Spray Tanning?

Poler1984 started this discussion · 5/17/2011

Hey everyone! This summer I would really like to have a tan... without the sun. I have used tanning beds before, but the word "melanoma" keeps popping up around me as a cosmic reminder I want take care of my skin this summer and spray tan. I have fair skin, blue eyes and light hair. When I tan from the sun I burn easily and tan lightly. I am also on birth control and medication for acne so my skin is super sensitive to UV rays so I really should be avoiding the sun! I am really curious what success (and failure) you ladies have had with different types of DIY tanning products and salon spray tans, I know where i live there is Mystic Tan, Norvell, and SunFX. I'm not new to self tan lotions, Ive just never had one I was nuts about. Also, isn't the ingredient in all sunless tanning products, DHA, the same? If my skin reacts to DHA to produce a certain color, why should I expect it to react more brown or more orange based on a specific product? I'm a student which = poor lol so please don't suggest products that are $100 a bottle! Thanks guys!

27 replies

JBStarryEyedGirl · 5/17/2011
I highly reccomend a brand called TansAreNowSafe.com they offer custom airbrush tanning at salons and mobile. It always come out really natural looking. You can usually get a spray for $25 bucks or less. You can also buy a tan system (about a $200 investment) but if you split it with friends, you can all learn to spray each other and it's SUPER cheap if you can get a few peeps to throw in! A great option for college students, plus you could make some money on the side =)
chemgoddess1 · 5/17/2011
I am going to warn you that spray tanning will not keep you from burning in the natural sun and may make it even worse.
glitterhips · 5/17/2011
Sally beauty supply sells a kit for $20 or $25 and the container it comes with is enough for 3-4 tans. Refill cans are 8.99. It's a spray gun that is pretty easy to use with a little practice, I do find I need to use a foundation brush or makeup sponge to even it out if it turns out streaky but for the money I think it was a good investment good luck!
litlbit · 5/17/2011
I don't use any of those products. Any chemical you put on your skin is absorbed into the bloodstream and is processed through your organs. I was told about a product by my physican called "Fake Bake" , it is all natural, organic and no preservatives. It goes on without streaks because you see the tan immediately. You use it for a week every night or until you reach to the color/darkness you want. you shower off the eccess in the morning and re-apply only once a week to maintain it. It fades naturally just like a tan. It washes out of your bedding easily. I've been using it for about 4 years now and I LOVE IT!! It also softens your skin! I use the lotion form in the brown bottle. I also use the face tan. It only costs around $35 for both. It lasts me most of the summer. You stll need to use a good sun screen. You can get it at http://fakebake.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=FBTU&Category_Code=FakeBake
Phoenix · 5/17/2011
When a special occasion comes along i use mystic tan you can find it at certain local tanning salons, you don't have to worry so much about the chemical aspect of it since the Mystic HD is Parabine free and has high concentrations of Aloe Vera and added antioxidants like Green Tea extract and Larrea Divaricata it can help to protect your skin cells against damaging free radicals. It is a pretty good color pay off they have many different shades you can choose from. Also I haven't had any problems with streaking. 🙂
coolchange · 5/18/2011
Well I can vouch as a "hard head" that would not stay out of the Florida sun as a teen/young adult and I frequented tanning beds for a bit. It finally caught up with me in my late 30's and I had cancer on my eyelids (three places), later my upper lip (not a fun surgery) and then a doozy that required ten stitches near my belly botton and the stress of waiting to hear if it was melanoma. I had squamous cell carcinoma, that left untreated, can spread quickly to other parts of the body, like the lymphatic system, bloodstream, and nerve routes. Not to mention other cancers and worrying when more will pop up from my idiocy years ago. Good for you Poler..not worth it. I am fair-skinned and have had pretty good luck with Body Drench Quick Tan Spray. Sold at salons for a lot, but Amazon.com has a 3 can pack for around $33 that will last me all summer + and keep my legs from scaring people, haha. If you look it up, someone wrote a very detailed review on how best to apply it (she must stay very dark all year round). I just use it through bikini season to not look like a ghost. It doesn't streak and I still stick to my pole just fine. Seems to me the natural look is all in the technique. Less is more...light layers work so much better with this spray than trying to use one heavy coat. And as Chem mentioned, keep the sunscreen handy...no protection at all from a faux tan. Good luck with it..lots of good stuff on the market to choose from.
chemgoddess1 · 5/18/2011
"Any chemical you put on your skin is absorbed into the bloodstream and is processed through your organs." This is untrue. 2 things, the molecules that make up these spray tanners are way too large to pass through the epidermis and get into the bloodstream. Second, if this were the case (it entering the bloodstream) it would be classified as a drug by the FDA and would have to undergo clinical testing. Now on the spray tanners like Mystic and such there is a possibility of inhaling the spray or if it gets on your lips you can ingest it.
litlbit · 5/18/2011
I'm only repeating what my dematologist told me. These are not my words chemgoddess1. She stated everything to a certain degree is absorbed because the skin is porus, that's why patches are so effective. I'll let you two argue that one LOL
chemgoddess1 · 5/18/2011
The patches are designed with a molecule size and carrier that will pass through and go systemic, which is why they are all regulated by the FDA. Most of the tanners are HUGE sugar molecules and totally unregulated (well, a bit by the cosmetics act). The thing that disturbs me is products like melanotan that start systemic and seep out to your skin......shudder. Oh, and that orange glow is sooooooo attractive!
Charley · 5/18/2011
I've done airbrush tanning once - it was Fantasy Tan. While the product was good and so were the results after a weekend of poling with Karol Helms I ended up with white patches because my skin was being ripped off and left on the pole and it ended up not being so good for me. By Sunday I was a splotchy mess on my legs. I don't recommend this for very active polers. I teach and practice a lot so it will never stay on me the way I want it to. However it did go on nice and even and until I started ripping my skin off it looked nice :) lol!
Love2Tan · 5/19/2011
Ive tried lots of different tanning products, but theres one that I've found to really the best ever. Its called Cabana Tan by a company called Million Dollar Tan. Its really amazing. I just put i on like a body lotion at night and by the morning Im tan and looking great. Its goes on clear which is nice. I dont like the colored lotions, it looks yucky it gets all over the place. I suggest you give it a try. By the way its not that expensive... I think around $20 www.milliondollartan.com its really worth a shot thanks
Poler1984 · 5/19/2011
Wow! Thank you everyone for the replies and suggestions!! I will definitly look into the products you all suggested. I talked to a girl at the tanning salon and she said they suggest you purchase their ph nuetralizer packet which helps your skin turn brown and orange. Ive seen some things on the internet about the pH of your skin and certain products you use can affect the color of the tan. Have any of you heard about this?
Poler1984 · 5/19/2011
not brown and orange... i meant brown instead of orange lol
chemgoddess1 · 5/20/2011
The girl at the tanning salon is just trying to upsell you. The sugar in the spray tanner reacts with the amino acids in your dead skin cells and causes the color change. There have been some tweeks to the formulation but it is all the same reactio. Orange usually come about from cheap versions of DHA in the tanner. More expensive (read purer) forms of DHA produce brown, however there are cheaper forms of DHA available on the market that have all sorts of impurities. It is these impurities that react with the sugar/amino acid reaction and cause strange colorations. The best thing you can do is exfoliate your skin prior to spray tanning. This will make it last longer as you are getting rid of the "ready to slough off" skin cells and just coloring those that are just starting to die off but have yet to release.
chemgoddess1 · 5/20/2011
Being the geek I am I was just researching the actual chemical reaction and factors that affect it. There are certain oils and fragrances that will screw with the reaction so this is something to keep in mind. Just like poling, no lotion!!
Poler1984 · 5/20/2011
Thanks chem! Did you find anything about the 'purer' products? How the hell am i supposed to know if its high or low quality? Now howcome something so seemingly simple needs to be so ridiculously complicated?
mizvix · 5/21/2011
my head hurts from all the science!!! im a ghostly-white, blue-eyed blonde and after many, many attempts at finding the perfect tanning product i've come to a decision - my skin can stay the way it is!!!! One problem... I'm doing doubles work with an addicted self-tanner so i WILL have to relent :(
chemgoddess1 · 5/21/2011
Unfortunately you cannot tell what raw material a company uses in their product. Best advice is to use a brand that you can research and see pictures of real people (not their own advertizing).
minicoopergrl · 5/23/2011
Ive been pale my WHOLE life. Sheesh, my kids call me pasty!!! I got sunburn so bad one year I was actually blistering on my shoulders! Lets just say I learned my lesson real quick. Im always putting sunscreen on when im out. But after 26yrs of burning and going back to pasty, my body has decided to give me a tan! Its not much and my god my legs need a better tan! Ive done a few self-tanners at home but never got any good results. I always end up with spots no matter how evenly I apply the product. Ive even used the gradual lotions and I still flippin streak. I used to use the tanning beds at the gym but I would get pink and go back to white! I feel like I would never win when it comes to tanning! The products ive tried: Nivea shave minimizer and gradual tanner - great for slowing the shave process but still streaky Mary Kay Gradual Tanner - this stuff worked the best Neutrogena Spray Mist - Tanned quickly but still ended up streaky! Sally Hansen Spray Tanner - still streaky!
unicorn · 5/23/2011
I too am sick of being so pale, won't get my legs out they are so white.. I tried every tan around.nothing worked untht il I tried something you lot will probably gasp in horror about Melanotan! Best tan I ever had last summer. helped me lose weight too as it acts as a food suppressant .. I did not burn on the beach for the 1st time ever, I got the most gorgeous tan!! back to being pale now as I am not using Melanotan ..
chipandchar · 6/12/2011
I hear xen tan is amazing and it smells vanilla-ish...rather than that disgusting self-tanner scent most have! Color is bronze, not orangy as well.
Angel1201 · 6/12/2011
Fake Bake does turn your skin a beautiful brown color. I highly recommend it.
Ginger Kitty · 6/12/2011
I bought Fake Bake after seeing it on this thread. It does leave you with a nice color. HOWEVER, it is messy! 😲 Really messy. A couple of things to think about if you spray tan in the house. Don't have a celing fan going. This distributed the mist all over the bathroom. A light misting of color was all over the counter tops, floor and even on the fan blades. Spray in the shower/tub. This will make cleaning up much easier. Also have a full length mirror handy near the tub/shower so you can see where you have applied the tan. Stand on a towel so the bottoms of your feet don't get covered in the tan solution. Other wise you will have brown feet. The Fake Bake washes out of the towel with no problem. Also, something I learned from getting a spray tan at a salon, put some lotion on your toe and finger nails. This keeps them from getting to dark. Then just rub the lotion off after you are done spraying yourself. So far I have gotten 3 spray tans out of the can. I'm not sure if there is enough for a 4th or not. If you have the option of spraying outside and having someone else do it, I think this would be ideal.
lilblondie · 6/15/2011
I swear by L'Oreal Sublime Bronze. I'm very pale but I use it in Deep in the Lotion formula (it's easier to rub in/less quick drying than the "Gelee", which is usually in drugstores.) I order it online: http://www.drugstore.com/loreal-sublime-bronze-self-tanning-lotion-deep-natural/qxp90322 I apply it wearing disposable rubber gloves. I slather it on and rub it in like a lotion EXCEPT on my knees, ankles/feet, elbows, and wrists/forearms, where I just blend it in. The tint lets me know where I put it on. One caveat: it's sparkly ... so if you're going somewhere where it's not appropriate, do it the day before. Oh, and once or twice a week looks natural. More than that and people will start asking where you spray tan. :)
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Florence · 6/15/2011
There are many options available to help you achieve a tan. Whether your looking to do customized airbrush tanning, automatic spray tanning machines or DIY products, they all get the job done and more often than not the results and opinions vary upon the individual. Airbrush tanning is customized color applied directly to your skin by an airbrush technician. It typically last you about 7-10 days (varies depending on your skin, products, lifestyle etc.) I would recommend this if you want more personalized results considering you are getting it done with a person, application will also be more efficient however, it does cost the most out of the available options. Some salons also offer pre/post ad ons to exfoliate, balance and prepare your skin to better absorb the airbrush in addition to locking in the color and promoting an even fade. Automatic spray tanning machines are on the rise and the new technology makes it more user friendly and now even offer a variety of options to customize your experience. The mystic HD is a autobronzing booth that pre-heats the machine when the solution is sprayed to avoid the discomfort of freezing solution on your bare, naked skin. There are 4 color options ranging from glow, light, medium and dark which can get you anywhere from 1-6 shades darker. There are color additives to achieve immediate color, aromatherapy oils you may add in, color enhancers to help you produce a more rapid tan and an additive to balance the pH of your skin. The machine is voice guided so it is extremely easy to use. There are many DIY products that come in numerous options; gel, mousse, lotions, spray etc. Gels and mousse are much harder to apply considering they typically do not have a color guide (you can't see where your applying and how much of it) also you run the risk of streaking and blotchiness if they are not applied evenly. Always use gloves! Lotions are easy to apply however they are more gradual tanners. They are great for building a tan and usually require more than one applications for you to maximize results. Always use the correct shade/build to match your current untanned skin for the best results. This ensures as your tan is fading you don't look two toned against your tanned and untanned skin. If you are unsure start off with the lighter one as there is always room to go darker. Sprays provide great coverage, are much easier to apply however, it does get messy so I suggest doing it in your bathtub/shower for an easier clean up. Just remember always exfoliate, shave, wax, nails etc. prior to your airbrush. DHA takes about 4-6 hours to develop so avoid showering or sweating during that time. DHA fully stops developing in 24 hours so it is essential that you maintain and care for your skin. Your first contact with water should be a lukewarm rinse and pat dry with a towel, no soap. Your following showers are ok to use with soap (liquid soap-sulfate free is best) NO DOVE SOAP! Moisturize after EVERY shower, this ensures that your color will fade evenly. If you are using one with a touch of color to prolong the life of your tan use it every other day not everyday. Always wash your hands immediately after any DIY product to prevent orange palms as they do not produce melanin to even achieve a tan. Keep a minimal to harsh products and alcohol based products as they will strip your tan. Shaving is ok, use baby oil and a fresh blade shaving in a downward motion. Good luck and I hope you achieve your golden hue whether it is at home or in the salon. P.S. Salons usually offer student specials

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