Spray Tanning Put To The Test!
[ 11 October 2007 ]
Well, yesterday was one of the most unusual experiences of my life. Yes, I deigned to have a spray tan. There was a voucher in an issue of Cosmopolitan magazine offering up a “free spray tan”, which of COURSE I couldn’t resist.
I booked my appointment the day before & the receptionist told me to exfoliate well in the morning, not apply any body lotions, & to come along wearing loose clothing & “thongs”. I sauntered down there at 10.30am & a nice woman led me up three flights of stairs & took me into a little room with a huge black & glass box in the middle.
She explained what we were going to do. She told me to wear a showercap but to leave my hairline & ears showing. She told me to apply the “prep gel” to all parts of my body where I wanted the tan to take, but not to worry about doing my back. She then said I should apply a barrier cream to my fingernails & cuticles, palms & sides of fingers, inside forearms, toenails, heels & soles of my feet. She said she would go downstairs & program the machine, & that it would send out a test spray & start talking. She said that it always scared the hell out of her at first, so to be ready for it!
She asked me which shade I would like. There were three options — light, medium, or dark. I showed her my arm & said, “I’m quite pale, so I don’t want to look like one of those scary girls from the Gold Coast.” (No offence, super-tanned people, but I kind of like my ghostly pallor!) She told me that the ‘light’ application wouldn’t show up much, & suggested I go for medium. I thought, ‘Ahh, what the hell, it’ll wash off in a week anyway’. She told me to use the little telephone in the room if I needed any help & said she hoped I enjoyed my tan. She walked out & closed the door.
It was while I was standing, butt-naked, rubbing weird shimmery green gel into my skin & contemplating this MagicTan booth that I realised — the future is here. Seriously, it is. After all my prepping — & I forgot to put barrier cream on the soles of my feet, damn! — I walked into a glass booth, pressed a button, & it started speaking to me, telling me to change positions & spurting out all this crazy sugar-mist. It was surreal, to say the very least.
I held my breath & kept my eyes closed & tried to remember all the positions. There was facing away from the jets with your hands “like you’re holding buckets of water”. There was turned to the side with one leg bent & one arm up. Then the same, in reverse. Then facing toward the jets. I accidentally breathed in some of the spray stuff, which didn’t smell very good, & idly wondered whether I would have an asthma attack. When it was over — which was quite soon after I had stepped in, it didn’t take very long — I cracked my eyes open a tad & tried to find the door handle. I thought my contact lenses were covered in mist, but no, it was just that the mist was EVERYWHERE. I was so glad I had put my clothes on the other side of the room!
It took a while for the mist to dissipate & in the meantime, I was busy bedaubing my skin with a towel to get rid of the excess. Some of the tan was just sitting on me in weird globs. I used a wet towelette to clean my hands & toenails. Then I gingerly pulled my clothing on & strolled back downstairs.
I gave the woman my voucher & told her it was one of the strangest experiences of my life. She smiled at me & said the tan would last about a week “if you take good care of it”. Their definition of “taking care of it” is not exfoliating, moisturising a lot & not spending much time in the shower. Hmmm. A week isn’t much bang for your buck — I think the tans are usually about $55, so that averages out to about $8 a day. But then, I guess if you’re only doing it over summer (& that would be the case for most people, I would have thought), it’s a pretty good option.
I’ve since had a couple of showers & less of it came off than I was expecting, which was a pleasant surprise. My mother said that when she had a spray tan, after she showered it looked quite patchy — but mine is still pretty solid. I’m covered in cocoa butter from head to toe (okay, technically neck to toe) & I smell like Willy Wonka’s dream woman. I am also really brown, surprise surprise!
Overall, I would give the experience 4 out of 5 cupcakes. A point off for how long it (allegedly) lasts, & for breathing the stuff in. Blech! But it is definitely a great alternative to lying on the beach covered in oil — ew! — or going to a solarium, which, let’s face it, is basically like saying to someone, “Hey! Here’s $100, give me cancer, & make it snappy!”
Now I have to adjust to my new colouring. It’s pretty strange! I was very glad to see that my foundation is still the right colour. Phew!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Tags: aesthetic,
beauty,
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Hey, that looks really good! You look like a modern-day Cleopatra in those pictures! Very beautiful indeed~!
That’s awesome :D My skin is so ugly right now, like a yellow-green-gray mixture xD! Spray tans are expensive, though, so I ws thinking about buying those moisturisings that come with a soft self-tanner…they’re supposed to tan you in a week :P
Btw, it’s weird to think that you posted this in the afternoon; here is 10:30 pm of October 10th and I’m preparing to sleep!
Oh god, you look really good. It took me years to convince myself to embrace my natural pallor (I’m from a small town where it seemed like everyone was Maori, Dalmation, or some gorgeous combo of the two). And now there’s you looking like that! Must be because of the Dramatic Eye Makeup ;-)
wow beautiful skin color and the fact that it’s cancer free makes it great :)
wow it looks really nice, how did it go over your tattoos?
It looks so natural! I was always too afraid to go, but I’ll have to remember next summer & take the plunge!
I’m not a huge tanning buff, but the whole experience sounds so hilarious that I kind of want to try it, just for an excuse to stand naked in a transparent shower stall and get pelted with fairy dust as I strike bizarre poses…
you look great. such a nice glow!!
FRAN – I’ve used Dove Summer Glow moisturizer with gradual tanner in it (http://www.mydove.com.au/SummerGlow.asp) and it worked great.
You look great, although you’re right your ghastly palor is great, but a little bit of colour doesn’t hurt once in a while.
Bottomline, you look great!
Kisses.
I love it! You look fantastic!!
looks great! how did it go over your tattoos? i have a full sleeve and because of that have shyed away from spray tans and fake tan because i think it might look weird over the colours.
wow it looks awesome gala!! not at all orange either!! I think you’ve sold me on one… This will help since I can never seem to make the transition from shirts to sleeveless I always end up with a farmer’s tan ug!
they have a booth here in the “states” called Mystic Tan. it’s the best one i’ve used…and it’s usually about $10 a session. you can buy a monthly unlimited pass for roughly $55.
i love it, but i swear i smell like Lo Mein for the rest of the day (since you can’t shower for 10 hours or so).
It suits you!!!
And I love the dress!
you look great indeed! howe’er, i’m not sure it would be the way to go for myself; i’ve grown rather fond of my ghostly german-irish pallor and, in truth, am rather fond of how my skin contrasts with that of my quarter-maori gentleman friend…
+)
Wow!! I like pale skin, but I think everyone usually looks a tad healthier with a slight tan-or at least some color just to keep you looking alive and active. All of the girls out here look orange from spray tanning, but yours looks so natural! I’m jealous, it looks like you’ve spent a weekend on a tropical island!
Wow- you look great! Like a surfer girl from a FLB novel. Also, on a related note, it really makes your eyes pop.
you look wonderful! will you post how it’s looking in a few days? a friend of mine said it ended up splotchy and orange as it started to wash out.
Wow, you look a little healthier! I usually don’t even show up in photos i’m that pale, but i’ve been tempted by spray tans for some time now….
Question – do you think it hides or shows up facial skin imperfections like spider veins, pimples etc? i would think it would act like a foundation?
On another note, i LOVE your hairdo today! I wish I knew how to create the beehive! (a future blog subject perhaps?)
PASTEY PRIDE!
especially for the sake of better contrast with tattoos.
but i admire you for giving it a go. i know i would never have the guts.
your blog is ACE!
I’ll always choose a ghostly pallor over a tan, but you do look great! It’s kind of amazing the difference it makes. You look so…..tropical!
I sometimes use Garnier Body Summer which is good, but I end up with this weird curry-esque smell… does anyone else get a weird smell from fake tans? Other than the smell the moisturisers with tan in them are FAB! natural and so easy
oh good on you for giving it a go. I have always wanted to try and now after reading that I might take my coupon in and be brave. It looks a great colour on you!
had to add: look at those toned arms, you little gym bunny you!
and hello to the other Gem who commented on here :) woooo name twinsVICTORY — Thank you! I think that is probably mostly due to the heavy eye makeup, though!
fran — Moisturisers with a touch of tanner in them are pretty good. But you have to do a lot of moisturising! I don’t usually use moisturiser on my body, I don’t really need it, so I get bored standing in the bathroom rubbing it in all morning ;D
Nadine — Thank you sweetheart!
vanessa — Yeah, the fact that it is safe is a pretty major bonus!
sarah — It just makes my tattoos look a little bit darker, it’s nothing too tragic!
Stefanie — I am surprised at how natural it looks too. You should definitely try it!
the opoponax — It’s a great thing to do if you feel you need a dose of the surreal, for sure ;D
Hayley — Merci! I am really happy with how it has turned out too.
Juls — Thank you! I like both looks equally, I think.
Dina — Kisses!
Gem — Yeah, it was fine, my tattoo looks a little bit darker but it is really not very dramatic. You should try it out!
Kelly — I love the fact that it a) isn’t orange & b) isn’t streaky! It has self-applied tanners totally beat for those two reasons.
amber — $10, god that’s cheap. There might be a cheaper place in Melbourne, I don’t know if a tan is worth $55 to me, but I really like it! Oh & my one actually smells okay, which is a nice surprise!
Annie — Merci beaucoup! Oh & the dress is Kate Sylvester, I have owned it for years :>
dorkas — I’m imagining you as a very handsome couple!
Courtney — Yeah, a bit of colour makes people look quite healthy. I actually feel healthier, it is crazy!
Lexie — That is a truly lovely comparison, thank you!
carina — I’ll mention it in my daily outfit photos, for sure!
Gem — It does kind of work like a cover-up, afaik it is good for hiding cellulite & that sort of thing. But I’m not sure that it would work on anything — I have some scars which are raised & white & if anything I think it has made them more prominent. Oh & my hairdo = back-combed & clipped up on the back of my head, really easy!
Mickey — Hee hee, you little whitey!
Nadia — I know, it is nutty!
Gem — My arms aren’t very toned yet but I am getting there! Yarrrrr!
wow, it looks really natural.
I’ve thought of getting one done, but I don’t think id be commited enough to pay $50 a week or so to keep it up.
Looks wonderful on you, you suit pale and tanned!
Looks great, blah blah blah lol.
But the real reason of this comment is to point out that you have very sharp looking elbows.
I love how your hair matches your dress. Goes to show that matchy matchy isn’t always bad. And your tan looks fabulous!
oh wow, i thought all fake tans were bright orange and streaky, it looks really good!
you look great
i didn’t actually know they had machines that did it… i have been considering getting it done, but my friend had it done not long ago and was literally sprayed down by a woman… she had to get naked besides paper underwear in front of the woman, and it was awkward… her trying to get in all the
ahemcrevaces.but the machine sounds so much better!
is the offer still running in this issue of cosmo?
Wow, it looks awesome! Natural, too!
This has made me want to try out a spray tan too. But I think I might try that tanning moisturiser stuff, like a couple of people here mentioned, first.
Your dress is gorgeous. And that does sound really surreal!
You look so beautiful! The skin tone contrasts your eyes so well!
Miss Moloko — Mmm, I think if you were the sort of person who wore very little clothing in summer or went out a lot, it would be worth it. But otherwise, probably not ;>
Caitlin Marie — Hahaha! Well, all the better to, uh, nudge you with, my dear!
Rapunzel — Thank you!
nico — Same here, I am totally delighted! Oh & by the way, I bought a magazine named after you the other day. It’s pretty great, you should seek it out!
libby — Hmmm, I don’t know how keen I would be for someone else to spray me down! Though having someone massage the gel into your body would be okay. I think the offer actually ended the day I had it, but you could always call & ask! They might cut you a deal.
Roo — Merci, it is one of my favourites!
Zoe — Aw, kisses!
My god Gala, you look gorgeous! I’m wanting to take up tanning for winter, because I go a horrible splotchy blue-white but am terrified of turning bright orange!
i’m glad you wrote about your MagicTan experience. I also had the free tan from Cosmo.
The lady showed me all four moves and it was like doing a dance routine. I practiced about 6 times before I pressed the button to start.
Haha!-i will probably never forget the experience.
Though, it is definitely worth doing. My tan came out fantastic.
Yours looks great and i love the dress! Where’d you get it from?
You look fab, but I’m waiting to tackle my pallor until they come out with a wider variety of colours. Kali Blue? I’d be so down!
hey ho sexy arrums!
gala: i went out and bought it, and now have about 50 different photos of myself with it! brilliant. thanks for the heads up
Xara — Thank you so much! Yeah, I am really really happy with the result. I am plotting my next one, haha!
Danielle — Oh, cool! I’m glad you enjoyed it as well. It was definitely odd though, right? I didn’t practice the dance moves, just hoped I was doing the right thing… hahaha! & thank you! My dress is from Kate Sylvester, I have had it for years :>
Wendalyn — Wow, YES!
immie — Awhhh!
nico — Yay yay! Happy to help ;D
you have a lovely glow!
i really don’t understand the point of tans and why people would want them but i don’t really expect people to understand why i would want to be paler, i guess!
It reaally looks good on you. You should maintain it.
Blast from the past—I looked this up to send to a friend who’s getting a fake tan for her wedding this weekend. :)
Thanks for your help, Gala!