Has anybody done Mystic Tan?

[allison k]

I'm cruising in 5 weeks and dang am I pale! Has anybody had a Mystic Tan before? I'd like to hear if you did and what you thought.

 

[UGAFan0829]

I have never actually tried it myself, but my niece has. (She works in a tanning salon.) She looked terrible, with orange streaks all over her neck and legs. She never tried it again after that.
If you are wanting to go with a self-tanner, I think there are some that you can buy in the stores that are better than the mystic tan. I have heard that Neutrogena makes a pretty good one. HTH!

 

[atakaratemom]

We just got back from our cruise and I did the Mystic Tan twice before we left. I have never done anything like this before, but I am very fair and I really wanted to get some color before our trip (so as not to blind anyone!)
I have to disagree with the last post as I was very happy with the results. Because I am so fair I have never had any luck with tanning, but I thought my results were very natural looking. I didn't have any problem with streaking and I definitely did not look orange. I think the key is that I chose the lightest shade for application and I was very careful to follow the instructions both before coming for the tan and after I completed the process. One of the most important things is to come in with clean, exfoliated skin. I showered right before going and used a body scrub and loofah. After I was done, I followed the instructions on how to dry off and I had no streaks at all. My tan was even and gave me just the right amount of color. I loved it and will definitely do it again.

 

[misseulalie]

If that is the spray on stuff, then yes, it is horrible. I am very pale (I'm from Minnesota, so we all are white as a ghost!) and I either looked orange or very dirty. Also, the stuff stained my toe nails, so for 6 weeks it looked like I had some kind of toe fungus/infection.

 

[marcij]

I think it depends on your expectations, but also on your body type (oily, dry etc.), the salon you go to and a number of other variables. I've used Mystic Tan off and on over the last few years. I like it because I don't have to have someone else put it on me -- it gets all the hard to reach spots, it's quick -- just a couple of minutes of spray time, and the color looks good on me. You have to experiment a few times to figure out angles to put your hands etc. and how to dry off afterwards -- too much pressure (can causes streaking), not enough pressure. Also, sometimes the sprayer can drip on you right after it stops spraying and that can leave a line. The spray does have a smell to it -- some people notice it more than others. It also leaves a little color on your clothes that you put back on after you are sprayed. I've been able to get the color out of everything, but one bra and a pair of undies. I normally go two days in a row, to create a darker tan if I am going out of town. One of the major downsides is it fades fairly quickly, especially if you shave your legs each day.

For that reason I've been looking around for a self-tanner that is easy to apply and that I like the color of so I can take it on trips with me. My current favorite is a product by Fake Bake. I saw it mentioned in a magazine and it said Kelly Ripa uses it. My husband puts it on for me and and product is good. My only problem is it takes longer to dry than Mystic, and takes longer to apply -- maybe 20 - 25 minutes to get it rubbed in well.

If you have any other questions, let me know.

 

[atakaratemom]

Maybe getting successful results has to do with the place where you have it done. They were so professional at the salon I went to. There was a special cream that they applied to my toes, feet, fingers and hands prior to the treatment to prevent any staining in those areas so I didn't have any problem at all. They told me how to stand and turn for even application. They told me exactly how to dry off after the treatment and she came in and checked me when I was finished to make sure that I did it right and even helped me with my back where it was hard to reach. If you decide to do the Mystic Tan, I guess the key is to make sure the salon really knows what they are doing.

 

[disneypoor]

I have used Mystic Tan and used to do it very often. When I first started using it, I loved it! I rarely had any trouble with it streaking or anything like that. In fact, I'm a school teacher and when I went back after the summer to help with enrollment, many of my coworkers asked if I had been on a cruise or something since I looked so tan. I think the color that it gave me did look pretty natural, and I am a very pale person. However, the longer I used it, the more "fake" it started to look. I'm not good at exfoliating though, and I think that is the key. I think that if you are just planning to use it right before your cruise, you'll love it. It does give you some color, and it is safe. I only do it once in a while if I have something special coming up now, and I am happy with it when I do it. I say, "Go for it!"

 

[ldb1030]

I have used it many times!
No orange weird stuff for me!

You MUST follow the rules and put on the barrier lotion so not to stain your nails, hairline etc.........

If you do it right, it works great!

 

[JJsmama]

I did the one where you stand in the booth and the machine sprays your whole body for about 1 minute. Loved it. I thought the results were great. I did it the day before WDW and everyone said I looked great. You MUST read about it first, exfoliate and shave that day, then use the provided barrier lotion very carefully to prevent the streaks. It might be a learning experience. So, maybe do it once before the cruise, figure it out, then do it again the day before the cruise to look gorgeous in your pictures!

 

[allison k]

Thank you all so much! I think I'll go for it and definitely follow the instructions. It'll be nice to be able to cover up with major sunscreen (I'm a burner, not a tanner) and not having to worry about not getting a tan!

 

[anty30]

I have done it many times. It has always worked well for me, however, I am a medium skin tone and so it works nicely. My DH, on the other hand, is a vary pale guy and so it came out blotchy on him. I like it because it is fast and easy. The only downside for me is the smell. I just don't like the smell of the tan and so I have now switched to the tanning bed that you do 3 times for 6 min. each time. That is easy also, but you have to go back 3 days in a row.

 

[JJsmama]

The only downside for me is the smell. I just don't like the smell of the tan and so I have now switched to the tanning bed that you do 3 times for 6 min. each time. That is easy also, but you have to go back 3 days in a row.

I don't like the smell either. It lasted about 2 days with me. Apparently, it is not the 'stuff' sprayed on, but the skin's reaction to it.
I would never get in a tanning bed however, so it is a good option for me.

 

[Keggy]

Question - what do you wear when you go in? Are you by yourself the whole time?

Thanks,
Kelly

 

[WeLuvDCL]

I get this done before every cruise since I'm very fair skin. I LOVE it! I shower in the morning and scrub my entire body with a loofa (spell?). This removes most of your dead skin and helps make the tan last longer. Do NOT use the loofa after the tan, it will not as long. The place were I go has the Mystic Tan in a completely seperate room with a lock. So I enter the tan booth in my birthday suit.

Just make sure you listen to the video tape and/or employee and follow all directions. Wear loose clothing or take loose clothing wiht you to wear after the tan. I would not wear anything white as some may rub off on your clothes unless you have time to wait for it to dry. Put plenty of the lotion on your dry skin parts, lips and palms of your hand. To help eliminate the smell, take along some very small pieces of cotton ball to put in your noise, this will help keep the spray from getting in your nostrils.