Prep & Aftercare
Moisturizing After a Spray Tan: The Longevity Secret
If prep decides how your tan starts, moisturizing decides how it ends. Hydrated skin sheds slower and more evenly, so your color fades gracefully over a week or more instead of patching out in days.
When to start
- Nothing on skin from your session until your first rinse.
- After the first rinse: moisturize morning and night, every day.
- Pay extra attention to elbows, knees, ankles, and hands — they dry fastest and fade first.
What to use
- Simple, hydrating body lotions and creams — fragrance-light formulas are a safe bet.
- Apply to slightly damp skin after showering to lock in moisture.
- For a color boost, mix in the studio's Tanning Drops — more drops, deeper tan.
What to avoid
- Oil-heavy products used excessively can break down color unevenly.
- Anything with exfoliating acids (AHA/BHA) — great for removing a tan, terrible for keeping one.
- Skipping days: consistency matters more than the specific product.
Common questions
Can I moisturize before my first rinse?
No — keep skin product-free until your first rinse, then start moisturizing daily.
My tan is fading patchy — will moisturizing fix it?
It will soften the contrast and slow further patchiness, and gentle exfoliation on the driest spots can even things out for your next session.
Related service
Specialists' Signature
$50+ · 20+ min
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Keep reading
Prep & Aftercare
How to Make a Spray Tan Last Longer
Daily habits that stretch your glow well past the week mark — and the sneaky ones that quietly strip your color.
Read the guide
Prep & Aftercare
How to Avoid a Patchy Spray Tan
Patchiness almost always traces back to prep or aftercare — not the spray itself. The fixes for the most common trouble spots.
Read the guide