If there is one accessory that is a MUST for Spring 2013, it’s that “just back from the island” glow! Spotted on almost every single model we’ve seen strut the runway thus far, that healthy, sun-kissed look has taken over the runway in a major way this season. Watching all of these even-toned, lit from within beauties has only reminded us of our own fading summer glow though, which is something we’re just not ready to say goodbye to yet. In search of a beauty pick-me-up, we tracked down celebrity and supermodel spray tanner Jimmy Coco at the Daily Sessions Suite earlier this week to help us out. Between applying his famed spray tans to the models stopping by before the shows— Jessica White included!— and giving guests the star treatment, Jimmy sat down to chat with us about some spray tanning 101! Get the scoop on how you can transition that beach glow you’ve had since vacation into the fall season without fear of sun damage or orange looking skin in our interview with the supermodels’ favorite tanning expert below!
We’re just not ready to give up our summer glow yet! How can we transition the look into fall without looking unnatural?
When you’re transitioning from summer into fall, you have tan lines, so you don’t really want to tan your skin, you want to focus on tan line correction. You want to let yourself fade a little bit, however, you also want to keep up an all over even glow. You can use your glow building lotions by just putting a dab on your fingertip, and carefully filling in the lines. You can keep that up, and as you fade, it will fade to one color, and that’s when you can start applying your self-tanner everywhere! So you don’t necessarily want a typical “spray tan,” you want a skin enhancement.
We heard that self-tanning can actually make you look thinner and younger? How does that work?
Basically, when you stand in front of a mirror, under a light, or if you’re standing outside and the sun is really bright, I can still see the muscle lines, and I can just trace those lines with a little bit of self tanner. That’s how you get those lines that will show through and contour your shape. You’re going to look thinner, you’re going to look better, and that improved self-esteem is going to help with whatever problems you might have that day. You just feel better about yourself and exude more self-confidence, and that’s what I’m all about—tanning for a reason, and tanning for your own reasons, whether you want to shave down your saddlebags, or contour your abs.
You’ve worked closely with the Victoria’s Secret models and, more recently, with the men from Magic Mike. Have you picked up any beauty tips or tricks through work?
The wonderful thing about self-applied tanner and spray tanning is that a lot of my clients the next day will say, “wow, this is amazing! I didn’t have to put on foundation.” They can put on a little bit of eyeliner, or a little bit of lipstick and just go! They don’t have to worry about it. I will say, my number one tip for tanning on your own is that your face should be a little bit lighter than the rest of you, because the darker your face looks, the older it tends to make you look.
Is there anything we should avoid when going for a spray tan for the first time?
The very first shot you have at applying self-tanner evenly is in the shower. Before you apply the self-tanner, you just want to shower with hot water and a loofah to exfoliate your skin. I recommend using a mild soap just in discrete areas that won’t be spray-tanned. Then towel dry, and that is like your second exfoliating process. Make sure there is no lint or anything on your skin, and then you apply the self-tanner. Don’t use an oil based cream or shower gel, because those swirls of soap that you see are going to show through. After that, you’re going to wait the required amount of time, however, once you see that your tan has achieved the color that you like then go ahead and jump in the shower and your done! The longer you wait, the darker it will get, and that is especially true with the spray tan booths, because they have a higher concentration of DHA, and when you wait longer that’s when you have a tendency to get orange.
Finally, are there any colors we can wear to enhance the look of our beautiful faux-summer glows?
Salmon! I love salmon on tan skin. Also, turquoise, yellow, and white is beautiful. I say, whatever sets off your eyes. Lime green and coral are always great too!
