So I'm going on vacation in February and there will be lots of bathing suit wearing involved. What little tan I get during the summer is bound to be long gone by then, so I'm considering doing a spray tan before I go.
Can anyone give me the low down? How long it generally lasts, how much it generally costs, if the results are good, etc? Thank you!
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To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
I had it done before I went to the beach for the 4th of July. I loved the results, but my friend had freaked me out so badly before I went that I almost decided not to go. Here is my experience.
It lasted about 5 days and ran me $30. I used a Mystic Tan brand machine. I was not at all orange.
I was diligent with the barrier cream and really took my time, and I also put the plastic haircover things on my feet. They tell you that once you are done, to step out, and gently wipe, not run, your entire body with a towel. I was nervous I'd wipe off too much tan, but that worry was unfounded. The color takes a while to develop, and basically I woke up tan after having gone to be paste-colored (I had it done after work, about 8 hours for color to develop, according to the salon lady).
I had 3 oopsies with the tan, but they weren't bad. The first was a bit of color that collected on the side of my foot. A few second with a pumice stone fixed that. Second, the inside of one arm had 3 little light spots. My kitty had rubbed on me and kissed me, and at the time I thought to myself that I might end up spotted. It took a little scrubbing with my usual body scrub, but I corrected my color. Lastly, I had a small drip mark on the inside of my calf, from where a little color must have collected behind my knee. I applied a self tanning cream of my own to both legs and it nearly masked it. I kind of looked like apillow crease on my leg.
So, those are my results. I would do it again to kick off the summer, for a special event or for a vacation, but I can't afford the price with any regularity. I wasn't orange and streaky and I was complimented on my color from others.
That's exactly the sort of info I was looking for!
Kind of expensive for how long it lasts (but I should have done it for my wedding!) so I'll have to think about it some more. It might at least buy me a few days to work up some color in the places where the sun usually don't shine!
__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
Sephora sells Mystic Tan tanning products. I haven't tried them, but it may worth trying as an in between touch up tool to prolong the tan, or a travel sized solution so you aren't more tan at the beginning of your trip than at the end.
I should also note that the one application was subtle enough that I didn't feel like I was an obvious spray tanner. All my co-workers knew I had it done because it was all I talked baout the day of the appointment because I was worried, but I didn't feel like I was super pale one day and ultra tan the next. I bet with a few applications I could have been tantastic! The place I went did offer a package that brought the cost per tan down to $20 (5 for $100) but I passed since I was so nervous. So, ask about that. Maybe you can pay the 1 time fee and if you like it they can adjust your pricing. They have to know some people are nervous about the results.
Hmm, do they do partial body or is it all or nothing? My upper body is already pretty tan since I have some weird ability to tan through 75spf, but the booty is white, folks. Maybe a spray tan would only maintain the discrepancy and I should go with a DIY product so I can just do my lower half .....
__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}