Did you just apply your favorite self-tanner and are headed to the gym and wondering, is my sweat going to affect my tan? Well in this article we’ll talk a little bit about how self-tanning products work, and specifically how sweat can affect them. If you don’t choose the right product, and take the right steps, sweating at the gym or on a run can lead to a blotchy tan, or cause it to fade faster than you want.
First, we’re going to talk about the absolute best sweat proof fake tanning products on the market today, and then we’ll talk about the steps you can do to protect your tan all day long.
3 Best Sweat-Proof Self Tanners
It can be really easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of self-tanning products on the market today. There are organic products, synthetic, products with guide color, lotions, mousses, gels, and so much more. So I totally understand feeling overwhelmed when it comes to picking the right product for your skin and your lifestyle.
I spent a ton of time putting this simple guide together, researching all the best products that hold up at the gym or on the go. I factored in a ton of stuff, including:
- Price
- Quality
- Customer Reviews
- Ease of application
- How well it holds up against sweat.
And so much more…
After my top 3, I’ll be going into a bit more depth about how self-tanning products work, and how sweat can affect them. I’ll also go over some tips for how to make your tan last and look great the whole time.
Ok, enough wasting your time, let’s get to those products!
1. MineTan Workout Ready Self-Tanning Foam
Check it out on Amazon.
This product almost had to be at the top of my list. Partially because it is just a great product, and partly because it is one of the only products on the market specifically formulated to be sweat proof, and have lasting color workout after workout. This product specifically is a 1-hour tan formula, so it’s meant to give you a great tan very quickly. You’ll still follow all the normal tanning procedures that I talk about in my advice articles, but this product is made to give you a tan much faster than normal.
Although any DHA self-tanner will do a pretty good job sticking to your skin if you are well moisturized and keep chemicals away from your skin, the MineTan WorkoutReady self-tanner has a specific formulation that allows perspiration to pass directly through the tanning product without reducing it’s color or causing it to fade. So with this product at least, you absolutely won’t have to worry about it sweating off.
Since this product is a foam, similar to a mousse, it has a higher alcohol content allowing it to dry much faster. It doesn’t have a guide color which is great, you won’t have to worry about any orange color slipping onto your clothes. This does use DHA, but it is naturally derived, vegan, and paraben free.
The way this product is designed, you can choose how dark you want the color by simply waiting longer to shower (don’t leave this one on overnight). You can leave it on 1 hour for a natural tan, 2 hours for a dark tan, and 3 hours for a darker tan. They claim that the product helps give you a more tanned physique, which I’m sure it does, but any quality self-tanning product will do the same.
Overall, this is a great self-tanner if you’re looking for something that will last in the short-term against your workouts. However, as we’ll talk about in the guide below, any quality fake tanning product can last in the long term if you take the right steps.
If you want to give the MineTan workout ready self-tanner a try, you can pick it up on Amazon.
2. St. Tropez Self-Tan Bronzing Mousse
Check it out on Amazon.
This self-tanner from St. Tropez is not specifically formulated to survive your workouts like the previous product. However, this falls under the category of very high-quality self-tanner that dries fast and lasts extremely well. I’ve also personally found (since it is probably my current favorite self-tanner) that it holds up extremely well to regular workouts.
St. Tropez makes some really high-quality fake tanning products, and this is no exception. You can get essentially the same product in darker shades if that’s what you’re looking for, but I personally like this classic edition. Since it is a mousse, it does dry extremely fast which I like and is great if you need to get straight on with your day. I found it to really streak free and produced a great tan. I also like that all of St. Tropez products are paraben, sulfate, and phthalate free and have 100% naturally-derived DHA.
As far as being a sweat proof sunless tanning product, I just found that this product lasted really well through consistent workouts with plenty of sweat produced. I found that some cheaper self-tanning products (especially ones with guide color) can get a bit streaky and blotchy if you hop in the water or spend more than a few minutes on a treadmill. It’s easy to apply and lasts really well, so give it a try!
3. Miami Gorgeous Self-Tanning Mousse
Check it out on Amazon.
This product from Miami Gorgeous is one of the most popular sunless tanning products on Amazon, and you’ll probably find that it’s for good reason. Like the others, it is a mousse, so expect a fast drying time. It smells amazing (in fact it made my list of the best smelling self-tanning products) because it’s infused with Argan oil and Coconut oil, which also leaves your skin feeling fantastic.
The DHA they use is completely organic and produces a rich, deep, natural looking tan that I found lasted really well. It’s completely gluten and paraben free and I found that it didn’t produce any streaks or orange color.
With this tan and the previous one, I’d suggest letting it work overnight, and then doing your shower and moisturizing routine in the morning. This will allow the tan to fully set in and develop. After this, you should be more than good to go get a workout in and not worry at all about sweat affecting your tan.
This product is really easy to apply and use and does a great job whether your a fitness junkie or just like to get your daily sweat on. If you’re looking to give it a try, the best place to pick some up is on Amazon.
Alright, now that we’ve looked at the best sweat proof self-tanners, let’s talk a little bit about how you can make ANY fake tan last through each and every workout.
How To Keep Your Self Tan Looking Great Workout After Workout
Your decision to use a sunless tanning product is healthy and smart one. You are saving your skin and protecting your body. However, maintaining a fake tan can be a bit of hassle sometimes, especially if you’re regularly hitting the gym! So here are some simple steps you can follow to make sure your tan lasts and keeps looking great.
1. Give It Time To Develop
This one is certainly the most important. Remember that the active ingredient in most self-tanning products is a color additive called dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When this chemical touches dead skin cells a chemical reaction occurs that ultimately darkens the outer layer of your skin, simulating a tan. This differs from traditional tanning with the sun or a tanning bed, because those methods actually create pigment in the lower layer of your skin that lasts much longer.
It takes a while for this chemical reaction process to happen, which is why many people prefer to leave their self-tanner on overnight. Immediately after applying self-tanner is when it is most vulnerable to disruption. Sweat, moisture, rubbing, and other things can cause the self-tanner to become blotchy or streaky if it hasn’t had time to fully develop.
So if it’s possible, try to apply your self-tanning product before bed, and then simply rinse off in the morning. By the time you hit the gym, your fake tan will be fully developed and ready endure a good sweat.
2. Moisturize
Dry skin is the enemy of your self-tan. The tan color lives on those dead skin cells, so the longer you can keep them the longer your tan will last, and the better it will look. This is why moisturizing is SO important (and why I have a whole article on it). Moisturizing your skin before a workout is even more important. This will help protect your skin from sweat and moisturize and keep your color locked in.
3. Change Your Clothes
If possible, as soon as your done with your workout, try to change out of your sweaty clothes, especially if they are tight fitting. The rubbing of sweaty clothes against your skin can cause the tan to fade unevenly, leaving your skin looking blotchy or streaky. So, try to take a clean pair of sweats and a t-shirt with you to wear home until you can hop in the shower. As an alternative, if your gym has a shower you can just do that!
