Part Two of: What's the Best Spray Tan solution?

Look for FDA approval


The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is your friend. They keep you from digesting poison, and that’s good in my book. If the solution you are looking at does not have FDA approval, it could mean that there are ingredients in that solution that you don’t want to tango with. Sure, you may be fine if you use it, but why bother taking the risk? Wouldn’t it be better just to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the solution you’re using has been approved by a trusted, scientific organization?


Look at it this way: you have two cars to choose from. One has been extensively tested and is proven both reliable and safe, the other hasn’t. Which one would you choose? If you chose the one that hasn’t been tested, remind me never to go on a road trip with you.

Less is more

If I’m going to make a healthy dinner for my family, I’m going to want to find ingredients that don’t have a lot of extra “stuff” in them. Likewise, I try to find juice that is actually made from berries, not 5% juice and 95% high fructose corn syrup—the same should be said about spray tan solution: the fewer ingredients that are in the solution, the healthier it is for you.



A lot of companies out there cut corners by putting in cheap chemicals and synthetic oils, but you’ll do fine if you just remember this: use a solution that contains the smallest ingredient list, and always always always choose a solution that is all natural (FDA approved)—if it’s all natural then it’s all healthy.

Does this tan make my butt look orange?

I hope you never hear this from a client. The point of a sunless tan is to provide a healthy alternative to the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun (and tanning beds) while not sacrificing that beautiful, natural look. When you go to the beach to tan, do you turn orange? Maybe if you have scurvy, in which case you should eat some fruit! Orange is not natural, neither is gold for that matter—your solution should not be coloring your clients, it should be tanning them.


A scientifically crafted solution is made with the client in mind. DHA, the “stuff” that tans skin, requires very specific amounts for each skin type. Too much and your client is orange, too little and they aren’t tanned at all. Bad solution easily tans skin orange, or gold, or any other color that doesn’t look natural; good solutions are expertly crafted to ensure that your clients look like they received a natural tan.


Where did my tan go?

When you get a tan, do you want it to fade out naturally or in big patches? The answer should be painfully obvious. But that’s the point I’m trying to make: if the answer is so obvious, why would you want to go with a solution that gives you anything less than the best tan with the most even fade possible?

Fading is influenced by what you put into your solution. Some companies put oil and alcohol into their products; these work as a powerhouse to dry out your skin and cause acne breakouts. Simply put, when your skin becomes too dry it flakes off in patches and leaves any tan fading irregularly.

Your clients don’t want to look like a piece of modern art, they want to look natural—part of looking natural includes a naturally fading tan. A great spray tan solution fades naturally because it doesn’t include alcohol or oils.

Your clients shouldn’t have to sacrifice anything to get a great tan
Your clients are coming to you because they want the best experience for their money. They don’t want to be inconvenienced by their spray tan, and you want them completely satisfied and coming back for more (hopefully with friends in tow!). The worst thing that can happen is that your client can have a sticky, smelly tan that takes FOREVER to dry and ends up clogging their pores and making them breakout.


To avoid this, look for a solution that is fast-drying. This is just a convenience factor for your client, but it will make a world of difference. If they have a party to go to later in the day they aren’t going to want to worry about ruining their tan by spilling a drink on it or having to be the one person not in the pool. That’s not convenient, that’s stressful. Instead you should choose a solution that gives them a worry-free tan that looks natural and is made with natural ingredients so their skin stays clean, vibrant, and smooth.

Part One of: What's the Best Spray Tan Solution?

Let’s face it: every company in the world is going to say that their solution is the best you can possibly ask for. The truth is though that the best solution is not created by gimmicks and clever marketing schemes, it’s created in the lab. No matter how many gimmicks they use to cover up bad science, a poorly-made solution will always result in an ugly tan; however, choosing the best solution means that you will also be choosing the healthiest, most natural-looking tan that both colors and fades evenly. With that in mind, there are several things that you should be on the lookout for when trying to find which product is right for you and your clients.

Who is making your solution?

First and foremost, you should know who is creating the solution you are spraying onto your clients. Have you ever had a friend who “knows tons about plumbing” come over to help fix that leaky sink and ended up with Niagara Falls suddenly appearing in your kitchen? Would you trust that same friend who now decided he “knows tons about spray tans” mixing a solution for you in their garage, or would you want skincare professionals and chemists working in a laboratory to create a perfect product?

It’s important to know that you are being taken care of, that your money is buying you the best product on the market, and that your clients will be completely satisfied and returning for more. You shouldn’t settle for some Average Joe character who has to prove that his “special juice” is great by drinking it—what does that prove? Sure he’s made a delicious beverage, but weren’t you looking for a spray tan? Instead of being forced to drink the formula, wouldn’t you rather spray it on someone’s skin and see the results for yourself? Don’t risk your success with knockoff formulas and two-bit solutions; do your research, look into who is making the solution, and choose the best that money can buy.

Allergy free--Oil-free--Alcohol-free--Worry free

Safety concern: avoid fragrances!

A good solution doesn’t contain any fragrance oils because it doesn’t need to cover up the terrible smell of poorly-treated DHA, disgusting oils, and eye-watering alcohols; this means that your customers get to decide how they want to smell, and it means that they are receiving a safe, healthy, natural tan.


Alcohol: only fun if in your drinks

Have you ever used hand sanitizer and been unlucky enough to have a cut on your hand? There’s an experience you won’t soon forget. Now imagine you’re being sprayed head to toe with hand sanitizer and you forgot that you scraped your knee yesterday: Ouch. Hand sanitizer stings because it contains alcohol; a solution that includes alcohol will sting just as badly on any cut, scrape, or sore—so why use it? This is supposed to be a calming, relaxing, fun activity for your client, not a trip to the dentist to have a root canal. If you use a solution that doesn’t include alcohol there will be no sting, and thus no screaming clients.


Alcohol dries out your skin and causes blackheads and acne. Nobody wants a tan at the cost of having an embarrassing breakout. If you choose a solution that does not include alcohol, you can rest assured that your clients will not have to worry about unsightly blemishes occurring as a result of their tan.

Oils: great in Vinaigrettes, not in spray tans

You don’t want a product with oil in it for several reasons. First of all: oil isn’t even needed in your product if it has been formulated correctly. Oil is used in poorly made products to counteract the DHA, which dries out the skin (remember: DHA is the active tanning ingredient in a solution). A water-based moisturizer can also be used; but, because it is slightly more expensive, most companies choose not to use it and produce a low-quality, sticky, smelly solution as a result.


Having a water-based moisturizer means having a solution that feels like a gentle mist being sprayed onto your body. It means a solution that isn’t filled with unneeded ingredients, and it means a more natural, more even tan. Long story short, you should always choose a solution with the most natural ingredients: When it rains, does it rain water or oil? (If you answered oil, you should seriously consider moving)