HAVE TAN, WILL TRAVEL

Now boarding...travelers with glowing tans.

Jet setting and spray tans go together like love and marriage.  But just like with any love affair, it’s not always rainbows and sunshine. The the trials and tribulations of traveling can give even the best faux glow a run for its money (or the money you spent on it). Luckily we’ve got a few tips + tricks to help you prep and protect your bronze so that your vacation pics on Day #6 look as good as on Day #1!

Exfoliating before your tan is key.  Skin cells are formed at the base of the epidermis, and gradually move up through the skin until they reach the outer surface, where they die, forming what is known as the stratum corneum, or 15-20 layers of dead cells.  Eventually, the cells at the very top of the stratum corneum break away and fall off the skin, allowing new cells to push up from beneath.  Exfoliation, by definition, is the removal of the oldest dead skin cells on the skin's outermost surface. Post-exfoliation, the top layer of your skin is comprised the “newest” dead skin cells, which is crucial because these are the dead cells that will hold your spray tan, and therefore help its longevity.

Nothing preps your skin for a tan better than our Prep Soap and Body Scrub (which is most effective when used with an exfoliating mitt).  It’s ideal to do this the evening before your appointment rather than just a few hours beforehand.

Hydrate yourself!  Many don’t realize that dehydration can be the sole culprit an early demise of an airbrush tan.  Spray tans often take place before a vacation, bachelorette, wedding, etc. and that often means air travel, change in climate, and alcohol, all of which tend to dry out your skin.  Due to these aforementioned reasons, hydration is essential to keeping your bronze brilliant. Whether you’re on an island or in the mountains, drinking Mai Tai’s or Hot Toddy’s, don’t forget to drink WATER.  (A good rule of thumb is to take your weight and divide it by two- that’s how many ounces of water you should drink per day. You’ll probably want to consider stepping up the H20 consumption if you’re adding altitude or cocktails into the mix.)  My personal favorite way to get a hydration boost before a big event or trip is an IV Drip Hydration. (If you opt into adding vitamins and minerals these can also enhance your glow, quite literally from the inside → out.)

Moisturize twice as much!  As far as daily moisturizing (whether in the air, after the pool, on the slopes, or wherever your tan takes you) turn to products such as fractionated coconut oil and jojoba oil.  Moisturizing helps your tan fade evenly (rather than in a patchy formation). It’s important to remember that spending time in hot tubs, long baths, etc. speeds up your skin’s natural exfoliation process, while moisturizing can assist in slowing it down.  If you’re on the beach, don’t forget that SPF! There’s no saving a spray after too many rays. As we all know, a sunburn leads to peeling, and with the top layers of skin that peel off, so does your tan.  

Replace the tan as it begins to fade. Our Tan Extender has a dual functionality, and quite obviously does just what the name implies.  The easy-to-use lotion moisturizes your skin, while also adding color through small amounts of DHA (which is derived from sugar beets and functions as the active ingredient in a spray tan by producing a browning effect when it comes in contact with your dead skin cell’s proteins.  An easy comparison is cutting open an apple and watching it turn brown as it oxidizes). As spray tan vets have most likely experienced, the face tan usually fades first, which is why I highly recommend that you pack our secret sun-kissed weapon, our Sunless Mist, which will immediately give your glow another go. It’s a lightweight spray, and is best used on your face and neck (but can be used elsewhere if needed). Leave the mist on for a few hours and rinse off like you would a regular tan, and BAM. The bronze is back, baby!