I got my first spray tan when I was in 5th grade. Yes, seriously. My family was going to Jamaica for spring break and my mom thought it would be nice to have a sun-kissed glow before we arrived to our destination. A tanning salon had opened up by our house and they had a Mystic Spray Tan booth, so my mom brought me along to try it out. Honestly, I haven’t looked back ever since.
When I was younger, I would spend hours every summer trying to achieve a deep tan. My childhood best friend had beautiful olive skin, and every year I would vow that I was going to get as tan as her. My mom tried to tell me that with my red hair and fair complexion, I would never achieve that kind of glow. I didn’t want to believe her, but after summers of baking in the sun using every kind of tanning oil you can imagine, I realized that she was, in fact, right (as mothers usually are).
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely CAN achieve a decent tan. But unlike many of my blessed friends who are shades darker after just a few hours in the sun, it would take me all summer long to make any real progress. Mostly, I would just get a lot of freckles. So, spray tans and tanning lotions became the solution to my pale problem.
Despite the negative connotations with “fake tans,” self-tanning is actually a win-win situation for someone like me. I get to look and feel tan without the harsh damage of the sun, making me less susceptible to skin cancer, sunspots and wrinkles. Sure, it’s not the same as having a real, golden tan – but it is so much safer and healthier for me in the long run. And after years and years of trial and error, I’ve pretty much tried every self-tanner and spray tan option out there. In this blog post, I reveal it all: what self-tanners I use, how I use them, where I go for spray tans in DC, and what different kinds of spray tans I do. I also discuss airbrush tanning in the DC area, including some places I have not yet been to but would like to try.
MY FAVORITE SELF TANNERS:
For Body:
St. Tropez Classic Bronzing Lotion
For Face:
Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer
SELF-TANNING AT HOME: How I Apply My St. Tropez Tan
MY FIVE STEP PROCESS
- Exfoliate! I like to do what I call a “tan detox” for 1-2 days where I exfoliate (using this scrubbing mitt) all the leftover self tanner and/or spray tan from my body for a fresh start. Even if you don’t have any tanner to scrub off, always exfoliate in the shower prior to applying self-tanner. This helps remove dead skin cells so your tan goes on evenly.
- Moisturize! After I get out of the shower, I apply just a normal body lotion (I like this one) to my feet, ankles, knees, and elbows. These areas tend to be drier than other parts of your body, so if you moisturize them first you will avoid having overly tan feet, ankles, etc.
- Apply! Using a tanning mitt (NEVER BARE HANDS), take 2-3 pumps of product to cover all areas you want to tan, avoiding places like feet, ankles, elbows, etc. St. Tropez is dark in color so you can easily see where you are applying, so make sure you have it all covered and smoothed out. Then, with the leftover product thats on the mitt, lightly swipe over those trouble areas like feet, knees, elbows, hands, etc. Sometimes I use a kabuki brush to lightly brush A SMALL AMOUNT of tanner over these parts as well, if needed.
- Dry! Allow a good amount of time to dry before getting dressed to avoid rubbing/transferring. I usually wait 10-15 minutes.
- Upkeep! I like to use the St. Tropez Classic Bronzing Lotion to keep my tan looking fresh and healthy! Depending on how much I shower/shave, I will repeat the steps above every 2-3 days until I eventually do a detox and start the process all over again.
SPRAY TANNING SALONS IN DC
In DC, we don’t have many tanning salons I would actually recommend. For my spray tans, I go to Palm Beach Tan – not because I want to, but because they’re one of the only places with Versa + Mystic Tanning Booths, and you don’t have to make an appointment. Personally, I think they could be SO MUCH BETTER than they are – unfortunately, it feels like they are always trying to rip you off. However, I currently have a membership there for $84 per month for unlimited spray tans. Because 1 spray tan costs $45, this membership seems to be the most cost-effective option for the frequency at which I like to spray (2-4 times per month). You can also freeze/pause your membership if there are times during the year that you aren’t tanning as much.
TYPES OF SPRAY TANS:
Mystic Tan – When I do Mystic Tan, I get the Dazzling Dark with an Island Bronzer (the bronzer is a cool brown color with violet undertones, perfect for fair skin tones). This is probably my favorite type of spray tan, because it is quick, gives the best color and lasts a good amount of time.
VersaSpa Pro – When I do a VersaSpa Pro Tan, I get Double Dark Catalina (a cool brown shade with violet undertones, perfect for fair skin tones). I will always love the VersaSpa Pro because it’s very customizable (you can do a double pass on just your legs, if you want!) and it has a great color, too. It never disappoints!
VersaSpa – When I get a regular VersaSpa Tan, Level 3 with Bronzer (if you choose with bronzer, your tan shows up immediately but also gets darker over time. If you choose clear, your tan will start showing up in a few hours after the spray). This is what I always used to get before the Versa Pro and the Mystic upped their game. But its always classic and reliable!
AIRBRUSH TANNING IN DC
Luigi Parasmo Salon & Spa: I got an airbrush tan there once, and it was really nice. My only complaint was that my back wasn’t very tanned. I would go back (for a special occasion or something), but would make sure that they get my back done very well. A full body airbrush tan here is $55.
DC Lash Bar: I’ve never been here, but I’ve heard good things. This place is on my list – not just for lashes, but for their full body airbrush tan, available for $65. I would definitely give it a try for a special occasion.
Body Bronze DC: I’ve also never been here but would be willing to give it a try. Full body airbrush tan is available for $72.
I hope this post was helpful & informative! What are your favorite self tanners, tanning salons, and types of spray tans? Let us know in the comments below!
