Hollywood spray tan artist Isabel Alysa created products so you can get that celeb-worthy glow at home.
I've definitely seen an increase in direct-to-consumer sales. So many more people are doing self-tanning at home. Personally, for Dolce Glow, last year was one of the best for my business. It was interesting because while a lot of companies and businesses really struggled, we definitely saw a huge increase in our sales. People want to look and feel good, even if they are just staying at home.
And, then with the spray tanning side of things, especially for celebrities, I feel super blessed to be in the glam squad because the entertainment industry is still going, with safety precautions in place. You're getting COVID tested before you go in. You have to show a negative PCR test and proof of vaccination. I definitely feel super blessed to work. I'm still being requested so much because a lot of the people I work with are still filming and doing other projects.
I feel like if you're new to self-tanning, you definitely want to start with something that's formulated like something you are used to using already in your routine. If you are used to apply a spray on a regular basis, like a facial mist, using a self-tanning spray might be smarter and easier for you. We're all used to applying lotion, right? Using a self-tanning lotion would be a great start to using tanner.
For someone that's new to self-tanning, who may be scared to try something new, my go-to wouldn't be a mousse. It would actually be a gradual tanning lotion because you just apply a lotion. You can use it with your hands as long as you wash your hands right after. Or you can apply it and just even circular motion, just how you would put lotion on yourself.
I think one of the biggest mistake people make is that they exfoliate right before their appointments or they'll take a shower with lots of soaps. You should be exfoliating and preparing your skin 24 to 48 hours in advance and that also includes shaving. The number one cause for streaks in any spray tan or self-tanning application is the razor residue that was leftover from shaving right beforehand. You shouldn't shave right before tanning.
You need to do all your skin preparation the day before because if you do not, your pores are wide open. Sometimes, if you shower and exfoliate right before your spray tanning or self-tanning appointment, the chances are the self-tan or spray tan will not achieve its dark color because your pores are wide open.
it takes several hours for your pH levels to get back to its normal range after a shower. The amino acids and your pH are softening the skin when you shower in warm water. Applying tanner or spray tanning right after a shower is really going to reduce the darkness that could be achieved compared to if you showered the night before instead.
It needs to be warm water and you should really take your time in there, especially if you are using a tanner that has a cosmetic bronzer, which is usually the brown stuff that you see come off in the shower. You aren't taking off the tanner, you are taking off that bronzer when you shower. You really want to take your time and lather yourself with your hands (no soap) and just make sure there are no watermarks.
A lot of people say "my tan is so streaky" and that's often because they didn't take the time to fully wash that bronzer off in the shower. Rinse until that water trickling down is clear and free of bronzer. That's how you know you've fully rinsed.
Your tan will continue to develop for 24 hours, which is why we encourage people to not use soap for that first shower.
Three days after your tan, you can start to dry brush any excess dry skin off of your skin. Dry brushing removes all that dead skin. Dry brushing in between tans really helps, especially at day five, day six, day seven, you're ready to exfoliate.
It's the great to use as your tan starts to fade and you're in between showers. It's a lotion that looks like a body makeup. It has that nice beautiful sheen and it dries instantly, so you're not gonna transfer onto your clothes and it washes off that night. Putting that on right before you leave is really just a quick, amazing go-to that you can put all over your body.
