You’ve had a fresh spray tan done and you are ready to show off your beautiful glow to the world, but to finish off your look, you want to put some makeup on!
There are quite a few rules to follow after a spray tan, to ensure you do not mess with how the spray tan develops, and makeup has its own set of rules after a spray tan.
Can you put makeup on after a spray tan? You can put makeup on after a spray tan, but it is advised to wait between 5 and 8 hours before putting on any makeup, as this allows the spray tan to settle and develop on your skin properly.
You do not have to give up your makeup just because you have had a spray tan done, but you do have to adjust your routine slightly to make the most of your new glow!
How Long Do You Need To Wait After A Spray Tan To Wear Makeup?
How long you need to wait after a spray tan to apply makeup does vary depending on the type of makeup, but it is best to just wait the recommended 5-8 hours before applying makeup.
When you have had a spray tan done, you need to wait for 5-8 hours to shower or get your skin wet, to prevent the water from washing away the product and interfering with how it develops. The same reason applies to why you shouldn’t apply makeup so soon.
Liquid makeup, such as foundation, can interfere with the spray tan product on your skin, and this either removes it or interferes with it to the point that the spray tan does not develop evenly on your skin.
Powdered makeup can be applied sooner, but it is best to not apply it before 5 hours, as there is still a chance that it could disrupt the spray tan from developing evenly, and as it will be on your facial skin, any streaks or patches will be very obvious.
Waiting 5-8 hours should be enough, but we really recommend waiting till the next day, to really give your spray tan all the time it needs to settle and develop fully first.
What Happens If You Wear Makeup Too Soon After A Spray Tan?
If you apply makeup too soon after a spray tan, you will be messing with the spray tan product on your skin as it is trying to settle and develop a darker color, and this is a sure way to develop patches and streaks.
The makeup will remove the tan product from certain areas, so your tan will not develop evenly, and it will not look great at all.
You might be dying to put some fresh makeup on after a spray tan, but for the sake of an even tan, you need to hold off for a few hours!
Should You Wash Your Face Before Wearing Makeup After A Spray Tan?
After the recommended amount of time following a spray tan, you can have a shower and wash off any residue product from your skin. Many spray tan products contain a bronzer, which helps to instantly tan your skin while you wait for the actual product to develop.
For this reason, it is a good idea to wash your face before applying makeup after a spray tan, as long as you have waited for 5-8 hours.
Washing your face will remove any leftover product and bronzer, which may have affected how your makeup applies to your skin.
It is also best to remove this residue product before applying makeup, to ensure that your skin is not too thick with a product and your pores do not become clogged.
Do I Need To Change My Makeup Routine With A Spray Tan?
There is not much change you have to make to your makeup routine once you have had a spray tan done and you have allowed it to develop for the right amount of time, but there are some things you might want to do differently, and use different makeup products/shades.
If you’d like a visual tutorial, here’s a great video from Julia and Hunter on YouTube about adjusting makeup to suit your new tan.
Here are some more tips for the different types of makeup you would use after a spray tan:
Foundation/Base
You can use your favorite foundation or base product, but keep in mind that the old color you used before might not match your newly tanned skin tone.
Your old foundation would likely be too light for your skin tone, and you will probably have to go a shade or two darker.
When picking out a new foundation to use on your spray-tanned skin, consider something you can blend with your existing foundation, so that you can adjust the color as your tan fades or as you return for another spray tan. I like this liquid bronzer to mix with a regular foundation.
The spray tan will also add its own glow to your skin, so the foundation doesn’t have to do all of the work.
Lipstick/Gloss
You can continue to use the lipstick or gloss you would have usually used, but you might want to buy one or two new colors to match your new tan. Look for a rose or peach lipstick to blend and pop against your sun-kissed skin.
Mascara/Eyeliner
Use a dark mascara or eyeliner to make your eyes and your new skin tone pop. However, it is advised that you do not use waterproof mascara or eyeliner, as you might have to rub quite hard to remove this from your eyes, and this could rub your spray tan off.
I’ve found that this mascara is the easiest to remove when I have a spray tan. A gentle face cleanser and warm water do the trick.
Blush
Keep on using blush as you would, but make sure to use a color that now enhances your new tone. A peach or a rose would be ideal for this, to add to the glow that the spray tan has given your skin.
Eye Shadow
A subtle eye shadow is all you need to enhance your new glow. Neutral shades, and even some natural sparkles, can really emphasize the tan you have and add to the sun-kissed look that you are going for.
There is also nothing stopping you from choosing bright colors either!
Wait For Your Tan To Develop
Before applying makeup to your skin after a spray tan, you have to wait for the tan to develop, The recommended time as mentioned above is 5-8 hours, but you should rather judge it by the tan color on your skin.
The longer they are left on the skin, the darker spray tans develop. So instead of applying makeup 5 hours after spray tanning, rather wait until you are confident your tan has reached its darkest tone.
This not only allows you to make the most of the spray tan, but it means that you can match your makeup to your new skin tone perfectly.
You will probably have to pick out a new foundation to use, and you don’t want to do this too soon before the final color has developed. It is best to wait till the next day to buy a new foundation, to be sure it is the right tone for you.
Use A Moisturizer With Your Makeup
One of the most important care tips after a spray tan is to keep your skin moisturized. If you wear makeup daily, it can have a drying effect on your skin, so you need to use a moisturizer before applying makeup, and after removing makeup, to keep your skin hydrated.
There are some great moisturizers that you can use before applying makeup, which work as a primer as well. Keeping your skin nourished and hydrated will keep your tan even for longer, and ensure you get to enjoy that sun-kissed glow!
Final Thoughts
You can definitely wear makeup after a spray tan, but you have to wait until the spray tan has settled and developed. This usually takes about 5-8 hours, but our advice is to wait till the next day, to be sure that the tan has developed fully.
Waiting till the next day means that you will not be interfering with your spray tan when applying makeup, and you will be able to choose the right foundation color to match your new skin tone.
As tempting as it might be, you really do need to wait for a few hours after your spray tan to apply makeup, to make the most of the application, and to be able to enjoy a beautiful, even tan!
Related Questions
Still have more questions? Here are some other questions you may have:
Can I wear makeup to a spray tan?
Wearing makeup to your spray tan appointment is definitely a no-no! The makeup will act as a barrier to the spray tan product and will leave you with a patchy, streaky tan. Remove makeup fully before going for a spray tan.
Will a foundation cover my spray tan?
Whether or not a foundation covers your spray tan depends on how thick the foundation is. We recommend wearing a light-cover foundation after a spray tan, so that the foundation helps to even out skin tone and highlight the spray tan, instead of covering it up.
