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Stretch marks are very common and cause many of us to feel very insecure about the appearance of our skin. There are many methods that you can use to conceal this skin issue, but does spray tan cover stretch marks?
In this article we will be exploring the effectiveness of spray tan covering stretch marks.
Does Spray Tan Cover Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are very common among both men and women and appear as long, narrow lines on the skin. Stretch marks appear on areas of the skin that have been suddenly stretched and can appear anywhere across the body.
Using spray tan can help cover stretch marks and can last for days at a time. Spray tan can create a consistent shade of color across the skin which can help fade and even cover the appearance of stretch marks.
Spray tan works by darkening the skin tone. The main component of fake tan is DHA which helps develop the tan onto the skin. If your stretch marks are older, it is possible that the stretch mark can easily absorb the fake tan, creating a more consistent coverage. There are specific self tanning products on the market that are designed to cover stretch marks although most fake tan formulas will do the job just as well.
We have found a great video by Niki Hobbs that explains the benefits of using spray tan to cover your stretch marks.
Does Spray Tan Help With Stretch Marks?
Spray tan will not help, damage or affect your stretch marks in any way.
When applying a self tanning product, the top layer of skin on your stretch marks can feel more sensitive to the chemicals in the self tanning product. This sensitivity does not mean that the self tanning product will be damaging your stretch marks or the skin around your stretch marks.
Chemicals like DHA in self tanning products can sound like harsh ingredients but this is not the case. DHA and other chemicals in self tanning products are non-toxic and will not damage your skin or stretch marks. This may not be the case if you are allergic to certain ingredients in cosmetics.
If you have naturally sensitive skin, it is best to do a patch test 24 hours before you plan on applying the product. If you start to show allergic symptoms like itching, redness or burning, you should avoid using the self tanning products. With this said, it is very rare that a self tanning product will irritate your skin.
Does Fake Tan Make Stretch Marks Look Worse?
Spray tan won’t make your stretch marks look more visible or appear worse. Spray tans will only cover the skin but will not affect the stretch mark itself.
If you apply the spray tan in the wrong way, it can draw attention to the area of skin you are trying to hide. This may happen if the spray tan smudges or streaks on application. If a lot of product is placed on one area it can look unnatural which will draw attention to that area of skin and possibly the stretch marks.
To avoid these issues, make sure you apply an even layer of tan, follow the instructions on your fake tan bottle and read our helpful articles which discusses how to protect your tan.
Many think that darker spray tan will help cover their stretch marks more effectively than lighter than. This is not the case and will not be more effective. A darker spray tan will work very similarly to a lighter spray tan. This is due to the color contrast between your stretch marks and your natural skin. When you apply a layer of spray tan it will add the same shade to your natural shade as it will to your stretch mark shade.
Darker shades may actually make your stretch marks appear worse, rather than better. By adding a darker shade you can actually create a bigger contrast between your stretch marks and natural skin, making the areas of skin you are aiming to cover more obvious.
Best Fake Tan To Cover Stretch Marks
Finding the best fake tan to cover stretch marks can be a trial and error process. Here are three of the best fake tans to help you cover your stretch marks:
- St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse: This St. Tropez fake tan mousse is last for up to 10 days and has no strong smell. The foam formula is also infused with hydrating Jojoba and skin care actives to prolong your tan for up to 10 days with an even fade.
- L’Oreal Paris Skincare Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Mist: Using a tanning mist that you can spray on is an instant and easy fix to covering stretch marks. This L’Oreal Paris sublime bronze pro perfect airbrush provides a natural medium color tan.
How Can I Hide My Stretch Marks Instantly?
Using body makeup can help hide your stretch marks instantly. This will work for a few hours before it will need removing with makeup remover.
Here is how to cover your stretch marks instantly with body makeup:
You will need:
- Exfoliator
- Lotion with SPF
- Concealer
- Makeup brush
- Setting powder
- Makeup remover
Here are the instructions:
- Step 1: Apply a body exfoliator to the area of skin that you would like to cover your stretch marks. Do this by rubbing in the exfoliator in circular motions for two minutes. Then wipe off the exfoliator with a flannel that has been soaked in lukewarm water.
- Step 2: Use a moisturizer that has a SPF in to protect your skin from being affected by sun damage. The moisturizer will also hydrate your skin, meaning your application of makeup will look a lot smoother.
- Step 3: Apply a concealer that is the same shade as your natural skin tone over the area of skin that is affected by stretch marks. Blend the concealer into the skin using a makeup brush.
- Step 4: Use transparent setting powder to set the concealer. This way, your body makeup will cover your stretch marks for hours.
- Step 5: When you are ready to remove the makeup, use a makeup remover to strip off the transparent setting powder and concealer.
FAQs
Yes! Spray tanning or self tanning is one of the best ways to cover stretch marks and other skin blemishes.
Older stretch marks can appear to look white. These can be referred to as white or silver stretch marks. White and silver stretch marks can be covered more easily by spray tan as they tend to be able to grasp onto the spray tan better. If you have white or silver stretch marks, spray tan may be the best way of evening out your skin tone.
Cellulite is a skin issue that is similar to stretch marks. Cellulite causes the skin to seem bumpy and have dimples and commonly affects areas of the skin around the legs. Just like stretch marks, cellulite can make people feel very self conscious and can affect both women and men.
Airbrush spray tan can help cover cellulite and disguise the lumpy appearance of spray tan and make the skin appear to be more toned. Many people who suffer with cellulite use spray tan to contour the areas of affected skin. Contouring can disguise the appearance of cellulite and again, make the affected areas look less textured.
You can either use spray tan or body makeup to cover stretch marks. Spray tan will change the color of the skin and will be effective as covering the stretch marks for a few days at a time. Body makeup can cover stretch marks for a maximum of 8 hours at a time. Body makeup may need topping up every 2-3 hours whereas spray tan may need topping up every 5-14 days depending on if you choose to self tan or book a professional spray tan.
Bondi Sands tanning foam can help cover stretch marks just like over self tanning products. From reviews of people that have used Bondi Sands tanning foam, the tanning foam covers the stretch marks lightly but not completely. Bondi Sands tanning foam can help stretch marks look less visible but there are products on the market that will work better for covering them completely.
Spray Tan Is A Good Option To Cover Stretch Marks!
If you have stretch marks across your body, spray tan might just be the answer. You don’t have to go a super dark shade to be able to fade or cover your stretch marks. Spray tan can last for a few days at a time. Once you get the hang of applying it in the correct way, it can be an easy fix!
