Fake Tan - Things to be aware of if you plan to wear this on your wedding day....

I have been a Bridal Makeup Artist now for over 18 years and I will be honest Fake tan and spray tans have been a question I have had from many a bride and I have seen many a fake tan mishap over the many years and countless weddings I have completed in this time.

I've spoken about this before, but it's such an important topic that it absolutely deserves to be revisited. Many brides get this wrong when it comes to their wedding day, and it can be a real nightmare—not just for makeup artists like myself but also for photographers who have to deal with the challenges of editing poorly applied fake tan.

I completely understand the desire to look healthy and radiant on your wedding day, but fake tan is not necessarily the way to achieve that. If not done correctly, it can look dreadful. This is not something to experiment with last minute. You need to get it right.

The Risks of Fake Tan

Fake tan can go horribly wrong, especially if you haven't tested it before your wedding. A spray tan applied too close to the big day can grip onto dry areas such as elbows, hands, and wrists, leaving patchy and uneven results. Worse still, some fake tans develop into unnatural orange or yellow tones, which can be very unflattering.

If you are determined to use fake tan, my biggest piece of advice is to road-test it several times before your wedding. Find the right product and shade that suits your skin tone and ensures a natural, seamless finish. Pay close attention to areas such as:

Hands, particularly where the palms meet the forearm

Underarms and elbows, which can become patchy

Ankles and knees, where the tan can grip more intensely

Never Apply Fake Tan to Your Face - and again NEVER APPLY FAKE TAN TO YOUR FACE... one more time DO NOT APPLY FAKE TAN TO YOUR FACE

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is applying fake tan to your face. Never, ever, ever do this. Fake tan contains an ingredient called DHA (Dihydroxyacetone), which is what activates the tanning process. While DHA gives your skin a bronzed appearance, it is also extremely drying. If applied to your face, especially if you have oily or textured skin, it will cling to dry patches and emphasise pores, creating an uneven and unnatural finish.

On a wedding morning, dealing with fake tan on the face is an absolute nightmare. It makes the skin dry, patchy, and difficult to work with when applying makeup. If you are having a spray tan, always tell your tanning technician to avoid your face. Likewise, if you are applying tan yourself, do not use a body tanning product on your face. Instead, opt for facial tanning drops or a bronzing product specifically designed for the face, which will blend seamlessly and work better with your skin type.

The Impact on Photography

One of the most important things to consider with fake tan is how it will appear in your wedding photos. There are photographers local to me who edit very warm, and on their images, fake tan can look horrendous—unnatural, overly orange, and completely out of place. If you've chosen a photographer who favours a warmer edit, a heavy fake tan will be exaggerated in the final pictures, making your skin look far from the flawless, natural glow you intended.

Another key issue is how fake tan affects the contrast between you and your partner. Often, the bride opts for a spray tan, but partner does not. This can create an unnatural imbalance in photos where one person looks like a completely different shade from the other. The result? You look overly tanned or even orange, while your partner's skin appears as it is and natural, making the difference even more pronounced. This contrast can be jarring and difficult for photographers to correct in post-editing, so it's something to really think about before committing to a spray tan.

It's always the spray tans that look the worst. They tend to be the most unnatural, patchy, and unpredictable because you have zero control over the application. It's all down to the applicator, and if it goes wrong, there's little you can do to fix it in time. Instead, gradual tanning moisturisers that build up over time give a much better, more natural result. When you apply it yourself at home, you can control how it develops and ensure it looks seamless, rather than relying on an unpredictable spray tan that could turn into a disaster.

My Preferred Approach

I'm not against fake tan—I use it myself occasionally—but I prefer to take a more gradual and controlled approach. My go-to product is the Bondi Sands gradual tanning moisturiser, which allows me to build up colour in a more subtle and manageable way. Unlike spray tans, which can be unpredictable, gradual tans give you more control over the application and final result. I always use a tanning mitt to ensure an even application and avoid streaks.

Dress Staining Concerns

Another downside of fake tan is the risk of transfer onto your wedding dress. The friction between your skin and the fabric, especially around the decolletage and neckline, can cause the tan to rub off onto the material. This is particularly problematic with white or light-coloured dresses, where even a slight transfer can be visible.

Final Thoughts

If you are considering fake tan for your wedding day, take a measured and well-planned approach. Test different products well in advance, choose a natural shade that complements your skin tone, and be mindful of your photographer's editing style. A well-applied tan can enhance your look, but a poorly applied one can be a disaster.

Ultimately, the goal is to look like the best version of yourself—not an overly bronzed version that doesn't translate well in photos. Thoughtfulness and preparation will ensure that you achieve a radiant, flawless finish on your big day.