What Really Happens When You Tan With Makeup On

As you're getting ready for a day at the beach, what do you pack? Swimsuit, sunscreen, and snacks sound like go-to choices but what about makeup? The answer depends on what you're looking for. If your goal is to get an even golden tan, you might want to stay away from makeup for the day. While it's possible to tan through your makeup, the final result might come out uneven as makeup doesn't provide full protection from UV rays in the same way that sunscreen does.

However, if you just want to get protection against the sun, layering your makeup on top of your regular sunscreen would act as an additional barrier to UV rays. "We can advise that functional colored cosmetics should be added to long-standing advice to further reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature aging, as well as protecting skin against the increasing danger of air pollution," Dr. Phillip Artemi told Metro.

While makeup can act as extra protection from UV rays, it all comes down to the formula. After all, makeup is made out of chemicals that when exposed to the sun, may break down and have negative reactions on your skin. Additionally, foundation may prevent sweat from leaving your skin which will, in turn, clog your pores with debris (via Good Looking Tan).

In order to take care of your skin when tanning, avoid exposing yourself to the sun when it's at its strongest, which is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (as per Healthline). According to Tanning Girl, if you're getting a spray tan, it's not advisable to wear makeup either. This is because makeup will stop the spray tan from reaching your skin, causing an uneven finish.

Further, using liquid makeup right after getting a spray tan is also not advisable as the makeup's chemicals will clash with the spray tan's chemicals, leaving patches on your new tan. Tanning Girl also notes that when it comes to spray tans, it takes time for a tan to set, and during this time, you won't be able to wash your face. And so, with that in mind, any makeup that requires you to wash your face will not work, at least not until enough time has passed (6-8 hours).

Happy tanning!