The Only Safe Way to Tan

Mar 26

Glowing skin without the burn—and damage

I spent most of my teen years trying to be tan. My background is Irish, English, and other -ish nationalities that are not known for their deep tans, dear reader. Still, I tried, even resorting to tanning beds (cringe). “I just need to burn first,” was one of the lies I told myself. Although I did eventually get a bronzy hue out of my fair skin (probably from a whole bunch of freckles that blended together), I was unaware (or didn't care) that I was inflicting damage. Once I started working in beauty editorial and interviewing dermatologists about sun protection, I learned that tan skin is a sign of damage. And tanning beds up your risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, big time. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, those who used a tanning bed for the first time before age 35 increase their risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent (gulp). At the age of 41, when I practically bathe in tretinoin, do peels to get rid of sun damage, and have had multiple suspicious spots lopped off, boy, do I regret those tanning days.

Now I'm okay with being pale. Yet, I get the addiction for so many—the idea that we look good tan. My face looks more radiant, I can wear less or no makeup, and my muscles look more defined. Fortunately, there are ways to get the look safely. Yes, I'm talking about self-tanner. But, I'll be honest, no matter how many stories I write about applying self-tanner at home, I'll never get it quite right. It's always streaky someplace. I'd much rather be nearly naked in a room with a stranger and get sprayed from head to toe to get an even glow.

So, for my recent vacation, that's what I did. I used to get spray tans in my 20s when it seemed like I had a wedding, a bachelorette party, or some big event or trip every other weekend. But I hadn't had one in years! So, for my trip, I booked Moon2Water in East Setauket (they have a location in West Babylon, too) with Julia, and got glowing results. Here are some tips for getting—and maintaining your faux glow.

Exfoliate ahead of time

My body skin was pretty dry after the winter. Getting all the dead stuff off will help your tan take more evenly. The self-tanner solution clings to dry skin, leaving you looking patchy. So, for a couple of weeks leading up to my spray appointment, I swapped out my regular moisturizer for one that includes dull-skin-dissolving lactic acid: AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream 15% Lactic Acid is an effective (and inexpensive) way to do it.

I gave my body skin one more polishing with a scrub the day before. My tween left her Tree Hut Coconut Lime Shea Sugar Scrub in my shower. It did the trick—and the scent got me in a vacation mindset.

Book all your other appointments before your spray

Facials, waxing appointments, mani/pedis, should all happen before your spray tan. Once you get your faux glow, you want to avoid anything that exfoliates skin or requires long soaks in water; your tan won’t take properly or will fade faster. Shaving also exfoliates the skin (and shave lotions can linger on the skin), so do it the night before your spray.

The day of, leave your skin bare

Moisturizer, makeup, even deodorant can interfere with the self-tanner, so skip them. Your spray tan tech will apply barrier cream to notoriously dry spots such as knees and elbows and places you wouldn’t usually get tan, like the palms of your hands.

What to expect during your tan

You can wear undergarments or a bathing suit (you don't mind potentially ruining), but it's best to go topless if you want to avoid tan lines. I only wore the disposable, paper-thong underwear provided. Keep in mind; your spray tan tech does this for a living. She's seen it all!

No, you won’t look orange nor streaky (if you follow the prep tips), and a good spray tan place will be able to customize the color for you. I wanted a medium-toned tan. A super-dark tan wouldn’t look believable on my fair skin.

This sign hangs in Water2Moon rooms. I love it!

Once sprayed, you can put on your clothing but skip the bra. Anything constricting will leave marks. Ideally, wear black, baggy clothing. (Post-spray, I walked around the Smith Haven Mall braless. Liberating.) You’ll have an instant bronze, but it’s like makeup. Your actual tan takes 12-24 hours to develop. During that time, avoid water, including sweat. Skip the workout, and if you sweat while you sleep, turn on a fan. You can also dust translucent setting powder to absorb sweat on high-friction, sweat-prone spots (like under boobs). I washed dishes the evening after my tan, and my hands were a bit paler than the rest of my body. Ideally, wait eight to 12 hours to shower. You’ll see all the bronzer go down the drain. Don’t panic. Your natural glow will still be there. Pro tip: Spray2 Moon says to skip soaps made with mineral oils, which will interfere with the tan.

Make your tan last longer

Now that you have your golden glow, make it last! Avoid those mineral oil-based soaps in the shower and switch to an oil-free moisturizer. Skip the scrubs, loofahs, or wash clothes. You can shave, but use a new (not dull) razor for less tugging on the skin. And use a hair conditioner instead of a shave gel, which contains alcohol and can make your tan fade faster and unevenly. It's also an excellent time to break from topical retinoids or any products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid). These increase cell turnover, which will fade your facial glow faster.

You can—and should—wear sunscreen. But stick to creams and lotions, not sprays, which tend to include alcohol and other additives that can affect your glow.