Spray Tan Aftercare: Ingredients to Avoid & What to Use Instead
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Your flawless spray tan doesn’t stop when you leave our studio — what you do at home matters just as much! The wrong skincare products can make your glow fade unevenly or too quickly. At Bronze & Beyond in St. Cloud, we want you to enjoy your tan for the full 7–10 days. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on spray tan safe products, based on recommendations from industry experts like XTan Sunless and Sunless Store.
Follow these tips and you’ll keep your glow even and beautiful all week long.
Ingredients to Avoid After a Spray Tan
Certain ingredients can strip your tan or cause it to fade patchy. Here are the most important ones to watch for:
1. Alcohol-Based Products
Ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, SD alcohol 40, and other “simple” alcohols dry out the skin and strip color (Sunless Store). These are often found in toners, astringents, hand sanitizers, and some perfumes.
What to do instead: Look for alcohol-free formulas and spray perfume on clothing, not skin.
2. Mineral Oil, Petroleum & Paraffins
These occlusive ingredients sit on top of your skin, breaking down the tan in the outer layer and causing an uneven fade (XTan Sunless, Sunless Store).
What to do instead: Choose water-based moisturizers with nourishing botanical oils like Jojoba and Sunflower oil, and gentle oil-free body washes.
3. Sulfates & Harsh Soaps
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and bar soaps strip natural oils and accelerate fading (XTan Sunless).
What to do instead: Use sulfate-free body washes. Our team can recommend spray tan safe cleansers we trust.
4. Harsh Physical or Chemical Exfoliants
Body scrubs, loofahs, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and retinoids all promote skin cell turnover (Sunless Store). That’s great for prepping before your tan — but not after.
What to do instead: Wait until you’re ready to remove your tan before resuming exfoliation or retinol use.
5. High-Strength Vitamin C (Face Products)
Vitamin C is amazing for brightening skin, but it can cause your facial tan to fade faster because it increases cell turnover.
What to do instead: Continue using it if you love it — but top up your glow with our face tan water between appointments to keep your color even.
Ingredients That Are Spray-Tan Safe
The good news: many skincare ingredients help keep your skin smooth and your tan looking even. Here’s what to look for:
- Hyaluronic Acid: A hydrating superstar that attracts water to the skin and helps your tan fade evenly (Sunless Store).
- Aloe Vera & Glycerin: Soothing and hydrating, perfect for dry or sensitive skin.
- Shea Butter & and other botanical oils like Jojoba, Grapeseed, and Sunflower Oil: Deeply nourishing, just choose lotions labeled as spray-tan safe and free of mineral oil.
- Fragrance (Lightly Scented): Totally fine as long as it doesn’t contain alcohol or harsh additives.
When & How to Moisturize
Moisturizing is one of the most important parts of spray tan aftercare. Here’s what we recommend at Bronze & Beyond:
- Start moisturizing right after your first rinse — this locks in hydration and keeps your skin soft.
- Apply twice daily if your skin feels dry. Hydrated skin = longer-lasting tan.
- Use our Tan Extend Lotion beginning on day 2 to add extra DHA and prolong your glow.
- Always choose products labeled spray-tan safe — no mineral oil, no harsh alcohols, no strong exfoliants.
Quick Product Label Checklist
When shopping for body lotion, wash, or sunscreen after your tan, look for:
✅ Sulfate-free
✅ Alcohol-free
✅ Oil-free or water-based
✅ No mineral oil, petrolatum, or paraffins
And avoid:
❌ Harsh bar soaps
❌ Alcohol-heavy perfumes or toners
❌ Heavy oil-based moisturizers
❌ Strong AHAs, BHAs, and retinoids
The Bottom Line
Your tan is a team effort — we provide the perfect application, and you protect it with the right products. By avoiding alcohols, mineral oils, sulfates, and harsh exfoliants — and choosing hydrating, spray-tan-safe ingredients — you’ll keep your St. Cloud spray tan glowing beautifully all week long.
Not sure what to buy? We stock spray-tan safe moisturizers, cleansers, and tan extenders right here in the studio so you can grab what you need before you leave your appointment and hello to a radiant glow, book your appointment today.
Your journey to a sun-kissed glow starts here. Embrace the beauty of spray tanning and let your confidence shine!