A gorgeous glow shouldn’t stop at the neck. Through spray tans, body makeup and gradual tanners, experts keep their celebrity clients’ skin looking sun-kissed from head to toe—without any risk of UV damage.
Ahead, the pros share their go-to tricks for a faux glow that looks anything but
Isabel Alysa
Clients: Kim Kardashian, Alix Earle, Megan Fox, Brooks Nader
“Some of my most memorable moments were getting Alix Earle ready each week during her time on Dancing With the Stars,” recalls Alysa. “With her nonstop rehearsal schedule, everything had to be quick, seamless and camera-perfect under those intense ballroom lights. We’d always create a custom, natural-looking glow that enhanced her skin tone without ever looking heavy. To finish, I’d top her off with Dolce Glow’s Drying Powder ($35) to help everything dry down quickly while adding the most subtle, camera-catching shimmer. It became our little ritual: tanning, catching up and getting her feeling confident and stage-ready before every performance.”
Alysa considers the pre-tan prep the most important part. “Make sure to exfoliate thoroughly 24 hours beforehand and keep your skin well moisturized to achieve the best, most even glow,” says the tan artist, who starts with the Dolce Glow Exfoliation Mitt ($9). “It makes all the difference in how the tan develops!”
If you’re using a buildable self-tanner, be mindful of your timing and rinse according to your desired depth, advises Alysa. “When applying a mist, hold the nozzle about 10 inches away from your skin and spray in a slow, continuous, circular motion for even coverage,” she explains. “After applying your self-tanner, avoid contact with water until it’s time for your first rinse.”
For at-home maintenance, Alysa mixes Dolce Glow’s Goccia di Sole Drops ($48) or Sunnee BAEskin’s BAEside SEArum Drops ($19) into her daily moisturizer. “It’s such an easy way to keep your glow fresh and customized without needing a full reapplication,” she says. “For that extra boost, I use the Dolce Glow Aqua Dark Hydrating Face Mist ($36). It deepens your glow while keeping your skin hydrated and radiant, which is key for a natural-looking tan.”
Kelsey Deenihan Fisher
Clients: Hilary Duff, Kelsea Ballerini, Reese Witherspoon, Ali Larter
“One of the best real-life tests was during Hilary Duff’s ‘Roommates’ video,” recalls Deenihan Fisher. “We used TINGE Tint ($49) on her body, and she was rolling around in water and getting rained on. It held up to towel moments. At a certain point, we all just looked at each other like OK, this is either going to be a disaster or really impressive. Luckily, it was the latter.” Deenihan Fisher recalls a similar moment with Kelsea Ballerini on her “I Sit in Parks” video. The photo shown here is “one leg wearing TINGE Tint and the other without, and the difference speaks for itself.”
Deenihan Fisher’s biggest tip? “Know and love the products you’re using,” she says. “The TINGE Tint is a staple in my kit because it dries down beautifully, it’s waterproof and it doesn’t transfer. The coverage is so seamless, it’s basically like stockings in a bottle. It subtly blurs skin tone, covers imperfections and gives a polished finish while still letting real skin come through without ever feeling heavy.”
For prep, Deenihan Fisher focuses on creating an even, light-reflective base so everything looks seamless and elevated. “I opt for a heavy body cream that doesn’t feel oily, and right now my favorite is the Danucera Luxera Body Cream ($145),” she tells us. And because application is just as essential as the product itself, she turns to a “large, domed brush like the TINGE Big Brush ($44) to move quickly and blend seamlessly.” The makeup artist also says she “always leaves the hands and feet until the end, using whatever is left on the brush to lightly blend so the color diffuses naturally rather than looking like one flat layer.”
Her typical routine includes applying body makeup before face makeup, allowing it time to fully set. “For glow, I place it only on the high points for a sculpted, dimensional finish,” says Deenihan Fisher, who loves using Charlotte Tilbury’s Supermodel Body Highlighter ($65) on shoulders, collarbones, arms and legs to catch the light and create dimension. “It’s about sculpting with light so the result feels modern and intentional.”
Mishel Chernyavskiy
Clients: Jennifer Lawrence, Gigi Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, Zara Larsson
The day before the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Chernyavskiy got booked to tan the iconic Angels. “It was all very last minute and high energy,” she says. “What made it especially exciting was that so many models who had never tried spray tans before saw my work and ended up wanting one. It was such a fun experience getting so many of the girls glowing for such a major show.”
Her best advice is to be mindful of how much product you apply because a seamless tan is all about balance. “The formula itself also makes a huge difference,” Chernyavskiy says. “You want something hydrating that wears beautifully on the skin and doesn’t feel sticky or uncomfortable. Great technique matters, but a great solution matters just as much.” She recently created MSK Labs products to achieve that perfect balance and has been using them ever since. “The formulas are skin-care first, so they give a beautiful tan while keeping the skin nourished.” As for her professional applicator of choice, she swears by Fuji Spray Sunless machines for a flawless, even tan.
Jimmy Coco
Clients: Heidi Klum, Kylie Jenner, Alessandra Ambrosio, Devon Carlson
Coco also stresses the importance of great preparation for a seamless tan. “I believe the best way to prepare is to dry-exfoliate your body with an exfoliating mitt after a shower,” he says. “It’s important to remove any residual products that may remain on your skin, as many exfoliating bath products contain oils, which can prevent the tan from absorbing properly. A gentle, dry exfoliation after you towel-dry and a small bit of lotion—especially on your elbows, knees, ankles and heels—will help promote more even color.”
Coco uses professional-grade Fuji devices to tan his clients. He uses an exfoliating mitt to prep skin and a foundation brush to blend out the hands. To even out the color, he uses makeup wipes on the palms and alcohol prep pads to wipe off residual spray from the nails. “Nails are porous, so if left unattended, the nails could turn brown,” he warns.
