Wondering if the skin care products you have at home in your bathroom are safe for your sunless tan?
- Is your soap actually STRIPPING off your spray tan every time you shower?
- Is your lotion causing your tan to fade patchy?
- What about my makeup removal wipes? Do they remove my spray tan too?
These are questions that I help my clients work through in the spray room every day.
At SunSpray, I only recommend products that I have researched or used myself. There’s no fluff here—just the best products that I’ve found to be essential to achieving the very best sunless tan.
These are the exact spray tan safe products I recommend to my Perrysburg & Toledo clients to prevent fading, patchiness, and uneven results — and help your glow last as long as possible.
Here are my favorite Kathryn-approved spray tan friendly skin care products, some of which have spent some time in my own bathroom. (Yes, I have a beauty product addiction, please don’t tell my husband)
Why Trust These Recommendations?
As a professional spray tan artist serving Perrysburg, Toledo, and the surrounding Northwest Ohio area for over 20+ years, I’ve worked with thousands of clients and have seen firsthand how skincare products can affect the longevity of a spray tan. Many of the fading, patchiness, and uneven results people experience aren’t caused by the spray tan itself—they’re caused by the soaps, lotions, face washes, and skincare products they use at home.
The products featured on this page are products I have personally researched, recommended, used myself, or seen produce consistently good results for my clients. My goal is simple: help you protect your investment, extend the life of your tan, and enjoy a more natural-looking fade.
New to spray tanning? Read my Prep & Aftercare Guide for the best results.
This page contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may make a commission. Read my full disclosure here.
Sunless Tan Safe Product Recommendations
I regularly research and review ingredient lists to ensure these products remain spray tan and self-tan friendly. The products linked on this page are the specific versions I have personally vetted based on their current ingredient formulations. Please be sure to purchase the exact product linked, as other products within the same brand may contain sulfates, exfoliating acids, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, heavy fragrances, or other ingredients that can shorten the life of your sunless tan. While manufacturers can change ingredients at any time, I make every effort to keep these recommendations updated with the latest formulations available.
Quick Tip: If you’re short on time, focus on switching your body wash, face wash, and moisturizer first. Those three products typically have the biggest impact on how long your spray tan lasts.
Best Soap After A Spray Tan
When choosing a bar soap I look for gentle sensitive skin options. Think less is more here. Many bar soaps are full of HARSH detergents, chemical-based fragrances, and deodorants. YUCK! We don’t want that all over your pretty tan or drying out your skin. Choosing options like those below helps to gently cleanse and nourish your skin WITHOUT STRIPPING your spray tan:
L’OCCITANE Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Hand & Body Soap Bar
A traditional french soap infused with Shea butter and sweet almond oil. Formulated for sensitive skin it’s the perfect bar soap for your sunless tan.
Shea Moisture Bar Soap
A great option if you want a gentle cleanse that won’t dry out your skin or fade your tan too quickly. It leaves your skin feeling soft without that tight, stripped feeling.
Kiss My Face Olive Oil Bar Soap
This is one of my favorites for a super simple, clean rinse that won’t interfere with your tan. It’s mild, moisturizing and perfect for maintaining an even fade.
Unscented Goat Milk Soap
If you have sensitive skin or struggle with patchy fading, this is a great go-to. It’s ultra-gentle and helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated.
Prefer a liquid cleanser? Check out my recommendations for the best body washes to use after a spray tan.
Spray Tan Safe Body Wash
The worst body wash for a spray tan will be full of harsh ingredients like perfumes, dyes, exfoliators, and sulfates. Sulfates are actually harsh detergents used in liquid soaps to make bubbles. When you use these products on your spray tan or at-home self-tan you are stripping off your color and drying out your skin.
To extend the life of your sunless tan choose a body wash that is sulfate-free, clean rinsing, and mild.
These are a few of my favorite sulfate-free body washes:
Bioderma Shower Oil For Face & Body
This bodywash is actually NOT an oil but a super silky hydrating cleanser that works great with your sunless tan. Perfect for sensitive skin.
Love Beauty and Planet Plant-Based Body Wash
A great sulfate-free option that cleanses without stripping your tan. It’s lightweight, smells amazing, and won’t dry your skin out.
Philosophy Fresh Cream Shower Gel
Hydration lasts after showering with a clean rinse and no residue. Gentle on your skin’s moisture barrier, pH-balanced formula doesn’t strip skin or your sunless tan.
Vanicream Gentle Body Wash
One of my top recommendations for clients who struggle with dry skin. It helps maintain your skin barrier, which is key for making your tan last longer.
Looking for a complete spray tan routine? Pair your body wash with one of my favorite spray tan safe mositurizers.
Best Moisturizer After Spray Tan
Lotions full of fragrances and mineral oil can cause a sunless tan to fade patchy. These moisturizers also are not soaking into your skin and nourishing it. They are just sitting on top of your skin. So what lotion SHOULD you use with your airbrush tan? I like lotions that are unscented, paraben-free, and formulated for sensitive skin. Again less is more in the lotion department and the more natural the better. Think mineral oil-free, fragrance-free, and chemical-free.
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
My go-to lotions for extending the life of a spray tan. It absorbs quickly, keeps your skin hydrated, and helps prevent patchy fading and keeps your tan looking even longer.
Vanicream Enhanced Moisturizer Daily Body Lotion for Dry Sensitive Skin
This lotion keeps your skin hydrated to extend the life of your spray tan. This gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer helps maintain your skin’s moisture barrier without harsh ingredients, dyes, or exfoliating acids that can cause your tan to fade unevenly or prematurely.
Alba Botanica Daily Moisturizing Lotion
A great option if you want deep hydration without feeling heavy or greasy. It helps keep your tan looking smooth and even as it fades.
Beekman 1802 Goat Milk Lotion
Perfect for sensitive skin and anyone prone to dryness. It keeps your skin nourished and helps your tan fade more naturally.
Looking for something lighter for summer? See my favorite lightweight lotions for spray tans.
Best Face Wash After A Spray Tan
Sunless tans seem to fade on our faces first. Skincare products, makeup, and makeup removers can all contribute to this. When it comes to choosing a face wash to use after your spray tan we want to stick with gentle, mild sensitive skin-type products like the spray tan friendly face wash options below to preserve your color as long as possible.
First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser
A super gentle cleanser that won’t strip your tan or dry out your skin. Great for keeping your face tan looking even a little longer.
La Roche-Posay Gentle Face Cleanser
This is a favorite for sensitive skin and daily use. It cleans without disrupting your skin barrier, which helps preserve your glow.
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Face Cleanser
A nice, calming option that Keeps your skin hydrated while cleansing. Perfect for helping your face tan fade more evenly instead of patchy.
Your face tan typically fades faster than your body tan because of cleansing, skincare products, and makeup removal. For more tips, see my complete Spray Tan Prep & Aftercare Guide.
Best Makeup Removers After a Spray Tan
Your face is usually the first area where a spray tan starts to fade. Between cleansing, makeup application, sunscreen, and daily skincare, the skin on your face experiences more friction and product exposure than the rest of your body.
When choosing a makeup remover after a spray tan, look for gentle, hydrating formulas that remove makeup effectively without excessive rubbing or harsh exfoliation. The goal is to cleanse your skin thoroughly while helping your facial tan last as long as possible and fade evenly.
CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm
This cleansing balm melts away makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup while supporting the skin barrier with ceramides and hydrating ingredients. It rinses clean and leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable.
Why I Recommend It: It effectively removes stubborn makeup without the harsh rubbing that can contribute to premature facial tan fading.
JUNO & Co. Clean 10 Cleansing Balm
With only a handful of carefully selected ingredients, this minimalist cleansing balm effectively dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and impurities while remaining gentle on sensitive skin. Its simple formula makes it a popular choice for those looking to avoid unnecessary additives.
Why I Recommend It: I love that this balm keeps things simple. Fewer ingredients can mean fewer opportunities for irritation, and the silky texture helps remove makeup with minimal friction on your facial spray tan.
Farmacy Green Clean Fragrance-Free Cleansing Balm
This fragrance-free version of Farmacy’s popular cleansing balm quickly melts away waterproof makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup while leaving skin feeling hydrated and comfortable. It rinses clean and is formulated specifically with sensitive skin in mind.
Why I Recommend It: This is an excellent option for clients who wear heavier makeup or daily SPF. It provides a thorough cleanse without the harsh scrubbing that can cause your facial spray tan to fade unevenly.
Pro Tip: The biggest factor isn’t just the product you use—it’s how you use it. Gentle cleansing, lukewarm water, and avoiding excessive rubbing will help your facial spray tan last longer and fade more naturally.
Products That Can Ruin Your Spray Tan
One of the biggest mistakes I see clients make after a spray tan is unknowingly using skincare products that cause their color to fade faster or develop patchy areas. Many common soaps, lotions, face washes, and skincare treatments contain ingredients that can strip your tan, dry out your skin, or speed up exfoliation.
To help your spray tan last longer and fade more evenly, try to avoid the following products after your appointment:
- Harsh soaps and cleansers
- Oil-based body scrubs
- Heavy fragranced lotions
- Makeup removal wipes
- Micellar water
- Retinol products
- Glycolic acid
- Salicylic acid
- Other AHA/BHA exfoliating acids
- Benzoyl peroxide acne treatments
- Anti-aging products that increase cell turnover
- Keratosis Pilaris (KP) treatments
Best Exfoliating Products Before Spray Tan
Best For: Pre-Tan Preparation
Avoid Use: After your spray tan application
My favorite exfoliating products are manual scrubbing mitts and towels and body peels to help loosen the dry layer of skin before the mitt! Body scrubs that have oils and waxes in them coat your skin leaving a barrier to your sunless tan soaking in evenly. It’s always best to exfoliate and shave 24 hours BEFORE your sunless tan is applied so that your skin has time to settle and rebalance the pH.
An exfoliating Towel or Mitt are the easiest and most effective way to prep your skin. They remove dry skin buildup without adding any residue, which is exactly what you want before a spray tan.
Exfoliating ShowerTowel
Exfoliating Mitt
Prequel Skin Multi-Acid Milk Peel, Professional Exfoliating Solution
Used two days before your spray tan followed up with a gentle exfoliation with your mitt the day before your appointment, gives you the perfect even canvas for flawless color development. This multi-acid peel helps remove dead skin buildup on the face and body, making it an excellent option to use during your pre-tan preparation routine—but discontinue use after your spray tan, as exfoliating serums can accelerate fading.
If you really love a body scrub I like this one. You just need to use it 48 hours before your spray tan appointment or you apply your self tanner at home so that any oil residue has time to fully absorb into your skin.
Alba Botanica Revitalizing Sea Salt Hawaiian Body Scrub
Is a solid option of a gentle exfoliation that leaves your skin feeling smooth and refreshed. Great for prepping your skin without overdoing it. Use 48 hours before your tan.
Proper exfoliation and shaving go hand in hand. Read my guide to the best shaving products to use before a spray tan.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best face washes after a spray tan are gentle, non-exfoliating cleansers that won’t strip your skin or accelerate fading. Look for fragrance-free formulas designed for sensitive skin and avoid products containing retinol, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or other exfoliating ingredients.
A sulfate-free body wash is one of the best ways to help your spray tan last longer. Sulfates are cleansing agents that can dry out your skin and contribute to faster fading. I recommend choosing a gentle, hydrating body wash that cleanses without stripping your skin’s natural moisture barrier.
To help your spray tan fade evenly and last as long as possible, avoid products containing retinol, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and other exfoliating acids. Sulfates, harsh scrubs, and heavily fragranced products can also contribute to uneven fading.
Yes. Makeup wipes can contribute to premature fading, especially on your face. The combination of cleansing ingredients and physical rubbing can remove dead skin cells more quickly, causing your facial spray tan to fade faster than the rest of your body.
Your face is exposed to more cleansing, skincare products, makeup application, makeup removal, and daily friction than the rest of your body. Face washes, makeup removers, active skincare ingredients, and frequent washing all contribute to faster fading.
For best results, moisturize at least once daily and preferably morning and evening if your skin tends to be dry. Keeping your skin hydrated helps support a more even fade and can extend the life of your spray tan.
No. Exfoliation should be done before your spray tan appointment, not after. Exfoliating products, scrubs, acids, and exfoliating mitts will remove dead skin cells and cause your spray tan to fade more quickly.
For the best results, exfoliate and shave 24 hours before your appointment, avoid applying lotions, oils, deodorants, or perfumes on the day of your tan, and arrive with clean, dry skin. Proper preparation helps create a smooth canvas for even color development.
More Spray Tan Resources
Before Your Appointment
Maintaining Your Tan
- Best Body Wash After a Spray Tan
- Best Lotions After a Spray Tan
- Summer Lightweight Lotions for Spray Tans
- Spray Tan Safe Deodorants
- Best Suncreens for Spray Tans
Wondering what to wear after your spray tan? I have a whole article that gets into all the Do’s and Don’ts but this adorable dress is just perfect to wear after your spray tan.
Ready for a flawless, custom spray tan?
If you’re in the Perrysburg or Toledo, OH area I’d love to help you achieve your perfect glow.
CALL or TEXT 419-290-7027 to book your appointment.
As a small business owner, I can’t stock all the amazing products that are available in the world of sunless tanning but I can give you my professional opinion.