Whether you love or hate them, tan lines are often unavoidable. Especially if you spend the days leading up your wedding at the beach or by the pool. While most people consider tan lines a summer souvenir, for many brides, these marks can be a distraction, or unsightly (depending on how red you are). Particularly when wearing strapless gowns on your wedding day. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to even out tan lines and get that flawless look before your big day.
To get an overall even look for your wedding day, we recommend getting a spray tan or using a self-tanner. If you don’t have time, are too nervous, or have never gotten a spray tan, you can ask your makeup artist to apply some body makeup to cover any tan lines on your wedding day.
Here are our top tips and tricks to even out tan lines before the wedding, including how long the process generally takes and ways to avoid tan lines completely.
When to Get a Pre-Wedding Spray Tan
How to Even Out Tan Lines Before the Wedding
Depending on your budget and timeframe, there are several ways to even out tan lines. From avoiding the sun in the days leading up to your nuptials to applying makeup just before walking down the aisle, here are a few methods for achieving a uniform skin tone when it’s time to say “I do.”
Stay Out of the Sun
If you have time, you can naturally even out tan lines by wearing SPF and minimizing sun exposure in the eight to ten weeks before your wedding. The epidermis, or the top layer of skin, renews itself over time—typically taking about 40 to 56 days for a complete turnover—allowing your skin to return to its natural hue if not damaged by the sun.
To expedite this process, gently exfoliate your body once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells, promote cell turnover, and create a smoother, more even skin texture. Additionally, using skincare products with ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or retinol can help accelerate skin cell turnover.
Consider the Right Bikini
When choosing a bikini for beach or pool time before your wedding day, match the neckline of your bikini to that of your wedding dress. Wearing a strapless dress? Go for a strapless bikini. Have a V-neck dress? Try a halterneck or triangle bikini. If unsure, strapless is a safe choice. Remember to apply extra sunscreen around the straplines and cups to prevent tan lines. For an even tan, consider bikinis made from tan-through material, which allow for an all-over tan.
Get a Spray Tan
For a bronzed and glowy look, opt for a spray tan the week before your wedding, a light glow can help achieve a natural-looking tan and prevent a white dress from washing out your skin tone.
If you’re nervous about how a spray tan will turn out, consider booking a trial before any wedding festivities. Following the instructions provided by your spray tan artist is crucial to maintaining an even complexion.
Apply Self-Tanner
You don’t need to visit a salon to get professional results. Plenty of easy-to-apply self-tanners can help you achieve a glow that lasts from the rehearsal dinner to the after-party. Self-tanners come in various shades to achieve your desired level of tan. Experts recommend experimenting with different formulas and doing several trials to get a feel for the application process.
Cover Tan Lines With Makeup
If you notice your tan lines on your wedding day, don’t panic—you can easily cover them with makeup. Your makeup artist can apply body makeup on the day. Look for something that has little to no transfer!
Body makeup differs from face makeup, being more pigmented and resistant to smudging and transferring. Ask your makeup artist if they have body makeup in their kit; some may charge a small fee since this application involves different products and techniques.
“It is best to choose a colour that is the same colour or slightly darker than your tan,” Nicholas Lujan. That way, it won’t stand out or look dramatically darker, but it’ll be much more pigmented than your non-tan patches.
If you’re doing your own wedding makeup and don’t want to buy new products, regular concealer and foundation can also work if you use enough. Set your liquid concealer and foundation with a setting powder and finish with a light dusting of setting spray to lock it in place.
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How Long It Takes to Even Out Tan Lines
Want to even out tan lines naturally? As it can take at least two to three months for your skin cells to completely renew, for instantaneous results, a spray tan is your best option. A spray tan can even out your skin in one session. While spray tans provide instant results, self-tanning products may take a few hours to fully develop and conceal your lines.
