Why does spray tan turn light skin orange instead of tanned skin color? Is it a chemical limitation? Or do people just like the orange look?

Question

Why does spray tan turn light skin orange instead of tanned skin color? Is it a chemical limitation? Or do people just like the orange look?

In: 10

Answer 1

The short version appears to be that if a spray tan is orange, it was applied wrong or has been poorly maintained.

There are several different kinds of spray tan, and they have to be matched to the skin type and color. It can have too much DHA (a chemical that is derived from sugar beets that causes the tanning effect), one can apply too much, and it can be applied too quickly. The skin needs to be prepped before applying spray tan – it has to be clean and exfoliated, and not too dry. It also has to be cared for after application.