Exfoliation is the key to spray tan success!

You made your spray tan appointment right before your big vacation to Maui. Super excited you go to your appointment shaved with baggy clothes and decide to get the darkest brown color! Your spray tan consultant asks you if you exfoliated prior to your tan and you realized you forgot to do the most important step of preparing for the spray tan! Luckily, the consultant was able to offer you an exfoliation service right there at the studio and this saved the longevity of your spray tan!

Why is exfoliation so important prior to spray tanning? The top layer of your skin is known as the epidermis. It has multiple layers of dead skin cells and the life cycle of this layer varies for many people but averages 14 days. There is no way to know when your life cycle of the top layer of the epidermis will shed off. As you can imagine, the spray tan is on this very top layer of the skin. When the skin sheds in the cycle, the spray tan will shed or fade faster. When you exfoliate prior to spray tanning, you are re-setting your epidermal skin shed cycle. This will extend the life of your spray tan dramatically!

We recommend using exfoliator sugar scrubs without oils. The best sugar scrub that I have found is organic lemon juice, organic coffee and organic sugar. Lemons are an anti-oxidant rich in vitamin C and also lightens and brightens your skin. The is especially beneficial when removing an old spray tan and preparing for your next one! Organic Coffee has anti-inflammatory properties, temporary reduction of cellulite, improved circulation, reduced eye puffiness, and smoother skin. Organic sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the environment into the skin. When you apply products with sugar or sugar derivatives, they’ll actually help hydrate your skin and keep moisture within. Sugar is also a natural source of glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that penetrates the skin and breaks down the “glue” that bonds skin cells, encouraging cell turnover and generating fresher, younger-looking skin. Glycolic acid is typically used to treat sun-damaged and aging skin.

If you are not interested in using an oil-free sugar scrub, we recommend a strong exfoliating glove/mitt such as TanGO. The ultimate tanning accessory for the serious tanner, tanGO® exfoliating mitt removes sunless tan easily and exfoliates your skin deeply, creating a perfect base for sunless tan to adhere too.tanGO® exfoliating mitt buffs away dead skin cells, keeping your skin soft and smooth at all times.tanGO® exfoliating mitt is made from 100% natural fibres, and only requires water for use, and is reusable.