Picture this: it’s a warm spring day, the sun is not here to play and as much as you try to keep it at bay, you end up with an unexpected sunburn. Ouch. You may be tempted to even things out with a spray tan but that’s the best (and only) time to wait. Read more to find out the main reasons why.

Let's take a closer look at the different stages of a sunburn (even the slightest) to clearly define at what point you need to take a pause. 

Sunburn Science 101

A quick understanding of what's happening beneath the surface of your sunburned skin. When you catch too many rays, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation can overwhelm your skin's defenses, causing inflammation and redness. In response, your skin starts working overtime to repair itself – often resulting in peeling.

In warmer temperatures, it’s possible to start feeling the effects of the sun (sans spf) after even 15 minutes, although it may not be obvious to the eye yet. If the exposure continues for about 2 hours longer, the start of a burn will likely develop with the skin being visibly more pink and warm to the touch.

 

Patience Makes Perfect

When your skin's in repair mode, a spray tan might not turn out as flawless as you'd like. Uneven texture could lead to a patchy or streaky tan – and let's face it, that's not the SUGARED + BRONZED standard you know and love. By waiting until your skin has fully healed, you're setting the stage for a jaw-dropping, even tan that'll have everyone asking where you just vacationed.

Tender Loving Care

Your sunburned skin needs a little extra love and attention, so let's give it the space it needs to heal before introducing it to your fabulous spray tan. While our tanning solutions are designed with your skin's health in mind, it's best to hold off until your sunburn subsides to ensure a comfortable and irritation-free experience. 

 

The Golden Rule: Give It a Minute (actually about 5 days)

Not sure if you have too much of a burn?

Our sprayers are trained on letting you know if you might have a problematic result. Always remember that at any point when you are going to be exposed to the sun. In the cases where a sunburn does occur, make sure to stay hydrated, moisturize your skin (S+B Hocoba Oil to the rescue!) and most of all, be patient  – SUGARED + BRONZED will still be here to give you the ultimate flawless airbrushed bronze look when you’re ready for it. 

Ok, so I have a burn, but I have an appointment, what do I do?

We recommend waiting 5 days to let the sensitive areas heal before coming in for your next spray - but if you have an appointment booked before that, just give us a call or text and we will happily reschedule you. You can also reschedule online or on the app. 

If you are getting ready to travel, grab some of our at-home products to take on your trip, once you’re healed then it’s ok to use them. But remember, avoid using any self-tanner for the same 5 day period. Pack an S+B Mini Sunless Tanning Lotion and an S+B Mini Sunless Tanning Mousse to complete your look on the go.

And don’t forget to always use plenty of SPF and reapply.