Glow Tips & Beauty Secrets

From spray tan prep to post-care, skincare, and confidence hacks—our blog is your insider guide to looking flawless year-round.

The Perfect Spray Tan for Your Wedding in 6 Simple Steps

The centerpieces are put together. The seating chart is finished. Everything is in place for your wedding day to be as spectacular as it should be. You’ve been meticulous about everything and no detail will be missed.

Your wedding spray tan should be just as perfect.

Wedding Spray Tan Tips

Here’s how to say yes to the spray tan before your wedding without becoming a horror story of your own. Because you should be glowing on your wedding day in more ways than one:

Find a reputable salon

Getting a spray tan before your wedding day should be a fun, carefree way to enhance your natural glow. And step one has never been simpler than it is in this day and age. Most people are more likely to share negative feedback than positive, helping you weed out the salons to avoid. Positive reviews are a great reflection on the quality of service and commitment to detail as well. Ask friends and family for recommendations to find a professional salon with trained bridal tanning specialists.

Carefully mind the instructions

The tanning salon is not the place to be bride-zilla. Since you’ve done your homework and found a trained specialist, let them do their job with your wedding spray tan. Chances are, he or she will recommend what may look to you like a more neutral color than you’d like. Trust them. They know what they’re doing.

Practice makes perfect

This step is paramount. If at all possible, try to experience at least one spray tan prior to your wedding spray tan. Not only will it get you accustomed to the process overall, but you’ll learn strategies and tactics that work best for you afterward, as well as learn what color and solution is the best fit for your skin. Talk to your bridal tanning specialist beforehand about when your practice session should be. In many cases, it’s best to schedule your last trial run several weeks before your wedding day to avoid spraying over an old tan.

Do all the prep work

Exfoliate your skin a few days before your wedding, but avoid doing it the day of. Your skin on the day of your wedding day spray tan should be as clean as possible, free of any oils, scrubs or lotions, to maximize even absorption. Follow these pro tips the days before, during and after your wedding to make your tan last. The best time to get a spray tan before a wedding is generally about two days prior, so your tan has time to set properly. Finally, avoid using even soap on your tan and mind your specialist in terms of when you can safely shower afterward.

Treat yourself beforehand

This is your special day. Pampering is expected! Get that massage or facial or whatever other treatments you would like, but do so before getting the wedding spray tan to avoid smearing or other negative impacts on the tanning solution.

Enjoy your wedding spray tan

You should be glowing on your wedding day in more ways than one. Ask your technician any questions you might have, but after you leave the salon, try not to worry. Sure, the time is now to follow instructions for after the spray treatment, but that’s why you’ve done your homework and know how exactly how to follow through.

Getting a Spray Tan Before Vacation – What You Should Know

Blinded by the white is not exactly the beach look most of us are going for upon arrival to our travel destination. Defined as the color of milk or fresh snow, white is the opposite of that coveted tan glow most of us think of when we picture ourselves sipping a cocktail and listening to the waves crash against the sand.

The good news is there are healthier ways to step off the plan and be beach ready than baking in the sun or tanning bed for hours beforehand. A fantastic faux glow is one of the best ways to achieve a beach ready look without harming your skin.

Pack a beautiful glow

That is one of a few reasons why spray tan client Denise Marakovitz Trimble said she opted for a spray tan before her latest February trip to Florida.

“(I) didn’t want to go with New Jersey ‘winter white’ skin,” she said. “A couple of days before my trip, I went to Diane at Bronze Age Spray Tanning and she made me feel very comfortable and explained everything so well.”

As a result, Denise achieved a sun-kissed glow that lasted long enough for her to get some natural color from the Florida sunshine.

Getting a spray tan before a tropical vacation requires the same attention to detail as any other spray tanning experience to lengthen the life of the tan.

One of the most important steps in addition to carefully following instructions provided by the tanning stylist is to do all the necessary prep work.

Think of preparing for your spray tan before going to the beach as a part of the packing process. That means preparing your skin beforehand by exfoliating for a few days prior and doing any shaving before you get the spray tan to avoid essentially shaving off the color. The better condition your skin is in before you get a spray tan will make for a longer-lasting tan.

Do your homework

Finding the right salon staffed with quality spray tanning professionals is also of utmost importance. Chances are you did more than a bit of research on the best places to stay on vacation. Do yourself a solid and do the same about the tanning salon you chose to trust.

“As a former spray tan business owner, I’m the pickiest when it comes to color technique, and experience, but Diane (from Bronze Age Spray Tanning) is incredible,” said Valisha Lasker. “She is passionate about her client’s experience and it shows….the best spray tan is the one that nobody knows about (and) that’s what Diane gives me each and every time.”

Healthy Ways To Look Slimmer This Season

The East Coast has tasted the warmth of summer, and with it, the realization that summer season is right around the corner.

When beach season approaches, people everywhere start to turn to drastic measures to achieve the body they want. Whether it’s over-aggressive cardio or ridiculous eating habits, the road to the perfect beach body seems impossibly unhealthy.

We’re here to discuss a different way.

Being comfortable in your skin doesn’t have to be a struggle. Here are some healthy, effective ways to give yourself a look you’ll love without damaging your body in the process.

Skinny Tan

 

Let’s take a look at the option with the lowest time commitment and most immediate impact.

Skinny tans are cosmetic improvements which contour, firm up, and improve the appearance of your body. With a skinny tan, you can cover up cellulite, stretch marks, or wrinkles easily. In a matter of hours, your body is looking gorgeous and flaunt-ready.

Skinny Tan is the first spray tanner that combines a natural tanning active with naturally-derived skin smoothing actives. The gradual tanners and bronzing lotions don’t dry out your skin and come with a magnificent coconut scent.

One of the other amazing things is that Skinny Tan is against animal products or testing.

Skinny Tan natural salon spray solutions are made with signature natural tanning active and naturally derived cellulite active Guarana. All the professional self-tanners have been infused with amazing moisturizers and are free from parabens.

Skinny Tans are excellent if you have an important event or vacation around the corner, and really don’t have the time, desire, or means to begin other time-intensive methods of weight loss.

Use Healthy Slimming Beauty Products

 

Apart from the skinny tan, there are a few common beauty products that you can utilize to have rapid and convincing slimming effects on your body.

Toning/Firming Creams

 

There is a litany of lotions, creams, balms, and salves out on the market which promise to revitalize skin tones and firm up any region you desire. While there are definitely a good few out there that work, there are a good amount that won’t be as helpful as desired. To parse through the products available, you’ll need to know what to look for.

The best place to start is looking at each product’s active ingredients. If you don’t know what is in these toning creams, you’re really just buying off of branding, which is always a gamble. If you’re specifically looking for healthy ways to look slimmer, stick with the products that boast natural ingredients you can understand and recognize.

Two of the trendiest and most valuable ingredients to look for are acai and coconut oil. Acai is an antioxidant that soothes inflammation, and coconut oil moisturizes your skin to be excessively soft and smooth. Additionally, keep an eye out for guarana, one of the active ingredients in Skinny Tans. This berry has a high concentration of caffeine, which results in firmer and tighter looking skin when integrated into beauty products.

Wraps

 

Another healthy way to look slimmer is investing in body wraps, a treatment which is quickly becoming standard fare at spas around the country.

Whether they’re infrared wraps, mud wraps, herbal wraps, or something in between, most body wraps work by forcing your body to sweat and get rid of water weight. They boast their ability to take wrinkles, stretch marks, and even a couple inches off of your body by the end of a few sessions. The level of success can vary depending on the wrap itself, the amount of sessions you invest in, the skill of the spa instructor, and your body’s receptiveness to the treatment.

All of that aside, body wraps generally are fairly effective. They’re healthier than many other weight loss and body improvement methods, and apart from the time investment of the sessions themselves, don’t require much effort on your part.

Don’t Cut Calories — Replace!

 

Perhaps the most damaging and unhealthy practice to looking slimmer is the fasting many women do to achieve their weight loss goals.

It’s true that cutting calories will make you lose weight, and dieting is a valuable introduction to healthy lifestyle choices. The problems arise when too many women conflate “thin” with “healthy,” and resort to eating the absolute bare minimum.

Yes, you’ll get skinnier, but you’ll actually be unhealthier. Drastic calorie cutting is an exclusively cosmetic solution that does legitimate damage to your body and your health. So don’t fall into this common weight loss pitfall. Choose the option that works wonders and shows your body you do love it: replacement!

It’s always a good idea to be diet conscious, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be calorie restrictive. If you’re trying to find healthy ways to look slimmer through your diet, first start by replacing your daily intake with more nutritious alternatives. Even though you’re taking in roughly the same amount of calories, your body will react positively to the higher-value calories that it is receiving. 

Lifestyles Work Better Than Programs

 

The truth is, there is no better healthy way to look slimmer than to embrace a healthier lifestyle altogether. Fitness trainers and healthcare professionals reiterate it so often it may seem trite, but it’s true: the best way to look healthy is to live healthily.

Whether it’s a week-long cleanse or a 6-week program, the processes you use to look thinner and slimmer aren’t going to be forever fixes. Their greatest value is how they illuminate which aspects of your day-to-day life have room for improvement, and they should be used as stepping stones, not antidotes. If you’re looking to having long-lasting change and impact, then you need to reinforce the healthy living principles taught and practiced in these “get-thin-quick” programs and integrate them into your typical behavior.

If making a wholesale lifestyle change sounds intimidating, or overwhelming, or is flat out just not something you want to do, then the above methods are absolutely suitable for improving your look and your body positivity. Remember, it is your body, and you should treat it the way that is going to make you happiest.

Reach Out Today

 

Contact Bronze Age Spray Tanning today to start talking about how we can help you look exactly how you want to for this season.

Three Things To Avoid After A Spray Tan

Sunless spray tans provide a variety of benefits over natural or bed tanning. To get the best results from your investment, you’ll need to nurture the color after you leave the salon.

Developing your color to its fullest potential takes a little bit of caution and care. Follow these guidelines to ensure you get the most mileage and the deepest glow out of your sunless spray tanning experience.

Take A Break From The Gym

It’s recommended to stay off the treadmill for at least 12 hours after you leave the salon. The newer the tan, the more vulnerable it is, and sweating can lead to unwanted streaking.

If you consider yourself a gym rat, try and get a great workout in before your tan. This way, your workout and tanning recovery times can overlap. If you just can’t stop yourself from exercising, some light yoga and stretching can satisfy your activity craving while doing minimal damage to your tan.

Limit Shower Time

In the same vein as sweat, extended hot showers can lead to your tan’s lifespan being vastly shorter than you want. Limit your time under the showerhead, and stay in the mild to cool water temperatures to minimize the effect it will have on your glow. Try not to wash your hands excessively either; to still stay hygienic, use baby wipes instead.

Be sure to avoid using shower products. Loofahs, washcloths, brushes, and body washes with microbeads are all going to hasten the tan’s departure.

Your first shower after your spray tan will likely result in a puddle of colored water around your drain, but this is normal. As you leave the shower, make sure to pat yourself dry with the towel, don’t rub. When your tan begins to fade, all these items and methods will be great removal and cleansing tools to get you ready for your next tan. But for the first few days, it’s best to stay away.

Tight Clothes

While you can’t prevent some of the color coming off on your clothes, you can minimize it.

For the first day after your session, you’ll want to give the tan as much room to breathe and settle uninterrupted. Since you’ll need to wear something, we recommend throwing on your cutest dark-colored outfits.

The darker shades will hide any bronzer that will rub off on clothing. This means leggings, jeans, bras or tank tops can lead to earlier fading. Maintain a comfortable, loose wardrobe until 24 hours or so has passed since your session.

Talk To Your Tanning Technician

The good news is the cosmetic bronzer used at Bronze Age Spray Tanning is water soluble, so what does come off should not stain your clothes or linens (excluding leather, silk, lace, nylon, and spandex). If you have any other questions, simply ask Diane for advice. There’s no better resource than a successful tanning veteran.

Following these rules isn’t the hassle it may appear to be. You can abide by all these guidelines doing one simple activity: spend the day watching Netflix. Your tan will thank you.

Three spray tanned women in bathing suits holding a cocktail

Girls Get-Aways, Good for Your Health?

Going on a trip is always a good thing. It rejuvenates your mind and spirit, especially if you’ve been stressed at work lately.

If you’re not planning a vacation already, you should begin to prepare for a girls’ get-away sometime soon. It could be a quick weekend breather or a weeks-long tour somewhere abroad. Before your trip, you can even meet up and go for a group spray tanning session to ensure that everyone is camera-ready. After all, you’ll be making memories, and you must look your best.

Glorious Getaways Travel believes that time away with your girlfriends can be all the therapy you need. Don’t believe us? Or maybe you feel guilty getting away for a few days. Get-aways do wonders for your overall well-being. Here are some things that science tells us they’re good for your health:

Release Happy Hormones

Happy hormones like endorphins, oxytocin, and dopamine are released when you feel good. They can positively affect your overall health by reducing stress and improving your mood. Positive social bonding experiences, like girls’ get-aways, allow you to relax and have fun with friends, which can regulate your emotions and keep stress at bay.

Maintain Long-Term Friendships

It’s no secret that spending time with your girlfriends is good for the soul. There’s nothing like being able to laugh until you cry, share secrets, and ultimately be yourself.

But did you know that maintaining long-term friendships is also good for your health? Maintaining long-term friendships is linked with a lower risk of developing health problems, including cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.

Moreover, forging friendships later in life benefits better physical and psychological health. As such, get planning with your girls for your next get-away.

Create New Memories

Going on a trip creates new memories for you to look back on. These memories can help keep you sane, especially during challenging situations in your life. They also remind you of the people who genuinely love you and are rooting for you.

Making happy memories reinforces your sense of identity and purpose. Joyful past experiences are crucial for your present happiness.

Experience New Things

Vacations help you relax, recharge and escape the everyday stresses of life. They also allow you to step out of your comfort zone and do things you don’t usually do during your daily grind.

People who experience a variety of activities are more likely to have better memory function. This is because new experiences lead to new neural pathways in the brain. As a result, these new pathways allow for better communication between different brain areas, leading to improved memory and cognitive function.

Have Something to Look Forward to

Have you ever experienced planning your vacation and counting the days until your trip? Did you feel a sense of invigoration as you look forward to taking time off from work? Having something to look forward to can be good for your health.

People with something to look forward to are more likely to take care of their health through regular screenings and vaccinations. You can keep yourself healthy by planning get-aways with your girlfriends and having the time of your life.

Takeaway

Girls’ getaways allow you to take a breather from work and spend time with your girls. Vacations with your closest friends help release happy hormones that promote better sleep and an improved mood. Moreover, you get to stay updated with them and create new memories through new experiences. You’ll also have something to look forward to as you count the days leading up to your trip. And don’t forget, when you look good, you feel good. Make sure you and your friends book a spray tanning session before your get-away!

Woman with a questioning look

Top 4 Questions About Spray Tans

We’re sure you’re planning to have the best beach body look ready before hitting the waves. Then the idea of spray tanning comes to mind. With all the hype surrounding sunless tanning, you can’t help but ask: “Is it worth it?”

We address that and the top 4 FAQs of spray tanning in this quick blog post.

Can I Get a Spray Tan and Still Work on a Natural Tan?

Yes. But you can’t expect that you’ll be protected from common summer skin issues like getting a sunburn! The solution does not contain sunscreen protection, so you should apply sunscreen accordingly. Spray tans do not protect you from skin damage, so it would be best if you still did things like:

  • Applying an SPF cream every two hours
  • Wearing a hat
  • Sitting in a shaded area
  • Not staying outside in the sun for too long

What Time of the Day Should I Get a Spray Tan?

There is no “right” time for a spray tan, and it’s really up to you when you’d like to do it. But there are a few things that you have to remember before making your choice.

If you plan to get your spray tan during the day, we suggest doing your workout, doing dishes, and taking a shower before it. Otherwise, the tan might wash off! If you want to wash your hands, you’ll have to use a wipe on your palms instead of soap and water.

You also might not want to go to bed immediately after doing it for those who want to spray tan at night. Your tan will start developing in 2- 3 hours but takes 24-36 hours to develop fully. After all, no one wants to stain their bedsheets brown! You can spend some time drying yourself out and watching TV before crawling into your bed.

Will I Smell Funny After a Spray Tan?

Most people are concerned about strange smells after spray tans, and it makes sense. After all, you don’t want your new look to be ruined by a gross smell! Our spray tan solution is light and refreshing and doesn’t get in the way. A spray tan by Bronze Age is miles better than what you’d get in a booth and very different than the store-bought spray tans, which can be stinky. At Bronze Age Spray Tanning, we make sure you’ll still smell good even after a spray tan.

Will Airbrushing Make My Spray Tan Blotchy?

The answer depends on whether you followed pre-care instructions. Following these instructions will save you from many headaches.

Before doing airbrush spray tanning, one thing to remember is that you need to exfoliate properly. This is especially true when you have an existing spray tan on your skin. Get yourself a good exfoliating mitt to get rid of the old spray tan. If you didn’t spray tan before, it’s okay to use a gentle exfoliant rubbed through a washcloth or scrub. Take a shower and shave before going to your spray tanning appointment. It’s also wise not to apply a lotion before your spray tan.

Have any other questions? Check out our FAQs page. Don’t hesitate to contact us for all your spray tanning needs.

JUST A FEW QUICK THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE YOU BOOK!

Finding Us: We are a home-based studio, so don’t worry if your GPS seems to be taking you to a residential neighborhood because it is! Just enter “6 Stanley Drive, Monroe Township” or “Bronze Age Spray Tanning,” look for our sign on the lawn and come to the front door. All appointments, regardless of who you are booked with (Diane, Alyssa or Helen) are taken here.

Bonus: Waiting to greet you at the front door will be two very special “employees” who can’t wait to become your new best friends: Rigatoni (our wiener dog/hound mix) + his golden retriever brother Alfredo. However, if you aren’t in the market for any new friends, have allergies or simply prefer a pup-free experience, no worries! Just let us know, and we’ll happily relocate them to their VIP lounge (aka another room).

Cancellations: We do require a credit card to hold your appointment, but it’s only charged if you are a no-call, no-show to your appointment. We understand life happens and kindly ask that you give us at least 12 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule, and we’ll do everything we can to accommodate you.

Appointments: Can’t decide which tan to choose? No problem! Every appointment starts with a personalized skin consultation where we’ll help you achieve the perfect bronze glow. So go ahead and book any option, because it can always be changed. Feel free to browse all of our options on the Bronze Age homepage if you’d like to explore beforehand!

Multiple Appointments: Booking for multiple people? No problem! Just use their information when setting up the appointment. Since we customize each service to the individual, we’ll need a separate profile for each person.

Appointment Duration: If you’re a new customer, plan for about 45 minutes for a spray tan session and 90 minutes for a teeth whitening session. We never want you to feel rushed + make sure you receive our full 5-star experience!

Consultation Form: Don’t forget to take a moment to fill out our Customer Consultation form prior your appointment; it helps us give you the best experience possible! You’ll receive it along with your Pre-Tan and/or Pre-Teeth Whitening Instructions in your text and email confirmations, so it’ll be easy to find. We promise it only takes a minute! 

Payment: While cash is always appreciated, we also accept, Venmo, Zelle, credit cards, Apple Pay, Klarna, Affirm + Afterpay! There is a small 2.6% processing fee for credit card payments. 

Check out the FAQ’s page on our website for more details on anything listed above + much, much more.

We can’t wait to meet you + welcome you to the Bronze Age Family!