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13 Best After Spray Tan Moisturizers & Lotions: Review Guide

by  Doris Harris -  Last Updated On 31st December 2020
After Spray Tan Moisturizers

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How can you take care of that beautiful bronze?

Can you put lotion on after your spray tan?

Will a moisturizer help keep a fake tan longer?

Today, we’ll discuss spray tan aftercare.

Then, we’ll review the best after spray tan moisturizers and lotions.

Before we go any further, though, there is one thing you need to know.

It is essential to hydrate your skin.

If your skin is well-moisturized, your tan will last longer.

Then, it will fade evenly and naturally.

Now, let us take a look at the best lotion after spray tan.

Quick Comparison

If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.

Top 13 After Spray Tan Moisturizers & Lotions In 2021

Now, let’s look at the best lotions and moisturizers for after you get a spray tan.

A moisturizer that extends your tan with a hint of color

The foolproof way to maintain your bronze is to use a sunless tanning lotion.

A gradual tanning lotion will help maintain your color by disguising the parts that are fading.

1. Norvell Prolong Sunless Tanning Color Extender Lotion

Norvell is one of the top manufacturers of sunless tanning products.

They avoid parabens, sulfates, and gluten in their formulas. Moreover, their solutions are vegan and cruelty-free.

This color extender lotion is their top-selling moisturizer. It contains DHA, the crucial self-tanning ingredient that bronzes the skin.

It doesn’t just conceal uneven skin tone and blemishes, but it also hydrates the skin.

But there are a few tips you need to follow so that you end up pleased with results.

The most important is to wait 8 hours between applications. Try not to get wet during that time. It also includes shea butter, coconut oil, aloe vera, and mineral oil.

Next, only put a very light layer on your elbows, knees, ankles, and knuckles. Otherwise, the skin there tends to darken too much.

And finally, wash your hands right after you apply it so that you don’t end up with discolored palms.

Yes, I know that that seems to defeat the purpose as you’re washing the lotion off your hands. I found a solution to this problem.

Use an applicator mitt to put lotion on the rest of your body. Then swipe a light layer onto the backs of your hands. That way, you won’t need to wash right away. We feel this is the best lotion to use after spray tan.

By the way, this moisturizer has a pleasant pomegranate bliss fragrance.

2. Norvell Venetian Sunless CC Tanning Color Extender Lotion with Violet and Brown Tone Instant Bronzers

You might purchase this lotion to extend your tan, but it’s also handy for an instant bronze. It contains cosmetic bronzers that immediately disguise pale skin.

Of course, those will wash off when you shower. Plus, it has DHA to gradually deepen your color over the next few hours.

The relaxing fragrance is called Paradise Breeze. Happily, it doesn’t just smell good. It also contains Ordonone technology to eliminate the spray tan odor.

We feel this is the best lotion to use after spray tan.

It also includes shea butter, coconut oil, and mineral oil and is perfect for sensitive skin and dry skin.

But there’s more to love.

The formula fights premature aging with vitamins, botanical oils, and natural extracts. Some of these essential oils include grape-seed oil, hemp seed oil, green tea, strawberry, and lemon. Besides those, it has alpha-hydroxy acids and caffeine to minimize cellulite.

It firms the skin while it hydrates.

3. L’Oreal Paris, Sublime Glow Daily Moisturizer

Is it possible to find a decent after spray tan moisturizer in a drugstore?

Fortunately, yes, it is. L’Oreal’s Sublime Glow lotion fits the bill.

It’s a gradual tanning product that will give you summer color in only 2 or 3 days.

Moreover, it’s lightweight and not greasy at all. It sinks in quickly so you don’t have to wait a long time before you can dress.

The main downside is that it contains parabens and is long-lasting.

We feel this is the best lotion to use after spray tan.

Make sure When you have your spray tan appointment or apply your self-tanner at home for your tan to tan last longer.

4. Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer

Jergens natural glow takes an innovative approach to gradual tanning. To make sure you get the moisture you need for your skin, they want you to apply this lotion in the shower.

That’s correct, as soon as you’re done washing and rinsing, you need to smooth it on with circular motions.

Don’t pick up that towel until you’re done.

Yes, it’s a gradual sunless tanning lotion with additional benefits to make your tan last longer.

This long-lasting lotion also includes shea butter, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, and mineral oil and is perfect for sensitive skin and dry skin, this is also fragrance-free.

For one, it smells better than a typical self-tanning product as it has a fresh fragrance. The light scent stays on the skin.

Next, it makes cellulite less visible by pampering the skin with collagen, green tea, and elastin. Use the lotion 7 days in a row, and you should see improvement.

Finally, it dries surprisingly fast and shouldn’t rub off on your towel after a few moments. We feel this is the best lotion once you are done with a spray tan.

5. Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk

This lightweight lotion from Bondi Sands smells like cocoa butter. It’s enriched with Vitamin E and aloe vera to keep your skin comfortable.

To prevent streaks, they recommend exfoliating before you use it. Don’t use any other moisturizer beforehand, this is also fragrance-free.

Then, apply it with circular motions. Remember to wash your hands afterward. We feel this is the best lotion once you are done with a spray tan.

6. Skinerals Self Tanner Extender Lotion

Skinerals avoid artificial dyes, parabens, gluten, and animal byproducts. You don’t need any of those things to take good care of your skin.

This lotion is specially formulated to extend the color from a spray tan and other sunless tanning products.

It has a light scent, plus it’s oil-free. We feel this is the best lotion once you are done with a spray tan.

7. Devoted Creations So Naughty Nude Tan Extending Moisturizer

Devoted Creations is known for its indoor tanning lotions. It’s not surprising that they’ve created a moisturizer with bronzer to extend a tan.

It’s silicone-based, which means it’s light and airy and not greasy. It will leave your skin smooth as a baby’s bottom and lightly scented, too.

There’s even a little bit of diamond powder for a subtle sheen. We feel this is the perfect lotion once you are done with a spray tan.

You can also use this as a body wash.

Face moisturizer for after a spray tan

Is it okay to use face moisturizer after getting a spray tan?

Of course, it is. You should definitely use moisturizer as your face exfoliates more quickly than most other parts of your body.

Some face moisturizers contain gradual bronzers, just like the body lotions above. We feel this is the best lotion once you are done with spray tan.

8. St. Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Luminous Veil Face Cream

St. Tropez is one of the top manufacturers of sunless tanning products for home use.

If you’d like to keep your face tan without triggering an acne outbreak, you should try their face cream. It has gradual tanning and natural ingredients that are safe for sensitive skin and also to give you a hydrating skin tone.

It also contains avocado oil and Camellia flower extract that’s rich in antioxidants to keep the skin young.

You can wear this moisturizer by itself or underneath makeup as a primer. It instantly brightens the complexion with light-reflecting pearls and also gives you natural-looking moisturized skin.

The hydration lasts for 24 hours after you apply it. We feel this is the perfect lotion once you are done with a spray tan.

9. Tanceuticals Facial CC Self Tanning Lotion

Tanceuticals has developed a CC cream that’s frequently praised by beauty bloggers and makeup artists.

It’s non-comedogenic and kind to sensitive skin.

There are multiple advantages to using this product over a regular face cream.

Foremost, it doesn’t stink. It has a delicious coconut scent that neutralizes the typical self then, tanner smell.

Then, it doesn’t streak or turns orange. We feel this is the perfect lotion once you are done with a spray tan.

There are no parabens or mineral oil in it. Instead, it has organic, natural ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, mineral oil and açai berry.

Finally, it’s lightweight, never sticky or oily.

10. Neutrogena Oil-Free Daily Facial Moisturizer, SPF 35

It’s time to switch gears.

Neutrogena’s face moisturizer does not contain self-tanning ingredients.

It’s merely an excellent lightweight lotion with sunscreen.

Why am I bringing up sunscreen?

There are two unfortunate side effects of DHA, the active ingredient in spray tan solution.

The first is the odor of the spray tan solution. You can also use this as a body wash.

But there’s something worse.

DHA makes your skin more prone to sunburn.

Hopefully, the spray tech warned you about this. These are the best lotions to use after spray tanning also gives you natural-looking moisturized skin.

You really need sunscreen when you spray tan. After all, the whole point was to get bronzed without getting burned or ending up with skin cancer, right?

So, start with your face. Protect your beautiful bronze with oil-free face moisturizer.

This anti-aging lotion has SPF 35, enough protection for all-day wear if you’re not in direct sunlight all the time. It provides broad-spectrum defense against UVA and UVB. We feel this is one of the finest anti-aging products out there.

Translation: it defends against premature aging and sunburn.

Furthermore, the moisturizing effects last for 12 hours after you apply it. It’s fragrance-free, too.

Body lotion with sunscreen to keep your skin healthy after a spray tan

While we’re on the topic, let’s continue with lightweight body lotions that contain sunscreen.

They keep your skin comfortable and protected so that you can continue to enjoy your bronze.

It’s essential to use sunscreen after self-tanning because sunless tanning products make skin likely to sunburn.

11. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Is Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion okay to use after a spray tan?

Yes, any lightweight lotion like this one should be fine. It’s based on water and glycerin plus dimethicone to seal in moisture.

This anti-aging lotion not greasy, and it absorbs quickly. We feel this is one of the finest anti-aging products out there.

This particular Aveeno lotion provides moisture for 24 hours, plus it has sunscreen.

There’s no added fragrance, either. These are the finest lotions to use after spray tanning that gives you a perfect tan look.

12. Eucerin Daily Hydration Body Cream with SPF 30

If you spend more time outdoors, you need at least SPF30 protection.

Eucerin’s daily moisturizer protects against UVA and UVB radiation. It also hydrates the skin for 24 hours.

Sadly, this anti-aging lotion won’t last in the water. If you go swimming, get a water-resistant sunscreen.

In the meantime, this formula has significant benefits for everyday activities.

It fortifies the skin with pro-vitamin B5 and locks in moisture with sunflower oil. This is the finest lotion to use after spray tanning.

Plus, it doesn’t contain artificial dyes or fragrances.

13. Hempz Yuzu & Starfruit Daily Herbal Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Is hemp lotion good for spray tans?

As a matter of fact, hemp-seed oil is an excellent lightweight moisturizer. And Hempz takes full advantage of it in this lightly-fragranced moisturizer.

It leaves the skin smooth and soft with shea butter and coffee cherry extract, too. The fruity-floral scent lingers long after you apply it. This is the finest lotion to use after spray tanning.

What’s more, it has sunscreen plus vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to guard against sun damage.

What to do after you get a spray tan?

I’m sure that the technician will tell you how to take care of your spray tan.

Most likely, they will try to sell you products for that purpose.

I’m not opposed to that – but you can prepare yourself ahead of time and spend less money.

If you keep your skin from drying out, your tan won’t fade as quickly.

After your first shower, it’s time to start slathering on the lotion.

For best results, apply a moisturizer while your skin is damp right after you wash.

How to extend a spray tan?

A professional spray tan lasts one week to ten days.

Would you like to know a trick to keep the color vibrant and avoid patchy spots?

Then, instead of using moisturizer, use a gradual tanning lotion. It has DHA in it, the same ingredient that’s in spray tan solution.

The DHA interacts with the protein in your skin and browns it. Consequently, it helps you maintain the bronze.

I’ll list a few of those right at the beginning of the reviews.

Body oil vs. lightweight moisturizers

If you’re not sure if you should use natural oil instead of lotion, let me give you some simple advice.

First, I’d recommend following the counsel of the spray tech who applied your tan. They are familiar with the products they’re using.

Second, if you’re a person that usually applies body oil, then, by all means, continue. If it keeps your skin well-conditioned, there’s no need to change unless it seems to be fading your tan faster.

Third, lightweight, oil-free lotions are usually the best choice for most people.

Thick essential oils may make your spray tan fade quicker. (You can remove a spray tan with baby oil and a loofah, but I don’t recommend it.)

Unless you have very dehydrated skin, you probably don’t need rich butter and creams as they don’t add moisture. They only seal in the moisture that’s already there.

Conclusion

I hope you’re enjoying (or you will soon enjoy) the attractive bronze from a spray tan.

If you take good care of your skin, no one needs to know that the color came from a bottle.

Moisturize every day to prevent dry skin, patchiness, and fading.

Use a little self-tanner to keep up your sun-kissed appearance.

And please remember the sunscreen!

Sources:

1. https://www.utmedicalcenter.org/the-importance-of-moisturizing/ The University of Tennessee Medical Center,

2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/moisturizers-do-they-work Harvard University,

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