Why is exfoliating so important for a good spray tan? and how do I do it?
Now sure we have all heard about it, done it, know we should etc, etc. But do you really understand why you need to exfoliate prior to getting a spray tan?
Well, if not, then keep reading. It all has to do with your skin cells.
When you are sprayed with a tanning solution, the all natural active ingredient in the solution reacts with the amino acids in your skin, to create a rich, gorgeous tan. But this only happens on the surface of your skin. It does not penetrate deep through the layers.
Now your skin is made up of millions of tiny skin cells. These cells don’t live long, and eventually they die and fall off. Don’t worry, there are more getting made every second of every day. But the important thing is to realize that they do die and they do fall off.
So if your tanning solution only tans the very top layer, it stands to reason that you want that top layer to be as new and alive as possible doesn’t it? Therefore you need to get rid of all the old, dried up, dead skin cells prior to your tan.
Ideally this needs to happen the night before your appointment. If you have not exfoliated for a while then you might like to do it a couple of nights in a row leading up to your tan. Pay particular attention to rough areas of skin like the tops of your feet, heels, ankles, elbows, knuckles etc. These areas lose skin cells very quickly.
IMPORTANT:
So now you understand why it’s important to exfoliate prior to your appointment, you now need to know that not all exfoliating treatments are the same. What I do want you to realize, is that some exfoliating foams, gels and treatments contain oils.
Now in case you have not realized it yet, oils on your skin are bad for your spray on tan. Why you might ask? Well simply because they stop the tanning solution from properly reaching your skin cells. In areas where there might be less oil on your skin, you might find that your tan looks ok, whereas areas with a lot of oil might not tan at all. As you can imagine this results in a blotchy tan!
So to avoid a tanning disaster, I recommend that you use an exfoliator with no oil. You can make your own using brown sugar and oatmeal and a nubby cloth. Or you could invest in a loofah or exfoliating mitt. These are available at the Dollar Store or I also carry some higher end ones for between $5 and $10 each. Use your exfoliant in the shower and use it all over paying particular attention to elbows, knees, ankles, and backs of arms.
So remember, you must get rid of the old skin cells prior to your appointment by thoroughly exfoliating your entire body, and do not use an exfoliant that
contains any type of oil.
A fresh shower right before your spray tan to remove any body oils is helpful also.
Well, if not, then keep reading. It all has to do with your skin cells.
When you are sprayed with a tanning solution, the all natural active ingredient in the solution reacts with the amino acids in your skin, to create a rich, gorgeous tan. But this only happens on the surface of your skin. It does not penetrate deep through the layers.
Now your skin is made up of millions of tiny skin cells. These cells don’t live long, and eventually they die and fall off. Don’t worry, there are more getting made every second of every day. But the important thing is to realize that they do die and they do fall off.
So if your tanning solution only tans the very top layer, it stands to reason that you want that top layer to be as new and alive as possible doesn’t it? Therefore you need to get rid of all the old, dried up, dead skin cells prior to your tan.
Ideally this needs to happen the night before your appointment. If you have not exfoliated for a while then you might like to do it a couple of nights in a row leading up to your tan. Pay particular attention to rough areas of skin like the tops of your feet, heels, ankles, elbows, knuckles etc. These areas lose skin cells very quickly.
IMPORTANT:
So now you understand why it’s important to exfoliate prior to your appointment, you now need to know that not all exfoliating treatments are the same. What I do want you to realize, is that some exfoliating foams, gels and treatments contain oils.
Now in case you have not realized it yet, oils on your skin are bad for your spray on tan. Why you might ask? Well simply because they stop the tanning solution from properly reaching your skin cells. In areas where there might be less oil on your skin, you might find that your tan looks ok, whereas areas with a lot of oil might not tan at all. As you can imagine this results in a blotchy tan!
So to avoid a tanning disaster, I recommend that you use an exfoliator with no oil. You can make your own using brown sugar and oatmeal and a nubby cloth. Or you could invest in a loofah or exfoliating mitt. These are available at the Dollar Store or I also carry some higher end ones for between $5 and $10 each. Use your exfoliant in the shower and use it all over paying particular attention to elbows, knees, ankles, and backs of arms.
So remember, you must get rid of the old skin cells prior to your appointment by thoroughly exfoliating your entire body, and do not use an exfoliant that
contains any type of oil.
A fresh shower right before your spray tan to remove any body oils is helpful also.
