Is It Safe To Use Self Tanners When Pregnant?

One of the most common questions I have gotten asked throughout my professional spray tan career is, “Can I self tan/spray tan while I am pregnant?”. The answer is yes, but always consult with your doctor first. I say this because I am not a doctor, I know how spray tanning and self tanning works and have used both during my pregnancy, however it is always best to consult with your doctor first. 

(Me pregnant with my son, Braxton, at my baby shower with a self tan on)

While I was pregnant, fake tans were a life saver for me. Some women carry pregnancy so well, I was not one of those women. I was huge, my nose grew, I felt like I always smelled and I waddled like a duck everywhere - I was not cute. The ONLY thing that made me feel better was a sunless tan, and I am so grateful they are safe for me and my growing baby.

The active ingredient in any fake tan product is DHA, which is non-toxic and considered safe to use as it stays on the outermost layer of the skin. It is important to select a tanning product that has the most organic/natural ingredients possible, our Sunless Rae Self Tan Mousse is non-toxic, vegan, cruelty free, hypoallergenic, paraben free, alcohol free and has eco certified organic DHA. Our mousse is as organic/natural as any self tanner can get! 

I do not recommend using tanning beds ever, especially while pregnant. Tanning beds can cause premature aging and skin cancer and it raises your body temperature and can cause spinal malformations in the baby. Bottom line - don’t use tanning beds, you will thank me ten years from now, guaranteed.

Luckily we still have fake tans to get us through pregnancy. You can use any kind of self tanner to achieve a beautiful bronzed glow, my favorite is a self tan mousse. It can be hard to reach your shins and legs as your baby grows, so don’t hesitate to ask your partner to come help you out, it is the least they can do! 
The application for self tanning is the same for when you are not pregnant you just may need more assistance to reach certain areas as you grow.

STEPS TO APPLY SELF TAN MOUSSE

Exfoliate with an exfoliating mitt and organic/natural body wash 24 hours before you are going to self tan or get a spray tan

1. Apply lotion to dry areas before self tanning, if you are getting a spray tan your spray tan artist should do this for you. The dry areas you want to get are your feet, ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, inside of hands and the top of your hands.
2. Put the self tan mitt on one hand and pump 1-2 pumps of self tan mousse onto the mitt
3. Glide the mitt onto your body in circular motions and continue to pump more mousse when the mitt isn’t moving as easy (good indicator you need more product on it)
4. Keep in mind where you start to make sure you get every part of your body, I start with one arm, chest, one leg, etc. then go to the other side.
5. Depending on how pregnant you are, you may need to ask your partner to assist with certain areas that you can’t reach (I couldn’t reach my knees while pregnant).
6. Once it is applied all over your body and you are happy with the application you did, you can get dressed right away if you are using the Sunless Rae Self Tan Mousse.
7. Keep the product on for 8 hours (If you are using a different mousse, make sure to follow how long it says on the bottle). Stay away from any water and sweating until your first shower.
8. Shower with warm water, do not use any soap or lotion until 24 hours after your first shower to have the sunless tan last as long as possible.

While I was pregnant I really did prefer to self tan versus get a spray tan. I didn’t really want anyone to see me nude during my pregnancy, but you may be different. If you are reading this and you are pregnant, I know you are exhausted and are probably getting tired just thinking about having to self tan your body. However, I promise how you will feel after is worth it. You will feel brand new and have an instant boost of confidence!