You don’t need to be a film star to get a deep fake tan with golden highlights that hit you in all the right places. Starting from building a matte base color to highlighting your best features, creating the signature tan that we see on runways and red carpets all over the world may be a multistep process, but it’s not as tough as it sounds. While movie stars do have personal stylists, most of the professional products that used to be off limits to anyone outside of the celebrity circuit are now readily available. With a few key products and the easy tips below, you too can create a celebrity-inspired tan that will make you the center of attention at any special event.

Starting with the Base
Why do you need to first create a matte, all-over fake tan to get that red carpet look you crave? The answer is simple. Behind the glowing tans that we see on our favorite celebrities are layers of products that are all strategically applied to create skin with the perfect blend of shimmer, lights and shadows. Base tans are naturally beautiful and ideal for looking your best for everyday occasions, but layering is essential for those glamorous parties and events when you want to get noticed as soon as you walk into the room.

Since you’ll be using additional products on top of your original fake tan, don’t go too dark. If you have pale skin, try a light/medium formula in a golden. If you have naturally olive or darker skin, go with a medium/dark formula for a deeper tan. Whether you prefer spray tans or body lotions, you can use any formula to build the foundation. Just remember to exfoliate the day before to turn your body into a clean canvas.

Add Depth and Dimension
Now that you have a flawless base tan, it’s time to take your color up a notch for your party look with tan-enhancing products. Skin Illuminators and Bronzing Powders are some of the biggest power players in the beauty collections of makeup artists who are responsible for creating UV-free sun-baked skin for their star-studded clientele. The secret of the trade is to use both as contouring tools to add highlights and shadows that accentuate each client’s best features while downplaying imperfections. The result isn’t just the most flawless tan you can imagine, but it’s also a complete transformation from a naturally beautiful woman into an exotic bronze bombshell.

Tips for Using Skin Illuminators and Bronzing Powder

Moisturize after your first shower. Body lotion will lock in hydration, prevent fading and make it easier for bronzers and illuminators to last longer on your skin.

• If you’re wearing a short dress, elongate your legs and make them look thinner by throwing on some high heels.
• To add contrast that instantly makes you look thinner and at the same time define your favorite features, apply some blush to your cheekbones.
• For backless dresses, add a touch of classic Hollywood glamour by dabbing a small amount of body shimmer on your shoulder blades and down your spine.
• Finish by sweeping your tan with a light bronzing powder to seal in your color.

Getting a spray tan is a great way to satisfy your craving for sun-kissed skin during the bleakest days of the year. While dark tanners should be retired until next summer, winter is the perfect time for a subtle golden glow. And with winter-friendly colors and help from a few must-have tanning accessories, spray tanning during the coldest season has many benefits and hardly any drawbacks.

The Benefits of Spray Tanning During Cold Weather

• Love the way you look all year long. Tanning can make your skin look younger, healthier and more vibrant. Browns, greens and other seasonal colors can make pale skin look washed out and dull. Adding a subtle hint of color to your skin can be just what you need to boost your confidence and give your winter wardrobe a quick face-lift.
• Maintaining a natural-looking tan during the colder months is easier than you think. Since you are working with a lighter color palette, you can stop worrying about uneven fading or missed spots, which would be more noticeable in summer.
• Get motivated to take better care of your skin. Cold weather can be extremely tough on your skin, especially if you do not actively protect it on a daily basis. Because you need to exfoliate and moisturize to get even coverage, spray tanning in the winter can make it easier to keep your skin healthy and hydrated.

Beautifully done face makeup starts first and foremost with the quality of your skin and its natural glow. If you have recently tanned or exercised, your skin will automatically look more luminous and dewy. To enhance this amazing part of your skin’s quality, it’s important to use the right makeup products in the right places to create a look that is absolutely sensational. After getting a spray tan, treat yourself to a new batch of makeup that will help enhance your natural beauty. Use products that are lightweight and won’t cover the beautiful color you get from a spray tan.

Follow along as each piece of the makeup puzzle is broken down for your convenience. With these tips, you can create a look that enhances your spray tan and your natural beauty!

Face

Use the correct color base and highlighter to improve your skins overall complexion and color.

Foundation – Avoid heavy liquid foundations that cake the skin. Instead, use a loose powder that you can apply at your discretion to create a natural, even look. The color of the foundation should match the underneath of your forearm. It may be helpful to have two or three slightly different shades of foundation during the different stages of your tan. Apply enough to fully cover the face and décolleté area.

(Do you really need foundation? A benefit to a great spray tan is the even tone it provides to your face. You might find you can get away with much less foundation when compared to your skin without a spray tan.)

Illuminating Cream – Apply illuminating cream to the places where the sun would hit you face. This includes your cheekbones, brow bones, and the top of your nose. Lightly apply to these areas for brightened, more defined facial features.

Bronzer – In addition to illuminating cream, bronzer helps blend and add depth to the foundation you use. With bronzer, think less is more (especially when you have a beautiful spray tan!) Keep everything blended with a large kabuki brush. With the combination of these three products, your skin will have an even, beautiful color.

Eyes

People say that the eyes are the window to your soul, but they are also a great area of your face to highlight when you are trying to enhance the look of your spray tan.

Mascara – Use bold, black mascara to create definition and femininity with your makeup look. Long, defined lashes will pop again the whites of your eyes. Apply mascara to both top and bottom lashes for a wide-eyed, beautiful look.

Eye shadow – Use nudes, neutrals, and sparkly shades to highlight your eyes and enhance your spray tan. These colors will blend and create a shimmer that goes perfectly with darker, tan skin. Also, apply a shadow with a shimmer within the inner portion of your eye lid to brighten your eyes. This will make your eyes pop and make your tan look darker. Avoid solid white and bright colors as they will cause your eyes to negatively stand out in comparison to the darker face complexion.

Lips and Cheeks

Blush – Highlight the contours of your cheekbones with blush in a soft shade pink or peach. Avoid darker reds and purple colors that could look overdone. The darker the blush, the more it may overpower your tan and draw attention away from your eyes and lips.

Lip Color – Nude or peach lips create a beautiful look that blends with a tan complexion. The lighter shades on lips create an easy, sexy appearance that adds more to a great spray tan.

Teeth Whitening

Everyone loves a beautiful smile. Whitening your teeth may be an option for those who feel their smile isn’t as white as it could be. A white smile pops against a spray tan and makes your teeth look more vibrant and beautiful.

Together with an easy, beautiful makeup routine, you will look sensational!

Did you just get engaged? Congratulations! Now it’s time to start planning! Don’t forget your spray tan for your engagement pictures! Spray tans are recommended by professional photographers instead of tanning beds because it evens out skin tone so nicely.

I am a big fan of engagement photos and I often do the bride-to-be’s spray tan for the shoot. Engagement photos are fantastic for many reasons.

1. Helps you become more comfortable in front of the camera.  The more times you are photographed, the more at ease you will be.  The best photos are when people are comfortable, happy and authentic.  For all of those people who hate “posing” for photos or think they aren’t photogenic – a professional shoot can be completely different.  Most photographers don’t want you to pose, they want you to be in the moment and interact with your partner. When you take a couple hundred photos with a pro you are likely to get a few good ones – so relax.
2. Builds a bond with the photographer.  You will spend a good portion of your wedding day with your photographer and this is a great opportunity to get to know how  you work best together.
3. See how you photograph with your spray tan and makeup.  While it isn’t necessary to wear the exact same makeup as you will on your wedding day, you can get a sense of how much the camera diffuses the tan and makeup. I recommend putting on more blush than you normally would, go for a slightly brighter lip and apply a thicker darker eyeliner (on top lash line). Since the makeup is just for a photo shoot you don’t need to worry about what it looks like in real life.  I guarantee you will be amazed how little makeup reads in photos.
4. You get to have fun with your honey!  Wedding day photos are done on a tight schedule, in confining clothing, and a lot of people watching you. This is just about the two of you enjoying each other and showing why you feel in love in the first place. Make it a fun part of preparation!

Nicole (pictured above) decided to get a spray tan for her engagement pictures and they turned out gorgeous! We did the same spray tan that we will do for her upcoming wedding and you can see how natural it looks.

As summer comes to an end, fall and cold weather are undoubtedly right around the corner. Time outside slowly decreases and warm weather activities like poolside parties come to an end. As time outdoors concludes, so does the chance for your skin to soak up the sun, creating the “summer glow” that everyone strives for. But cold weather shouldn’t automatically mean pale skin. There are plenty of options for people to gain a natural-looking, summer glow without the warm weather and direct sunlight. Spray tanning is a perfect option for those who are looking for a convenient way to look tan even if it’s cold outside. Having a hard time finding reasons to tan in the winter? Read on as we discuss the rationale of tanning in the fall and winter months.

Cold-weather Tanning for… Personal Improvement

It might be a foreign concept to some, but every so often it’s important to do something for nobody’s benefit but your own. Things like getting a massage, buying your favorite scented candle or taking baths are ways that you can treat yourself and in turn, improve your overall happiness. A great example of a way to improve your self-esteem during the winter months is to give your skin a makeover with a spray tan. The simple act of getting a spray tan will change your whole outlook on the way you feel, especially if it’s freezing and miserable outside. Even if no one else is able to see your tan while you are bundled up from the weather, at least you will have the confidence and feel good when you look at yourself in the mirror.

Cold-weather Tanning for… Your Significant Other

The only person that will most likely see your bikini body outside of the summer months will be your significant other. Even in the winter, it’s important to get the compliments you crave and feel confident in an intimate setting. Having a tan can easily help with those personal settings and make you feel great about yourself.

Cold-weather Tanning for… Special Events

Another great reason to stay tan during the fall and winter are the special events and activities you need to attend. As you read through this list of events, envision the difference between attending these events looking pale and sick with a cold red nose, or with a realistic sunless tan. Look and feel your best at these important events with a spray tan!

• Homecoming
• Fall/Winter weddings
• Brightly-colored fashions
• Holiday parties
• Halloween
• Vacation
• Engagements
• Work parties/events
• New Years

Cold-weather Tanning to… Lift Your Spirits!

Just because it’s cold and you may be more covered than you would be in the summer months, keeping a tan during fall and winter will make your clothes and fashion choices look better and give you a much needed confidence boost in the depressing winter months. Whatever the reason or occasion, choosing to keep a tan during the colder months is a good option for anyone. There is nothing like looking in the mirror and feeling bronzed and beautiful!

In everyone’s life, there comes a time when working out becomes an essential part of keeping your body looking and feeling healthy. Looking healthy could include tanning your skin, changing your hair color, and whitening your teeth. When it comes to weight though, metabolisms tend to slow down and the body becomes less adaptable to physical activity. For that reason, choosing a workout program becomes a critical decision in your life after twenty. Below are a few workout programs outlined for their difficulty, time commitment and cost. Some workouts are more extreme than others, but that may be what you need to work towards your weight loss goals. Remember that not all workout programs are made for everyone, and it’s important to listen to your body to choose what’s right for you. Once you have found the right workout plan, your new, fit body will look even better with your spray tan.

Workout Program #1 Zumba

• Difficulty: Light to Moderate
• Time-commitment: 1 hour classes
• Cost: DVD’s range from $50-$85 and classes start at $10

Are you always the first one on the dance floor at parties? If dancing is your passion, try adding Zumba to your workout program. Zumba combines exercise and entertainment into a dance-fitness class featuring upbeat music and easy-to-follow choreography that feels more like a celebration than a workout. With multiple categories of Zumba classes, there are styles and goals for everyone who wants to have fun while they work out. Find a workout near you or buy the DVD’s to work out in the comfort of your home! Just be sure to wear loose fitting clothing where your spray tan may rub off in the midst of sweating off the calories! 

Workout Program #2 Insanity

• Difficulty: Challenging
• Time-commitment: 60 day program with 30-45 minute workouts
• Cost: $120 for a set of 10 DVD’s

Are you ready to test your endurance? Insanity is an extremely challenging DVD workout to use at home that requires intense focus and determination for 60 days. The workout is known to be “crazy” and “insane,” and claims to be one of the hardest workouts ever put out on DVD. Though the workouts may be challenging, results are proven and if correctly followed, Insanity will give your body a strong, defined look that you will love. Because of the challenging workouts, make sure to equip yourself with touch up products where your tan may fade.

Workout Program #3 Yoga

• Difficulty: Light to Moderate
• Time-commitment: 45 min to 1 hour long classes
• Cost: $10-$30 per class

Yoga has become an extremely popular way to not only meditate, but be a strong workout alternative for those who dedicate themselves. Yoga welcomes practitioners of all ages because of its strong focus on stretching and listening to the body’s internal voice. Yoga offers multiple poses and postures to help build and tone muscle, stretch the body, and find inner serenity. The act of practicing yoga can become a lifestyle if you let it. Healthy eating, helpful stretches, and intense, core-building positions create good habits that give you an all-encompassing feeling of wellness. Classes take place all over the US and resources are available to help you find the best place to practice the art of yoga. DVD’s are also available for those who like to practice at home. Wear loose clothing and your tan will be sure to last throughout this workout.

Workout Program #4 Crossfit

• Difficulty: Challenging
• Time-commitment: 1 hour long classes
• Cost: $165-$200 a month

Crossfit is a workout program which aims to prepare trainees for any physical contingency and works to define fitness in a meaningful, measurable way. The workouts given to Crossfit trainees require intensity and strength, focusing on effective exercises that change frequently. To start Crossfit, training courses are required to learn the methodology and foundational skills used in the workout program’s fitness classes. Crossfit requires a higher time and cost commitment, but it’s worth the effort to reshape your body and give you the highest level of fitness training possible. Crossfit training centers are located all over the country to take classes and offer a large online following for added support and information. Because of this intense training, make sure to plan your workouts along with your spray tan schedule to get the most out of your tan.

Workout Program #5 Pilates

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Time-commitment: 45 min to 1 hour long classes
• Cost: $30-$40 per session

An innovative and transformative system of exercise, Pilates transforms the way your body looks, feels and performs. Pilates improves ones flexibility, agility and range of motion and is meant for people of all ages. Pilates focuses on developing a strong core and creating long lean muscles with stretches and positions that help evenly condition the body and prevent injuries. Though Pilates has Yoga inspired exercises, this workout program works at a slightly faster pace than yoga and focuses on extending a certain stretch within a limited amount of time using resistance and core awareness. Like Yoga, there are classes that take place all over the US and with the option to purchase DVD’s to workout in your home. When planning to take Pilates, remember to use products after your workout that bring your tan back to life!

Finding the right workout program is essential to having a longer, healthier life. With all of the wonderful and challenging fitness resources out there, you have nothing to lose! Get involved in exercises that you know you will like, but also try something new! A different workout program may be surprisingly fun and challenging. With that great body you’ll have, think about what else you can do to improve your self-image. Treat yourself to a makeover, a new hairstyle, and a great tan. You will feel like a million bucks and know that it’s all because you worked hard!

Spray tanning may be one of today’s hottest beauty and celebrity trends, but there are still a lot of misconceptions out there that make new clients feel nervous about switching from self-tanning lotions to spray tans. Learning more about the facts behind the common myths about spray tanning can help you decide if it is the right solution for your body and lifestyle.

1. Spray tans are messy.

There is nothing messy about spray tanning. Because airbrush mist is sprayed directly on your skin at a high speed, there is no color run off. Most spray tans are formulated to dry fast, so you can be on your way out just a few minutes after your application. If you are worried about getting a tan in areas where it can look unnatural, you can protect them with barrier cream.

2. Spray tans look unnatural.

One of the biggest reasons why people put off getting a spray tan is because they are afraid it will turn their skin into an unnatural shade of orange. In reality, controlling the intensity of your color with spray tans is easy. High-quality tanning solutions are specifically developed with color guards that work with unique skin tones to develop a tan that looks healthy and natural. If you are nervous about choosing the right shade at your first appointment, ask our spray tanning artist for help. When in doubt, stick to lighter solutions. You can always go darker with products at home or at your next appointment.

3. Spray tans are dangerous.

Spray tans use the same active chemical as other tanners, so there is no reason why they would be more toxic to your body. The only way a spray tan can potentially be harmful is if you swallow a large amount of tanning mist during the application. You can avoid any potential side effects by covering your mouth, eyes and nose while tanning.

4. Sunlight is good for you.

While it is true that sunlight can help your body produce vitamin D, the health risks of ongoing exposure to UV rays far outweigh its benefits. Compared to outdoor tanning, spray tanning is a lot safer and faster. To protect your skin from damage, get vitamin D from your diet or take over-the-counter supplements.

5. Spray tans are not worth the money because they fade fast.

The lifespan of a spray tan is directly related to skin care. Exfoliating before spray tanning and using moisturizers on a regular basis after your tanning session can easily double the amount of time your spray tan lasts.

Becoming a mom means that your health and your skin needs to go through a much more careful screening process. The good news is that getting a spray tan while pregnant is not only perfectly safe, but it can also be a great mood lifter and a chance to unwind from stress and anxiety. It is no secret that adjusting to a new, curvier body can be a tough task. Getting that perfect golden skin tone can be just what you need to help you feel sexy and feminine.

What You Should Know Before Getting a Spray Tan While Pregnant

1. DHA, the most common coloring agent in today’s fake tanning formulas, typically stays in the top layer of your skin. Because the top layer of the skin is composed of dead skin cells, any cells that are affected by DHA naturally fall off and get replaced by new cells within a relatively short period of time.
2. The main concern when it comes to getting a spray tan while pregnant is inhaling DHA and other chemicals by accident. To prevent inhaling, make sure you are in an open, well ventilated area.  In between tanning sessions, use natural bronze powders to cover or blend in spots that are fading.
3. Because your hormone levels can fluctuate dramatically throughout your pregnancy, do a skin test before getting a spray tan or using any self-tanning lotions. In addition to checking for skin irritation, make sure that you are not bothered by the product’s scent. Some pregnant women find the smell of self-tanning formulas to be too overwhelming to use on a regular basis. If you are sensitive to strong smells, look for organic formulas without artificial preservatives or added fragrance.

Remember that while fake tanning during pregnancy is generally harmless, it is always a good idea to check in with your physician before you make any changes to your skin care routine. Your doctor knows you best, so getting his or her approval can help put your mind at ease about getting a spray tan while pregnant. If you are still nervous after seeing your doctor, wait until you are in your second trimester before you use any fake tanners.