Every bride wants to look like they just stepped off a Florida beach on their wedding day. However, you might need some help if it’s a winter wedding or your skin just doesn’t retain the perfect tan like you want it to.
Instead of stepping into the harmful UV rays that accompany a tanning bed, try an alternate solution to get the perfect glow. Here are five ways to get the faux tan you’ve been looking for before your wedding day.
1. Airbrush Tan
An airbrush tan is a bit more invasive than a spray tan. While that might seem like a potential downside, it leads to a more even and custom colour than a spray tan. The colour gets custom-calibrated to your skin tone so your technician can create the best hue for you and contour your muscles to give you a well-defined look.
Try to book an appointment for an airbrush tan a few days before your wedding, or a week before if you’re super busy. This is the most expensive option, so you want to ask questions and make sure you’re going somewhere with plenty of experience. Like spray tans, you should try to exfoliate beforehand to make your tan last longer. Moisturize as well, since fully hydrated skin retains your tan for longer.
2. Spray Tan
Gone are the days when spray tans left you with an orange glow that made you look like a Halloween decoration. Today’s spray tans are quick and easy and leave you with a nice even tan for your wedding day. You strip down, apply some lotion, step into a booth and finish up one or two minutes later. A spray with a bronzer leaves you with an instant glow, while the regular spray works in about four to 12 hours.
It’s important to note that you should exfoliate before your spray tan to smooth out any rough areas of skin that could lead to uneven colour. Before getting into the booth, make sure you apply lotions to the places you don’t want to look too dark, such as your hands. Start the process about a month before the big day to make sure you get the exact colour you want. Take a few days to wait between each session so you can decide if the tan you have now is good or if you want to go a shade darker.
3. Tanning Lotion
If you don’t want to travel for your tan, you can use a self-tanning lotion to create the perfect shade at home. Every product is different, so make sure you test different tanning lotions before choosing the one you want to use on your wedding day.
You can choose to apply the tanning lotion, or you can talk to a friend or a technician to see if they will do or offer the service. Just make sure that whoever applies it doesn’t apply a small amount. If you apply only a little product, you could end up with streaks. Use enough tanning lotion so it goes on smoothly over your skin. Your body will only absorb a certain amount, so there’s no way to use too much of it.
4. Tanning at Home
You can do any of these faux tanning options at home. More and more technicians are offering at-home services, so you don’t need to leave the comfort of your house to get a spray tan or an airbrush tan. There’s also the option of doing your tan yourself. This way, you know exactly how much you’re using and can control the shade you want.
This option is inexpensive, since one bottle or tube will work through several applications. You can choose a shade that’s a little lighter than you want and reapply it every couple of days before your wedding. Make sure you use a gentle body scrub in the shower, and then use moisturiser on the parts you don’t want to get too tan. Apply an extra layer on parts of your body that you want to contour with a tanning mitt.
5. Facial Oil
Don’t forget about your face! It’s easy to go through the entire tanning process without adding a little colour here. Talk to your technician about the best option for keeping a glowing tan on your face during the wedding. However, in many cases, you can use a facial oil that’s designed specifically for your face and stays on for a while. Just make sure you choose something that won’t come off if it gets too wet.
Start Early
The key to any faux tan is to start examining your options well before your wedding day. Decide what kind of a tan you’d like and call around to see what products and options people recommend. No matter what you choose, you’ll be a glowing bride full of love on your big day.