Self-Tanning on Vacation: How to Keep Your Tan Looking Good

Why You Should Prep Your Skin Before Vacation

Vacation is one of the best times to have a good tan, but it's also one of the hardest times to keep one looking even. Between swimming, hot tubs, sweating, showering more often, being active, and spending time outdoors, your skin goes through a lot more than it does during your normal routine.

After years of self tanning and years of professional spray tanning, Toni has learned that the key to traveling with a tan isn't trying to make it last forever. It's starting with the right preparation, choosing the right type of tan, and bringing a simple way to refresh your color while you're away.

And this advice isn't just for a beach vacation. Whether you're headed to Mexico, spending a week at the beach, skiing in Utah, or relaxing in a mountain hot tub, the same basic strategy applies.

In Toni's opinion, what you do before your vacation is just as important as what you do once you get there.

Most vacations involve some combination of water, increased activity, heat, sweating, or more frequent showers. All of those things can affect how long your self tan lasts. That's why Toni recommends preparing your skin about two days before you leave.

Two Days Before Vacation, Shave and Exfoliate

About two days before your trip, Toni recommends shaving, showering, and thoroughly exfoliating your entire body. For a full walkthrough of doing this properly, see our guide on how to exfoliate before self-tanning.

Using an exfoliating mitt helps remove the dry, dead skin sitting on the surface of your body. Toni thinks of this as creating a fresh layer of skin for your self tanner to develop on.

This step is also important for how your tan fades once you're on vacation. Starting with properly exfoliated skin gives your self tanner a more even surface to develop on, which can help it fade more naturally as you're exposed to water and activity.

Apply Your Base Tan Before You Leave

After you've shaved, showered, and exfoliated, let your skin dry completely. Then apply your self tanner as you normally would.

Follow the development instructions for your specific formula, allow the tan to develop, and rinse according to the product directions.

Now you have your base tan before you even leave home.

Toni prefers this approach because she doesn't want to spend the first night of a vacation worrying about applying self tanner. Getting the main application done before the trip means you can focus on enjoying your vacation and simply maintain your color if you need to.

Why Toni Prefers Self Tanner Over a Spray Tan for Vacation

This is one of the biggest changes Toni has made in her own vacation routine.

A few years ago, Toni would typically get a spray tan before going on vacation. She loved having the color when she left, but she hated what happened once she started getting into the water.

Whether it was a pool, the ocean, or another type of water, she noticed that her spray tan could become patchy as it faded, particularly around her hands and feet.

That made her hesitant to get into the water as much as she wanted to. And nobody wants to feel self-conscious about their tan while they're supposed to be relaxing on vacation.

Now, Toni prefers using self tanner before traveling.

In her experience, self tanner fades much more naturally and evenly, especially around areas like the feet, ankles, and hands. Your tan will still fade when you're spending a lot of time in water, but the way it fades makes a big difference.

Instead of obvious patches and uneven areas, the color gradually becomes lighter. That also makes it much easier to apply another layer of self tanner during your vacation.

Bring a Travel-Size Self Tanner With You

One of Toni's favorite vacation tips is surprisingly simple: bring your self tanner with you.

A travel-size self tanning mousse takes up very little space, and it gives you the ability to refresh your color a few days into your trip if you've been swimming, sweating, or simply spending a lot of time outdoors.

You don't have to completely start over.

Because a self tan tends to fade more naturally, Toni finds that she can add another layer without having to completely exfoliate every bit of the previous tan away first.

That's a major advantage when you're traveling. You're not trying to create a perfect tanning routine in a hotel bathroom. You're simply maintaining the color you already have.

When to Reapply Your Self Tanner on Vacation

There's no universal day when everyone needs to reapply. Toni recommends paying attention to your skin and how your tan looks.

If you've spent several days in the water, been especially active, or noticed your color starting to fade, that's a good time to add another layer.

You can also use a gradual tanning lotion throughout your trip if you want something even easier.

Use Gradual Self Tanning Lotion for Easy Vacation Maintenance

If the idea of bringing a mousse and doing a full self-tanning routine while you're traveling sounds like too much work, Toni recommends another option: gradual self tanning lotion.

A gradual tanning lotion can be especially convenient during a vacation because you can incorporate it into your normal moisturizing routine.

You're not necessarily trying to completely retan your body. Instead, you're keeping your skin moisturized while gradually adding more color.

This can be a great option for longer trips when you want to maintain a deeper tan without doing a full self-tanning application every few days.

Vacation Water Will Eventually Fade Your Tan

One thing Toni doesn't believe in is promising that any self tan will remain completely untouched throughout a vacation.

If you're spending your days swimming, getting in hot tubs, sweating, showering, and being active, your tan is going to fade eventually. That's simply part of vacation.

The goal is to make that fading look as natural and even as possible.

This is another reason Toni prefers self tanner for travel. In her experience, it gives her a much better starting point for maintaining her color once the trip is underway.

Salt Water and the Beach

Beach vacations can be particularly challenging for a tan because you're constantly going between salt water, showers, sand, sunscreen, and sun exposure.

Toni has found that self tanner works better for her vacation routine because when the color begins to fade, it doesn't leave the same patchy appearance she experienced with spray tanning.

After several days at the beach, she can simply add another layer of her travel-size mousse if she wants more color.

Chlorine Pools

Chlorine pools can also contribute to your tan fading more quickly. If you're spending a lot of time in the pool, expect your color to gradually lighten. For more on exactly how pools affect your color, see will self tanner come out in the pool.

Instead of worrying about keeping the original tan perfect, think about maintaining it. Start with a good base before your trip and bring a product that allows you to refresh your color.

Hot Tubs and Mountain Vacations

Vacation tanning isn't just about beaches.

Toni is originally from Utah, and although she lives in Texas now, she still travels back to Utah and spends time vacationing in the mountains. That means her experience with vacation tanning also includes snow, cold weather, and plenty of time in hot tubs.

And she's noticed the same thing in hot tubs that she has experienced in pools and the ocean: your tan is going to fade over time.

If you're heading to the mountains and plan on spending time in a hot tub, having a self tan underneath can still give your skin that bronzed look when you're wearing a swimsuit or showing some skin.

Again, Toni's preference is to start with a good self-tan base and then refresh it as necessary rather than relying on a spray tan that may become noticeably patchy as it fades.

Can You Still Get a Sun Tan While Wearing Self Tanner?

Yes. Wearing self tanner does not prevent you from getting a natural suntan.

This is a common misconception among people who are new to self tanning. Self tanner gives your skin a cosmetic tan, but it does not mean your skin is protected from ultraviolet radiation, per the FDA's guidance on sunless tanners and bronzers.

That also means you can still get sunburned while wearing self tanner.

Self tanner is not sunscreen.

Whether you're wearing self tanner, spray tan, or no tan at all, you still need to protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen and other sun-protection measures.

Toni's Vacation Self-Tanning Routine

After years of traveling with both spray tans and self tanner, Toni's routine is now much simpler.

• About two days before vacation, shave, shower, and thoroughly exfoliate your body.
• Apply your self tanning mousse after your skin is completely dry.
• Allow the tan to develop according to the product instructions.
• Rinse according to the directions before leaving for your trip.
• Pack a travel-size self tanning mousse for maintenance.
• If you don't want to do another full mousse application, bring a gradual self tanning lotion instead.
• After several days of swimming, sweating, or increased activity, assess whether your color needs another layer.
• Continue using sunscreen throughout your vacation, even while wearing self tanner.

Don't Let Your Tan Keep You Out of the Water

For Toni, this is really what changed her approach to vacation tanning.

When she relied on spray tans, she found herself thinking about her tan while she was supposed to be enjoying her vacation. She didn't want to spend too much time in the pool or ocean because she knew how the spray tan would look as it faded.

Switching to self tanner changed that. Feeling confident enough to actually get in the water is part of a bigger shift a lot of MAKAI customers describe — we get into that more in self-tanning for confidence building.

Now, she can enjoy the water, let her tan naturally fade, and simply add another layer if she wants more color. She doesn't have to completely remove the old tan and start over.

Whether you're headed to Mexico for a beach vacation, Utah for a mountain getaway, or anywhere in between, Toni's philosophy is the same: prepare your skin before you leave, bring an easy way to maintain your color, and don't let your tan dictate what you do on vacation.

The Bottom Line on Self-Tanning While Traveling

The best vacation tan isn't necessarily the one that lasts perfectly from the day you leave until the day you come home. It's the one that's easy to maintain when real vacation life happens.

Start with properly exfoliated skin and a good base tan before you leave. Then bring either a travel-size self tanning mousse or a gradual tanning lotion so you can refresh your color as needed.

And most importantly, get in the water.

Your tan is going to fade eventually. That's okay. With the right preparation and a self tanner that fades naturally, maintaining your color while traveling can be much easier—and you can spend your vacation thinking about where you're going next instead of worrying about your tan.

Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Tanning on Vacation

When should I self tan before going on vacation?

Toni recommends preparing your skin about two days before your trip. Shave, shower, and thoroughly exfoliate your body, then apply your self tanner and allow it to develop according to the product's instructions.

Should I bring self tanner on vacation?

Yes. Toni recommends bringing a travel-size self tanning mousse so you can add another layer if your color starts fading after several days of swimming, sweating, or increased activity.

Is gradual self tanning lotion good for vacation?

Yes. A gradual self tanning lotion is an easy option for maintaining color during a trip because you can use it as part of your normal moisturizing routine while gradually adding more color.

Does salt water make self tanner fade?

Spending time in salt water can contribute to your self tan fading. However, in Toni's experience, self tanner tends to fade more naturally than a spray tan, making it easier to maintain your color during a beach vacation.

Does chlorine make self tanner fade?

Yes, spending time in a chlorinated pool can contribute to your tan fading. Rather than expecting your color to remain unchanged, plan to refresh your tan during longer vacations.

Can I go in a hot tub with self tanner?

Yes, but expect your tan to fade over time with repeated hot tub use. Toni has experienced this during mountain vacations in Utah and recommends starting with a good base tan and refreshing the color when needed.

Can I get a suntan while wearing self tanner?

Yes. Self tanner does not prevent your skin from developing a natural suntan, and it does not protect you from sunburn. Always use sunscreen and practice appropriate sun protection while on vacation.