Both pictures include VERY minimal amounts of the SAME makeup.
Both pictures were taken in the SAME spot, same lighting, same time 1 day apart.
I got lash extensions too, more to come on that soon!

I had my first spray tan experience yesterday! I really wanted to see if I liked the color and whatnot for the wedding (in 30 days!) and for the summer in general since I totally burn and never turn a pretty bronze color. I did my fair share of research and am going to share my “wisdom” with you with regards to big girls getting spray-tanned!

I found that I needed to prepare physically AND mentally. Getting a spray tan when you have rolls or are kind of uneasy about people seeing you in such a vulnerable state is unsettling!

Physical Preparation

1. Exfoliate! Get all the dead skin off your body so the spray isn’t just covering a bunch of skin that’s been ready to detach for weeks. I exfoliate 1-2 times per week anyway, but I made sure to exfoliate the day of.
2. Lotion! DO NOT apply lotion all over. It will not let the sunless chemicals get into your skin to give you an even color. DO apply lotion to super dry patches. It will help the chemical to not gather in those spots and leave you with that “dirty” look. I should have put some lotion in my cleavage area and a little on my neck. I will know to do that next time!

Mental Preparation

1. Know You’re Worth It! Easier said than done, but you deserve to be pampered and have an even, pretty, non-harmful tan just like the size 2 waiting in line with you. Will your body need more chemical than just 2 oz? Yes, it will. But who cares?!
2. Get Over It! If you go the route I did (having someone spray you,) then you will need to get over someone seeing your body practically naked. Don’t settle for less than what you want just because you have large, sagging boobs or stretch marks on your sides. Take that bra off and have her get to spraying…because if you don’t get over it, you’re not going to be happy with your results.

What to Wear 

In the Room: Wear what you feel most comfortable in. If it’s a thong only, so be it. If it’s a pair of shorts and a tank top…so be it. But remember that you will have lines wherever your clothing is. I originally was like, bra and panties- nothing less. I am NOT taking off my top, but you know what? I did and I’m SO glad I did, because I’m very happy with my outcome. Was it kind of awkward to have a rando spraying your boobies? Sure was. But I don’t have a weird tan line and once I got over the initial shock of her seeing me like that, I was juuuuust fine.

When You Leave: Try to dry off as much as you can. My sprayer lady handed me the hose from the sprayer that was pushing air, which was helpful, but DO NOT just put your clothes on all willy-nilly. You don’t want it either on your clothes or to rub off. THEN, when you do put your clothes on, make sure you put on loose-fitting ones. Don’t squeeze on your skinny jeans and strap on a tight bra and a white blazer. NOOOOO. Just don’t. Get it done, throw on a t-shirt and some athletic shorts, then go home to smell like Cheese-its on your own.

The Song & Dance

1. Don’t be afraid to bend a bit. I have fat rolls on my sides, so I bent at the sides to make sure she didn’t leave a spot under them. (Woof!) I lifted my boobies for her to spray under too!
2. If you notice that there was a spot that felt untouched, it probably was. I should have told my lady that my shoulders felt like they didn’t get any since I was thinking it. I woke up this morning and yep, my shoulders were lacking most of the glow! Believe me…you will feel the freezing cold notification of where you’re getting your color!

Post-Spray Tan Care

1. Do not shower for 4-6 hours. Try to make it overnight, even if the smell is making you want to vom.
2. Don’t use any harsh exfoliates or loofahs. This will take the color off faster. Just try to use mild soap and your hand to clean yourself.
3. Invest in a good matte bronzer for mild cosmetic touch-ups. The Sunny bronzer by NYC is always a good, cheap choice! You can use it to make your face blend flawlessly to your neck or touch up those lighter spots (like the ones on my shoulders.)
4. If you need a more “permanent” fix for imperfections, you could always find a good self tanner. I cannot recommend anything you you guys. I am sorry, but I do not use self tanner (yet.) It is something that is on my to-do list, but it seems like a really big task to me! I have heard that there are some good ones out there though, so do some research and I am sure you will be fine. :)

I love the glow it gives me! I might become addicted…..

Hope this helps with anyone who has a fear of getting a spray tan and allll the things that surround it! Anyone else have some good tips to share?