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You want to look your best, so you’ve gone and got a spray tan. But now you’re faced with a dilemma – what about makeup?
Is it ok to wear makeup after a spray tan, or are you going to have to go bare-faced for a while?
Can you put makeup on after a spray tan? The answer is, it depends! While it’s best to wait 6-8 hours after getting spray tan before you wear makeup, there are certain circumstances where you may be able to apply some makeup sooner than the recommended wait time.
You should wait 6-8 hours after a spray tan before you apply makeup because the moisture in makeup reacts with the spray tan formula. This can cause your spray tan to become blotchy and uneven.
This particularly applies to liquid makeup such as foundation, concealer, etc.
To ensure the best results, you should not wear any makeup to your spray tanning session.
For a spray tan to work, it must be applied directly to your skin. If you are wearing makeup like foundation or concealer, this acts as a barrier between the spray tan and your skin.
The spray tan solution is unable to penetrate this barrier, meaning that when you remove your makeup you will also remove the spray tan.
While it’s best to avoid liquid foundation and concealer for 6-8 hours after your spray tan, you can apply other types of makeup much sooner.
Mascara – because spray tan isn’t applied to your eyelashes, it’s safe to wear mascara after a spray tan. Just be careful when you’re removing your mascara – spilled eye makeup remover can interfere with your spray tan.
False Eyelashes – like mascara, you can safely wear false eyelashes after getting a spray tan.
Powder – unlike liquid foundation, powder is relatively safe to apply after receiving a spray tan. Make sure it’s loose powder and not liquid powder makeup, as the liquid in liquid powder makeup will react with your spray tan.
Lip Gloss/Lipstick – lips are considered a mucous membrane and as such, the FDA recommends that you avoid getting spray tan on your lips/mouth (1). Because of this, it’s safe to apply lip gloss after a spray tan.
While you may be desperate to apply makeup after a spray tan, it’s best to wait 6-8 hours before applying liquid-based makeup like concealer or foundation.
If you have an event coming up where you want to wear makeup, it’s best to book your spray tan the day before – this will give your spray tan plenty of time to dry and develop, allowing you to apply makeup without ruining your tan!
References:
- https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/tanning-products#:~:text=Sunless%20Tanning%20Sprays%20and%20Lotions,-Sunless%20tanning%20delivers&text=DHA%20should%20not%20be%20inhaled,%2C%20if%20any%2C%20are%20unknown.