If you’ve ever wondered how countless celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, and Jennifer Lopez always manage to look perfectly sun-kissed each and every time they hit the red carpet, Isabel Alysa is your answer. The celebrity spray tan artist has become famous among the Hollywood set for delivering that signature luminous glow. Her unique ability to create the perfect flawless tan for every skin tone has her frequently on speed dial for many a high profile event, working with major stars such as Cardi B, Selena Gomez, Becky G, and Katy Perry.
According to Alysa, glowing skin is a red carpet staple for many reasons. “It enhances the natural contours of the face and body, which can help to make people look more snatched and toned,” she explains. “Under strong, bright lights, it helps to reduce the appearance of any blemishes and provides a more even toned look. It also gives you the most amazing confidence boost. That alone helps your presence on the red carpet and helps you truly glow from the inside and outside!”
Along with being one of the industry’s most sought after tanning artists, Alysa is also the founder of best-selling sunless tanning brand, Dolce Glow. Her impressive line of tanning products—which spans tanning lotions, mousses, mists, and serums—are renowned for creating envy-worthy glow skin. So, it’s safe to say that she knows a thing or two about achieving a flawless tan. That’s why we absolutely had to tap her to talk about all things tan and spill her secrets on how you can achieve a red-carpet worthy tan from the comfort of your own home. Keep scrolling for Alysa’s stellar tips and tricks.
Preparing Your Skin for the Perfect Glow
When it comes to achieving a flawless tan, preparation is key. According to Alysa, it’s important to start any tanning process with smooth, clean skin. “Having a smooth, clean skin canvas ensures the tan goes on evenly and prevents streaks and patches. This will help the tan look as natural as possible,” she explains. “It also helps the tan last longer by removing the barrier of dead skin cells which allows the tan to absorb more effectively and wear off evenly.”
That’s why she suggests that exfoliation and shaving should always be the first step to preparing your skin for the perfect glow. “Doing this 24-hours before your sunless tan will provide a smooth base so the spray tan or self-tan applies as evenly as possible,” says Alysa, noting that shaving right before tanning tends to cause streaks.
On the day of tanning, she recommends applying a pea-sized amount of lotion to drier areas of your body, such as your elbows, ankles, and knees to help reduce absorption, since self-tanner has a tendency to stick to these parts of your body. “Just make sure your skin is free of any products, like lotions, oils, or deodorants, in any other areas,” she says.
The Secrets to a Celeb-Worthy Tan
Alysa has totally mastered the art of customizing and creating the perfect tan for all of her celebrity clients. “I evaluate the client’s skin tone, skin type, and any other specific concerns to decide exactly what I will use on them to achieve the perfect glow, according to their preferences,” she explains. “A client’s tan color normally depends on what they will be wearing as well. We always choose what type of tan would complement the outfit better.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be a celebrity to get her signature Dolce Glow. You can get the same flawless red carpet-worthy tan as her A-list clients by using her impressive line of at-home tanning products. While all of her Dolce Glow products are perfect for achieving an effortless tan, there are a few favorites that come highly recommended by her clientele. “The Dolce Self-Tanning Mist, ($53.00)is always such a great product to use at home to touch up the tan or self-tan when you don’t have time to get a spray tan,” Alysa says. “ I call it our spray tan in a can! It’s easy to use and quick drying.” She adds, “Our Acqua Hydrating Face Mist (Self-Tanning Water), ($36.00) and the Contour Self-Tanning Sculpt + Glow, (28.00) are favorites for the face as well, since the face is the first to fade as it’s one of the thinnest skins.” Some other top recommendations include the Lusso Self-Tanning Mousse, ($51.00) and the Mia Instant Body Glow, ($51.00), which is great for adding an extra glow.
Achieving the Perfect Tan for Your Skin Tone
Many people have a misconception that self-tanners or sunless tanners are only reserved for people with fair skin. But that simply isn’t the case. As Alysa has shown through her outstanding work with a diverse roster of celebs, sunless tanning can enhance the beauty of all skin tones. The key is to tailor your tanning method to your specific skin tone and be mindful of dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is the active ingredient in most self tanners that leads to tanned results. “For fair skin, you want to start on the lighter side to make sure you’re not using a product that is too high in DHA for your skin tone,” she says. “As you get into more medium and darker skin tones, you can use a wide range of DHA because you have a better chance of that not developing too dark.” She adds that it’s in your best interest to do a patch test on yourself before tanning yourself completely in something you haven’t tried before.
Regardless of your skin tone or type, Alysa believes that the one tanning product that everyone can benefit from using is Dolce Glow’s Acqua Hydrating Face Mist (Self-Tanning Water). “It is such a beautiful, universal product that truly looks so good on everyone,” she shares. “It gives such a pretty glow and is subtle enough when you want it to be, but also buildable if you want a little extra glow.” She adds that it’s also a highly versatile product that can be used before or after applying your makeup, or even after your skincare routine.
Self-Tanning for Beginners
If you’re new to the world of self-tanning, you might want to consider going for a more subtle approach with your tan. “Start on the lighter side so you can gauge what looks best on you! You can always build from there.” says Alysa. “Also, go lighter on joints such as knees, elbows, and wrists and blend!” Another tip? “Make sure to wear dark, loose-fitting clothing until you rinse to avoid rubbing on any tight clothing. And when it does come time to do that very first rinse after tanning, Alysa suggests showering in lukewarm water with no soap. “Use your hands to ensure all the bronzer comes off the body and then pat dry with a towel,” she adds.
As far as products, Alysa recommends starting out with a self-tanning mist like the Dolce Self-Tanning Mist because it has such an easy application. “It’s just like using a SPF spray,” she says. “Just spray it at a distance in circular motion throughout the body. You can get an application mitt to blend out any areas that look too dark or were over-sprayed. When it comes to tanning your face, her top pick is the Acqua Hydrating Face Mist (Self-Tanning Water). “It’s buildable and great to touch up your face, hands, feet, and chest—the areas that usually fade the fastest.” Regardless of what products you decided to use to achieve your tan, Alysa says it’s critical to make sure that you follow the application instructions closely. Thankfully, all of Dolce Glow’s products have a QR code on the back that, if scanned, will take you to videos showcasing how to properly apply them.
When you are new to self-tanning or spray tanning, there is the likelihood that you will make a mistake. According to Alysa, having too dark of hands and feet is one of the most common issues. To ensure you don’t get those crazy self-tan hands that we all hate, she stresses the importance of blending out your feet and hands when tanning at home. “A key trick that I always do is utilize my Dolce Glow Kabuki Brush, ($13.00) for hands and feet,” she says. “Don’t apply directly on those areas and instead use the excess of what’s on the wrist/ankles to move into the hands/feet.”
Maintaining Your Tan
While the length of your tan will largely depend on your maintenance, generally your Dolce Glow spray tan will start to fade after 4-7 days. As for a self-tan, it will last anywhere from 7-10 days, according to the brand’s website. If you want to maintain your tan and make it last as long as possible, hydrating and moisturizing your skin is key. Luckily, Dolce Glow products are formulated with hydrating, skin-loving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and squalane to help you hold onto your bronzed glow. However, Alysa says there are a few things that you do want to keep in mind. “You want to opt for an oil-free lotion and be sure to use that daily after your first rinse,” Alysa says. “Also, make sure to not scrub your skin.” Furthermore, it’s best to avoid jacuzzis, pools, and baths, as they can fade your tan.
For all things Dolce Glow, be sure to visit dolceglow.com or follow @dolceglow on Instagram. And to see more of Alysa’s stunning work, make sure to follow @isabelalysa on Instagram.
