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You look fabulous.
Now, how do you keep that beautiful color as long as possible?
What should you avoid after a spray tan? And what should you use for your first shower?
Today, I’ll review the best after spray tan body washes and soaps.
You’ll learn how to extend your tan with the right bath soap.
Contents
Let’s get the language right so that there’s no mistake.
Soap and body wash are technically different things.
When I say soap, I mean bars of soap. Those are what you want to avoid.
Using bar soap after a spray tan is a sure way to wreck your bronze.
You need to use a tan-extending body wash instead (1).
I’ll explain why.
Here’s an important question to ask when you set up an appointment to prepare for your first spray tan.
Find out what the salon recommends you use for your first shower after spray tanning. Get their advice on the type of body wash they prefer.
They may mention brands, but what really matters is the formula.
Stick to translucent body washes – gels that are not creamy or milky. It doesn’t matter if they are colored, just that you can see through them.
Those that create less foam are better, especially for your face.
What you’re looking for are low-pH cleansers that aren’t rich in emollients.
You’re going to be applying moisturizer, so you don’t need an oily body wash. It would just prevent the spray tan from penetrating evenly. You’ll end up with patches and streaks.
Your best bet is to use a clean-rinsing product that doesn’t leave a residue on your skin.
Acidic body washes are better than alkaline bar soaps because they won’t cause your skin to go orange. Bar soaps are harsh and could cause the tan to fade faster, too.
Even moisturizing bar soaps like Dove can be problematic. They might leave a coating on the skin or mess with the acid balance.
Look at the label. If it says “pH-balanced” or “low pH” (meaning something under 7.0), that should be safe.
If the first few ingredients include water and glycerin but no oil, that’s good.
Finally, if you use acne medication soap, you’ll need to skip it for the time being. Exfoliating body washes are lousy news for spray tans.
So, in summary, stick to translucent body washes that rinse clean. They will keep your tan in top shape.
As for that first shower after spray tanning, you’ll probably want to rinse with warm water. Don’t scrub, don’t shave, and pat yourself dry.
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
Professional spray tans will last longer for a week or even more. You can keep yours beautiful if you pay attention to a few details.
First, take short showers with warm water, not hot.
Anytime you use loofahs or scrubs, you’re going to make it fade faster.
Be sure to use a mild body wash. Stay away from soaps and moisturizers with mineral oil and alcohol.
Then, every day moisturize with a water-based lotion.
To simplify your search, here’s a fake tan body wash developed by Norvell. They are one of the top spray tan brands in the world.
For starters, the body wash is free of harsh chemicals. It doesn’t have sulfates, soap, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, or an artificial fragrance.
The delicious vanilla scent is all-natural.
It cleanses without stripping the lipids from your skin, which means it won’t dry you out or fade your spray tan.
You can even get it in a travel size bottle that fits in your gym bag.
Norvell recommends avoiding all shower gels and soaps for 24 hours after you spray tan.
Skinerals makes sunless tanning products; therefore, they are also experts about how to care for a fake spray tan.
They formulated this liquid soap with organic ingredients like aloe, shea butter, and plant oils. This body wash soap is sulfate-free and no heavy ingredients that could clog pores.
It works well for all skin types, plus it’s vegan and cruelty-free.
Puracy created this crowd-pleaser to pamper sensitive skin.
It builds a luxurious leather with natural, plant-based ingredients. There are no sulfates, parabens, petroleum derivatives, artificial perfumes, or dyes.
It’s pH-balanced at 5.5 to maintain healthy skin. The vegan cleansers rinse clean without leaving a residue.
You might also enjoy the natural fragrance. Choose from citrus and sea salt, among other appealing scents.
Plus, it comes with a no-questions-asked guarantee.
On a side note, how do body washes without sulfates manage to make so much foam?
This one contains cocoa glycinate. It’s very mild and leaves the skin soft and moisturized.
It’s much gentler than sulfates or even Cocamidopropyl betaine. And therefore an ideal choice for after spray tan.
There are times where you might not want a scented wash. In that case, consider this lightweight and refreshing shower gel.
It’s kind enough to delicate skin to wash both your face and body.
Instead of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates, it has plant-based ingredients like aloe and olive oil.
Moreover, it comes in a generously-sized bottle.
This liquid bath soap has a lot going for it. Not only is it cruelty-free, but it’s also EWG-verified.
That’s right; it’s safe for sensitive skin and free of harsh chemicals. It doesn’t have artificial colors or fragrances, parabens, GMOs, or gluten.
There is one catch, however. It’s not translucent. Therefore, your mileage may vary.
It could be a little creamier than you would like. On the other hand, it’s rich in organic ingredients and rinses clean. It doesn’t leave a noticeable residue.
It comes in various natural scents like coconut and lemon.
Hempz makes body lotion and tanning lotion. If you’ve tried their other products, you might enjoy their body wash, too.
It’s based on hemp seed oil with pink pomelo extract. Pomelo is a citrus fruit full of nutritious vitamins for your skin.
After all, antioxidants are an excellent antidote to sun damage. They fight premature aging.
It also has red algae and seawater with plenty of minerals to rejuvenate the skin.
The Bliss body wash lathers away the day with aloe and glycerin. It makes a lavish amount of suds that leave the skin smooth and clean.
You don’t need to worry about parabens, sulfates, or phthalates, either.
It’s a vegan bath soap with a natural lemon scent the whole family can enjoy.
But what if your soap comes from berries? Is it still bad for your spray tan?
Not if you use this citrus-scented body wash. It’s ph-balanced at 5.5, ideal for keeping the skin happy. The right amount of acidity prevents dryness and irritation.
It’s not just soapberries here, either. The formula has gentle coconut oil cleansers and moisturizers as well.
There are aloe, chamomile, and cucumber to soothe the skin, plus shea butter to seal in hydration.
Of course, there are no parabens, sulfates, gluten, perfumes, or toxins. The ingredients are sustainably harvested and vegan.
Eucerin makes more than one type of body wash, so be careful which one you choose. This one is guaranteed not to leave a coating.
It’s soap-free and ideal for sensitive, normal, and dry skin.
It doesn’t have any artificial fragrances or colors, plus it is sulfate-free as well.
It may not be flashy, but this gel should protect your spray tan from fading in the first shower.
For the mildest body wash, you can buy, look no further than Vanicream.
The list of chemicals it doesn’t contain is longer than the actual components listed on the label. After all, there are only 15 ingredients in total.
It’s based on purified water, glycerin, and coconut-based cleansers. This bath soap is everything you need, and nothing you don’t, to stay clean.
You can also use it to wash your face as it won’t fade the spray tan there.
The ultra-gentle formula is perfect for those with sensitive and allergic skin. It’s even gluten-free.
This body wash comes in various scents, including honeysuckle, geranium, lavender, lemon verbena, and basil.
All of them are cruelty-free and dermatologically-tested.
Instead of harsh detergents, they contain plant-based cleansers that moisturize while they remove impurities.
Then, lightweight moisturizers like aloe and flaxseed oil keep your skin soft without clogging the pores.
Why does it matter if you use a creamy body wash instead of something transparent?
The chances are that creamy body washes are packed with emollients.
Emollients are great if you have dry skin because they add a protective layer to seal in moisture. Therein lies the problem.
If your skin is covered with a coating, the spray tan will not sink in evenly. It may look patchy, and it may fade faster because it didn’t absorb properly.
Stick to lightweight washes that don’t have petroleum derivatives, mineral oil, or thick oils.
This one is a good example of a transparent gel-like body wash. It’s based on aloe vera and mild cleansers.
It won’t make your skin feel greasy as it rinses clean easily. You can even use it on your hair as shampoo.
The formula has no sulfates, parabens, or artificial dyes and fragrances.
Dove’s bar soap isn’t ideal to use while you’re rockin’ a spray tan. But their fragrance-free body wash might do the trick.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes sunless tanning products leave my skin a little dry. This mild body wash won’t strip the natural lipids from your skin. It helps keep you comfortable by reducing itchiness.
It’s recommended for people with psoriasis and eczema, as well as sensitive, dry skin.
If you like organic products, check out this premium body wash packed with exotic ingredients.
It has bladderwrack seaweed, spirulina, aloe, and neem, and Kukui oils.
These ingredients are full of essential nutrients for the skin. They detoxify and hydrate while they calm irritation.
Moreover, the formula is vegan and free of dyes, parabens, SLS, and gluten.
The seaweed they use is sustainably harvested. Also, the packaging is post-consumer recycled plastic.
Can tea tree oil affect your spray tan? Not necessarily if it’s in a body wash like this one.
I don’t know about you, but for me, bath time is sacred. I look forward to my scented body wash.
But this product goes beyond a fresh, clean fragrance. It has a delightful cooling sensation.
It’s also surprisingly nourishing for such a gentle body wash.
Renpure makes plant-based products with the best that nature has to offer. They never include parabens, sulfates, artificial dyes, gluten, or put phthalates.
Instead, they use responsibly-sourced ingredients like argan oil and coconut oil. These moisturize the skin without leaving a residue or triggering acne.
This body wash also has natural antimicrobial properties from tea tree, melissa, and sage.
Once upon a time, an American and an African decided to break the poverty cycle in Togo. They created Alaffia, a company where profits empower African communities.
They use certified fair trade ingredients to produce this natural body wash.
It has plant-based surfactants and biodegradable ingredients.
Furthermore, there are no sulfates, parabens, or perfumes.
The vegan formula is based on traditional shea butter and neem leaf. It has a mild vanilla mint scent straight from spearmint and Malagasy vanilla beans.
But if vanilla is not your thing, you can get the same body wash in calming lavender or unscented versions.
Also Read: 28 Best Indoor Tanning Lotions: Reviews & Buying Guide
Enjoy your spray tan as long as possible by using a mild body wash.
Skip the soap and stick to short showers with warm water.
These steps keep your skin healthy and prevent rapid exfoliation.
Your bronze will look fantastic for longer.
Sources:
1. https://www.tampabaytan.com/soap-cleanser-used-matter-spray-tanning/ by Vicki, accessed June 13, 2020
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