definition of being pale.' Be realistic about the shade you're choosing."
"Clear tanners allow you to see true colour as it is developing. For example, after four hours you will start to see a slight glow, then light colour at six hours. At seven to eight hours you should be at medium to dark. This method of transparent about the process, and you'll avoid the 'I lost all of my colour' notion after rinsing the product."
Pictured: Tan-Luxe The Water Spray, $47
