LONG BUT WORTH THE READ BEFOR AIRBRUSHING: Ok, I hope this helps and if it doesn't make sense, please drop me a PM. I worked at a tanning salon for two years with both the Mystic machine, and we also had a lady who did the airbrushing herself. I personally liked the machine. It always came out very natural on me. Our machine was cleaned and "purged" (meaning we cleaned the nozzle that blew out the solution) after EVERY single use.
What airbrushing does for you.... I know that the Mystic brand attaches to your skin at a molecular level. It takes your natural hue and enhances it. The reason people turn orange is because they are a skin type 1....people who do not natually tan. I found this site that has the same survey for your skin used in most tanning salons - http://www.goldnbrown.co.uk/type.html so you can determine your skin type. The reason your skin spots look darker after an airbrush is because it is enhancing your pigment.
Regarding your natural pigment, if you are able to tan, then whatever your natural skin tone is will be the color of your Mystic tan. Myself, I have a very golden skintone. Airbrush is perfect for me. It makes my skin a warm golden honey. I actually don't tan but maybe once every two weeks. I get a mystic tan every week. MY FH is full Italian and has OLIVE skin. Airbrush tan doesn't show up on him at all as far as making him darker. It just evens him out all over.
TIPS IF YOU DO AIRBRUSH: Exfoliate using a cleanser with micro scrub beads that doesn't have lotion additives (like mineral oil). Please read ingredients to make sure NO oils are in your soap. Use a loofa (sp?) and shave to make sure your skin is FRESH. Dead skin cell patches really cause streaking problems.
After showering, do not put on lotion/make-up anywhere on your body. Again, it's a buildup on your skin that will cause discoloration and streaking.
Make sure you use the blending cream at the salon on your hands and feet. If the salon doesn't carry a blending cream or booties to cover your hands and feet, then RUN AWAY! You WILL get orange hands and feet if not covered or using a blending cream.
Wipe off afterwards with a towel to get all excess solution off.
Swimming and shaving will cause the tan to come off sooner than the 7 days that it lasts. DO not get a tan done the day of or day before your wedding. The solution will rub off on clothing the first 48 hours as your skin has not absorbed all the color and will come out in your sweat. It is washable, but you don't want it on your wedding dress.
I found these links that has a mystic tan description as well as an instruction video. http://www.mystictan.com/experience/
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=13119297
I only want to make sure you get a good tan IF airbrushing is right for you. Please no one post nasty responses if your salon of choice used another name brand. I've only had Mystic tanning done so that's all I can talk about.
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