Tanning Solutions

At the nail salon the other night, a friend asked me what would be the fastest way to lose five pounds. My response? Get a spray tan. With a confused look, she asked why a tan would help her look slimmer. I explained to her quite simply that dark colors recede and make the eye perceive things as smaller. Plus, that pasty, post-winter skin color just reflects too much light, like the sun hitting an outdoor ice skating rink at high noon.

Another reason to get a spray tan is to “glow” for a special occasion—a wedding, birthday, or, in my case, an upcoming tropical vacation. A spray tan is more lasting than a bronzer, and it blends with the skin tone and creates a nice base color. For me, it will save a day of burning and embarrassment as I hit the beach for the first time since 2009.

But beware: spray tans do not prevent sunburns. “Don’t go nuts on the beach, because you can get burned underneath,” warns Craig Damico, owner of Tropic Tanning in Doylestown, New Hope, and Philadelphia. “Spray tanning doesn’t protect from sun. It’s more cosmetic,” Craig explains.

There are several types of sunless tanning options available, but which is the best—self-applied tanner, a booth spray tan or handheld airbrush tanning? “Self-applied tanners, like Neutrogena, can result in streaking. People often apply too much because they don’t see immediate results, and that layering can look like a mask,” answers Craig. “Handheld airbrush tanning results in very few errors because we’re applying it for you; but some people still prefer booth tanning, which tends to be less expensive.”

The most well-known booth tanner is the Mystic Tan, which came out roughly a decade ago. Although relatively effective, it can result in streaking if a person moves and the mist doesn’t hit every spot or if the solution doesn’t dry completely. A customer needs to be cautious until the solution does dry completely. In fact, I got pulled over by a police officer several years ago for not wearing a seatbelt. In my defense, I was wearing a seatbelt; it was just tucked under my arm so it wouldn’t rub off any of the Mystic solution on my arm and neck. (I explained the situation and was let go with just a slap on my newly bronzed wrist.)

Today, airbrush tanning has almost replaced booth tanning in particular and has redefined sunless tanning in general. According to Marita Crawford, owner of the Bronze Bar in South Philadelphia, “There was no airbrush tanning on the East Coast ten to fifteen years ago, but it was available on the West Coast because of the anti-aging movement going on out there.”

But sunless tanning doesn’t just prevent sun damage, if used in place of tanning from the sun itself, it also protects from possible skin cancer. “I had several scares with skin cancer,” says Marita, “so I gave up tanning in the sun. And I was a makeup artist who was doing airbrush makeup, so I switched to doing airbrush tanning.”

So, how can that obnoxious orange color indicative of a bad spray tan be avoided? “We look at the skin’s undertone and choose a solution that will compliment that,” explains Marita. “I work with four different shades that I coordinate to a person’s skin color. Some places only have one type of solution, but that’s like using the same eye shadow on everyone.” For example, for my fair and freckled face, Marita uses a solution with a blue undertone to mimic the effects of actually tanning in the sun.

The Face and Body Spa in Yardley has made airbrush tanning a social event with “bronze parties.” “We started doing bronze parties because groups would come in, and everyone wanted to watch as their friends were getting tanned,” explains Heather Dempsey-Gade, the spa’s owner. The tanning is done in a private room, and people can either take turns going solo or tan all together, based on their level of modesty. “Everyone has a blast with the parties,” enthuses Heather, “plus, they offer a lower price point since group rates are lower than individual rates.”

So, what’s the skinny on spray tanning? Remember these suggestions for a successful and glowing experience.

(1) Exfoliate. Get rid of dead skin before getting a spray tan; the solution can better bind to the amino acids and proteins in the skin.  Shave beforehand as well since shaving sloughs off a layer of skin.

(2) Don’t moisturize several hours before the tan so that nothing will impede the binding process.

(3) Think about what you want your tan lines to look like, and wear dark-colored underwear accordingly. Although most solutions don’t stain, they can temporarily tint fabrics.

(3) Let the solution dry completely before you do anything that might cause you to sweat, and don’t shower for at least eight hours. (I always go overnight without a shower; it’s a pleasant surprise to wake up like a bronzed goddess.)

(4) Do moisturize after you shower. Moisturized skin will be less flaky, so you’ll maintain results longer. Spray tans don’t actually fade; they just flake off as skin naturally regenerates. So things that dry out the skin—like the chlorine in a pool—cause faster skin turnover.

Spray tanning is not only a healthier alternative to tanning in the sun or in a tanning bed, but it also evens out skin’s appearance. “Airbrush tanning covers up skin spots and creates a smoother look,” shares Marita.

When done properly, a spray tan can have the same effect as spending a week on the beach, because, claims Craig, “It’s hard to tell who’s had a spray tan [versus a suntan], unless it’s a bad spray tan.”

And, you can forget about burning and tan lines— according to Heather, during spray tan application, “most people don’t wear anything.”

Story by April Reynolds