Spray tanning is a great way to get that summer glow. The only problem is, when you remove your clothes in front of someone else, they might be able to see the difference between the color on your body and the color of your face (and other areas).
This can be embarrassing for some people. Fortunately, there are spray tan primers that will help you avoid this issue! We’ve compiled a list with our top 5 Best Spray Tan Primers products below.
What are spray tan primers?
Spray tan primers is a product applied before self-tanning to minimize the appearance of streaks on your skin due to dryness or other issues so it’s easier to apply self-tanner evenly.
What are the benefits of spray tan primers?
Primers can increase the longevity of your spray tan and reduce how often you need to reapply it.
What are some common ingredients in a spray tan primer?
Some popular ingredients include:
- Glycerin – helps the tan to dry faster and reduces streaking
- Dimethicone – helps you avoid orange palms and feet by giving a thin barrier between your hands/feet and the fake tan solution.
- DHA (a sugar that binds to proteins) – a colorless carbohydrate that is a key ingredient in self-tanners.
- Water – the main ingredient of any spray tan solution, it reduces streaking and makes application easier.
- Aloe Vera – it is an anti-inflammatory which helps reduce irritation of the skin.
- Coconut oil – it moisturizes your skin and slows down how quickly you get a sunburn. It also makes for easier self tanner application by slowing down the drying process slightly, allowing more time to spread around evenly on your body!
- Cocoa butter or shea butter – it moisturizes your skin.
- Sunflower oil – it is a natural antioxidant that helps prevent aging of the skin, retains moisture and stimulates collagen production.
- Vitamin E – another anti-aging ingredient which also reduces sun damage to the
- Jojoba oil – it is a very mild oil that moisturizes the skin and helps with acne breakouts.
- Rosehip seed oil – it contains Vitamin A which speeds up cell turnover to help fade scars, age spots and stretch marks while also reducing inflammation in your body. It also reduces redness of the skin caused by conditions such as rosacea or psoriasis.
What are some other benefits?
This pre-spray tan serum contains vitamin E as an antioxidant to help repair skin damage caused by the sun, stress and environmental pollutants. It also contains coconut oil to moisturize your skin and give it a more even appearance before applying self-tanner.
Best Spray Tan Primers on the market
Our top pick 5 best spray tan primers
1. Fake Bake Flawless Coconut Tanning Face Serum
This primer is perfect for creating a smooth base before applying self-tanner and it also reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. It can be used on both your face and body.
2. Versa Spa Intensifying Primer – Intensifies & Accelerates
This pre-spray tan serum contains vitamin E as an antioxidant to help repair skin damage caused by the sun, stress and environmental pollutants. It also contains coconut oil to moisturize your skin and give it a more even appearance before applying self-tanner.
3. LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer
This primer is perfect for creating a smooth base before applying self-tanner and it also reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. It can be used on both your face and body.
4. TULA Skin Care Filter Primer Blurring & Moisturizing Primer
It also contains coconut oil to moisturize your skin and give it a more even appearance before applying self-tanner.
5. Urban Decay All Nighter Longwear Face Primer
This primer creates a tacky surface on your skin that allows for an even, flawless application of makeup.
Reasons for using tan primers everyone should know
- First of all, they help to protect your skin from sun damage and aging.
- Secondly, primers can extend the lifespan of a spray tan and make it last longer than usual.
- Thirdly, primer creates an even base for self-tanner application by giving you colorless protection against UV radiation.
- Last but not least, primers act as moisturizer and make your skin feel smooth after tanning.
Drawbacks to spray tan primers you should be aware of
- Primers are not recommended for use during pregnancy or if you have any skin conditions.
- If you plan on swimming in the sea, make sure to remove primer before getting into water because it can form a barrier preventing tanner from penetrating deep into your skin and thus resulting in uneven coloration. Although rare, there are cases when primer is not suitable for sensitive skin types.
- In case you have sensitive skin, make sure to choose a tanning primer that is free from chemicals and harmful ingredients.
- It’s also recommended not to use any products containing retinol before getting spray tanned because it can cause hyperpigmentation or dark spots on your face.
- Last but not least, avoid using primers if you are planning to get spray tanned with a tanning booth.
People who should avoid getting spray tans altogether
- Anyone suffering from acne or other skin conditions that can be aggravated by self-tanner application.
- If you have very sensitive skin, it’s best not to go for any kind of tanning because there is no telling how your skin will react to certain products.
- If you are not familiar with spray tanning, it’s best to consult your dermatologist before trying out anything new because there is no way of knowing what might happen if this product gets into the wrong places on your skin.
What does a good primer look like?
- A great self-tanning primer should have colorless formula, be lightweight and contain moisturizing properties.
- It should not leave any white cast behind but it’s very important for the product to sit well on your skin so that it doesn’t get into your pores or form pools of liquid in certain areas.
- The best spray tan primers are easily absorbed and they make your skin feel soft to the touch.
- Don’t forget that a good primer should be specifically designed for self-tanning purposes because it has to meet certain standards in order not to disappoint you at the end of the day.
- Primers also have to go well with specific types of tanner, which means that if you have a certain type of tanner in mind, you should check whether the primer has been made specifically to be used with that particular self-tanning product.
- It’s also important not to forget about your skin tone because if your face tends to get red easily or it’s very pale and prone to burning under direct sunlight then you will need to choose a primer with slightly tinted formula.
- If you are not sure what type of skin tone you have, check out your veins because they can give away the color of your blood which will tell you whether or not your face is prone to getting red under certain circumstances.
FAQs
Q: What does a primer do?
A: Primer creates an even surface on the skin and allows for easy application of tanner. It also prolongs the lifespan of your spray tan by protecting you from sun damage, moisturizes the skin and makes it feel smooth after getting tanned.
Q: How to use a primer?
A: You can apply it directly on your face before getting spray tanned or you can apply it over the whole body. It’s recommended that you start with a moisturizing, colorless product and if there is no white cast left behind then proceed with tanning application.
Q: What does a bad primer look like?
A: Poor quality primer tends to leave a white cast behind, which can be very distressing because it means that this product does not sit well on your skin. Another sign of low-quality self-tanning products is the fact they are often sticky and do not absorb properly into the skin so you might have some pooling of liquid in certain areas.
Q: What is the best primer for spray tan?
A: This type of product depends on your skin tone, whether you apply it over your face or all over your body and what kind of self-tanning product you are using. It’s important to make sure that the primer has a colorless formula so that you don’t end up with a tan that’s slightly different from the one on your face.
Q: How long will primer last?
A: It depends on how frequently you use it but it usually lasts for about five to six weeks before needing replacement.
Q: Where can I buy the best primer for spray tan?
A: You can purchase this product in your local beauty store or you can check out popular online retailers like Amazon where there are many brands offering different types of primers. Make sure to compare prices and read user reviews before making any decisions on which products will work the best with your skin type.
Verdict
Tan primers are definitely worth investing in because they serve more than one purpose.
First of all, they can protect your skin against UV radiation while extending the lifespan of a spray tan and preventing it from fading away too soon. Second, primer creates an even base for self-tanners which ensures that you get maximum color coverage with minimum product.
Last but not least, it’s important to remember that primers can be used in conjunction with self-tanning lotions and mousses which means you don’t have to worry about spending too much money on various products for different purposes because primer will do the job just fine while also saving you some cash.
