The glow journal

Introduction

Let’s be honest. The holidays are better when you look and feel your best. Between Christmas parties, family gatherings, winter getaways, and festive photos, this season is filled with moments where you naturally want to look radiant and confident. But with Alberta’s cold weather, dry air, and lack of sunlight, most of us enter December feeling pale, dull, and dehydrated, no matter how much skincare we use.

A holiday glow changes everything. Whether you are heading to a warm destination or staying home for the Christmas season, building your glow early makes winter feel brighter, warmer, and more effortless. With the right preparation, you can step into the holidays with skin that looks even, refreshed, and naturally luminous.

Why a holiday glow matters

It is not about looking tanned. It is about feeling healthy, warm, and vibrant during the darkest time of the year, when your skin often feels the opposite. A steady glow can bring life back into your complexion and help you feel more energized and confident during the busiest social season.

A well built glow can:

1. Brighten dull winter skin by adding warmth and dimension that counteracts December dryness.
2. Create a soft, even colour that looks beautiful in seasonal photos, evening lighting, and holiday outfits.
3. Boost confidence for parties and gatherings where you want to feel polished, comfortable, and camera ready.
4. Prep your skin for a tropical getaway by allowing your skin to adjust to gentle UV exposure before stepping into stronger sun.
5. Help prevent burning if you are travelling south, giving your skin a head start before you are exposed to higher UV levels.

A glow adds depth and warmth to your skin tone, complementing everything from cozy sweaters to festive makeup looks. It enhances your overall appearance in a subtle way that feels fresh, not overdone.

Start earlier than you think

Winter skin takes longer to tan. It is naturally drier, paler, and more sensitive, which means you need more time to build colour safely and evenly. Giving yourself enough time ensures your results look smooth, natural, and beautifully layered rather than rushed or irritated.

For Christmas parties and events

Start 2 to 3 weeks before your first event so your glow has time to develop gradually and consistently.

For a holiday vacation

Start 3 to 4 weeks before you fly to allow your skin to adjust at a steady pace, reducing the risk of burning when you arrive somewhere sunny.

Trying to rush your glow last minute often leads to irritated skin, uneven patches, or colour that fades too quickly. Slow and steady always looks better and lasts longer.

No time to build a base glow

If time is not on your side, a spray tan is the perfect last minute solution. It offers an instant, perfected glow without needing weeks of UV buildup. Book 24 to 48 hours before your holiday party, photos, or event for a warm, seamless, photo ready glow with zero downtime.

Choosing the right bed for winter skin

At Arizona Tanning, every UV tier offers unique benefits for winter skin. Choosing the right equipment ensures your glow develops smoothly and safely, even when your skin is at its driest.

Bronze Tier

Perfect for beginners or fair skin needing gentle winter colour.

Corona T40

Builds natural, even colour at a comfortable intensity, making it ideal for clients wanting a subtle winter base.

Gold Tier

Ideal for clients wanting brighter colour and improved skin tone.

Corona Blush

UV paired with red light therapy for a fresh, radiant finish that adds brightness to winter skin.

KBL Pure Energy

Provides even, all over winter colour with no pressure points. Smooth, fast, and consistent for clients who want efficient sessions.

Platinum Tier

Great for experienced tanners or clients prepping for a warm-weather trip. This tier provides the deepest, longest lasting results.

KBL 6800

Luxurious, high intensity colour with advanced comfort features, perfect for building depth during cold months.

Saturn

Powerful, long lasting colour when you need fast results before your holiday escape, ideal for clients who want bold glow with fewer visits.

Pro tips for your best holiday glow

Hydrate constantly

Winter air is extremely dry, which means your skin loses moisture quickly. Well hydrated skin tans deeper, more evenly, and keeps its colour longer.

Use a professional tanning lotion

A quality indoor tanning lotion boosts your results by increasing your skin’s responsiveness to UV, preventing dryness, and enhancing colour depth.

Stay consistent

Two to three sessions per week deliver the most even, natural looking holiday glow. Consistency helps your skin maintain colour and supports healthy development.

Exfoliate and moisturize

Smooth skin develops better colour and holds onto it throughout the season. Gentle exfoliation ensures even application while daily moisture protects your skin barrier.

Finish with a spray tan for events

Even if you have a UV base, a spray tan adds that perfected, airbrushed finish for parties, photos, and special moments. It enhances your glow and elevates your overall look.

TLDR — Glow early. Glow gently. Glow smart.

Winter skin needs time, hydration, and consistency. Start early, build gradually, and choose the right equipment for your goals. Whether you are travelling, celebrating, or simply want to feel confident this Christmas season, we are here to help you create your warmest, brightest holiday glow. Glow now. Thank yourself all season.

Introduction

What if you could get a beautiful, even tan and give your skin a little love at the same time?

That’s exactly what our Red Light + UV Corona Blush Bed delivers. It’s not just another tanning session — it’s a premium experience that combines the skin-rejuvenating benefits of red light therapy with the gentle, colour-enhancing effects of UV.

Here’s why this bed is your new go-to for a healthy, radiant glow that looks as good as it feels.

What is red light therapy?

Red light therapy uses non-UV light that penetrates below the surface to help improve your skin’s overall health, tone, and texture.

It’s been shown to:

• Stimulate collagen production for firmer, plumper skin.
• Reduce inflammation and promote healing.
• Improve skin elasticity and smoothness.
• Enhance radiance and even skin tone.

Think of it as a facial for your entire body — but one that also prepares your skin to tan more evenly and beautifully.

Why combine red light + UV?

Here’s where the magic really happens: when you combine red light with UV in one session, you get the best of both worlds.

• Healthier-looking skin, even colour.
  Red light improves your skin’s condition so it absorbs UV more evenly — resulting in a smoother, more natural-looking tan.
• A radiant, natural glow.
  The blush effect from the red light brings blood closer to the surface, enhancing your natural colour and giving you that healthy, sun-kissed flush.
• Skin-loving benefits beyond tanning.
  Red light is also known to help improve certain skin conditions by calming inflammation and supporting healing. Many clients notice clearer, calmer skin over time — particularly if they experience mild acne, eczema, or psoriasis.
• A gentle, skin-conscious experience.
  Because this bed is designed to prioritize skin health and rejuvenation, the UV exposure is more subtle — making it perfect for anyone who wants a gradual, even tan without the intensity of higher-pressure beds.

Who is this bed for?

The Red Light + UV Blush Bed is ideal for:

• Clients looking for a skin-conscious, luxurious tanning experience.
• Those with dry, sensitive, or mature skin who want added rejuvenation.
• Anyone managing mild skin concerns like redness, breakouts, or irritation.
• Clients who prefer a softer, more natural-looking glow.

Pro tips for your best session

• Use a professional tanning lotion — we can recommend one that works beautifully with red light + UV.
• Stay consistent — the benefits of red light build over time, so regular sessions yield the best results.
• Hydrate your skin before and after — moisturized skin responds better and keeps your colour looking fresh.

The bottom line

If you’re ready to take your glow to the next level — and treat your skin while you’re at it — the Red Light + UV Blush Bed is waiting for you.

This isn’t just tanning. It’s skin care, self-care, and confidence in one beautiful session.

If you’re curious or want help incorporating it into your routine, just ask — we’d love to help you experience the difference.

Introduction

Let’s be real: nothing ruins a trip faster than a sunburn on day one.

You’ve booked the flights, planned the outfits, and counted down the sleeps. But if your plan is to roll up to the resort with bare, untanned skin, you might spend the rest of your vacation under a beach umbrella, peeling and annoyed.

That’s where a base tan comes in.

It gives your skin a head start before the real sun hits. You’ll look more even, tan more easily, and avoid going from zero to lobster in 10 minutes flat.

Here’s how to build a base tan that actually works — without rushing, overdoing it, or wrecking your skin along the way.

Why bother with a base tan?

Spoiler: it’s not just about showing up glowing.

A well-built base tan helps your skin adjust to UV gradually, reducing the chances of burns or uneven colour when you’re in stronger sun. It can also make your sunscreen work better — by giving your skin a bit more UV resilience, your SPF has less to fight off, and you’re less likely to burn with proper protection in place.

Think of it like a warm-up before a workout. You wouldn’t sprint cold — and your skin shouldn’t, either.

What a base tan can do:

• Give your skin a gradual intro to UV exposure
• Help prevent burns and uneven colour
• Increase the effectiveness of your SPF
• Let your real vacation tan build more evenly
• Start you off with a glow, not a burn

What it can’t do:

• Replace sunscreen
• Make you immune to sun damage
• Justify laying out all day with zero protection (don’t do it)

Start early — like, earlier than you think

Building real, even colour takes time. If you want to glow by the time you land, you’ve got to start before the packing phase.

Aim to start 3–4 weeks before your trip

Depending on your skin type and goals, we usually recommend 2–3 sessions per week to build colour gradually and safely. If you’re fair or new to tanning, even earlier is better.

Trying to squeeze in 4 sessions the week before you leave? Not the move. That’s how you end up red, irritated, or worse — flaking before your first beach day.

Choosing the right bed

At Arizona Tanning, we offer three tiers of UV tanning — Bronze, Gold, and Platinum — featuring premium equipment to help you safely and beautifully build your base tan before vacation. Each tier offers a different experience, and our team is happy to guide you to the perfect choice for your skin, goals, and timeline.

Here’s a closer look at each tier and the beds you can choose from:

Bronze Tier

Our most gentle option — perfect for beginners, fair skin, or anyone looking to build their glow gradually.

• Corona T40
  A classic entry-level bed, ideal for building a natural, even tan over multiple sessions at a comfortable intensity.
  

Gold Tier

A step up in power — great for those with some colour already, or anyone looking for more noticeable results in less time.

• Corona Blush
  An upgraded version of the T40 with added red light therapy for enhanced skin rejuvenation and a beautiful, radiant finish.
  
• KBL Pure Energy
  A stand-up booth that provides even, all-over colour without pressure points, helping you tan more efficiently and evenly.
  

Platinum Tier

Our most advanced, high-pressure beds — perfect for experienced tanners who want maximum results in fewer sessions.

• KBL 6800
  A luxurious, high-performance bed that delivers deep, rich colour quickly, with advanced comfort features for a premium experience.
  
• Saturn
  A high-pressure stand-up booth designed for powerful, long-lasting colour — ideal for achieving a dark, even glow before your trip.
  

Pro tips for the perfect base tan

• Use a professional tanning lotion.
  Dry skin reflects UV and slows down your progress — lotion helps you tan faster, deeper, and more evenly.
• Start low, go slow.
  Don’t jump into the longest session right away. We’ll guide you based on your skin type.
• Be consistent.
  Spacing out your sessions too much will slow your progress. Think of it like training — it works best when you stick to it.
• Exfoliate and moisturize.
  Smooth, hydrated skin develops colour better and holds onto it longer. Dry, flaky skin? Not so much.‍
• Keep using SPF on vacation.
  A base tan helps, but it’s not a free pass to skip sunscreen. Reapply regularly and stay smart in the sun.

TL;DR — Start early, go slow, and tan smart

A base tan helps you avoid burns, tan more evenly, and step off the plane already glowing. But like anything worth doing, it takes time and the right setup.

If you’re not sure which bed or package makes sense for your trip, just ask. We’re here to help you plan the perfect glow — so you can focus on making memories, not worrying about your skin.

Glow now. Thank yourself later.

Introduction

Here’s the thing: if you’re stepping into a tanning bed without lotion, you’re setting yourself up for a tan that’s uneven, fades fast, and feels… meh. It’s one of the most common mistakes we see — and one of the easiest to fix.

Tanning lotion isn’t just about smelling good or adding a little shimmer. It’s a functional product that helps your skin tan better, develop colour more evenly, and hold onto it longer. Without it, you’re basically tanning the driest, most stubborn layer of your skin — the one that’s already halfway to flaking off. That means more sessions for less payoff, and a tan that fades before you even get to show it off.

What’s actually happening when you tan

Tanning beds use UV light to trigger melanin production in your skin — the natural pigment that gives you colour. But that process also dehydrates your skin like crazy. Think about it: you’re exposing your skin to concentrated UV rays. It’s a fast, controlled version of sun exposure… and your skin feels it.

Dry skin reflects UV light instead of absorbing it. That means:

• Your tan develops more slowly
• The colour doesn’t go as deep
• And it fades faster — because the outer skin cells flake off more quickly
  

Here’s where lotion comes in. Indoor tanning lotions are designed to hydrate and condition your skin while you tan, so the light can actually reach the melanin-producing layers underneath. Many also contain ingredients that stimulate melanin production, giving your skin a head start before the UV even kicks in.

No lotion = tanning the dry, dull surface layer that’s about to shed
Lotion = deeper, richer, longer-lasting colour

“Can’t I just use my regular body lotion?”

Short answer? No. Long answer? Absolutely not — and here’s why:

We get it — you’ve got moisturizers at home, maybe even fancy ones. But regular lotions (even expensive ones!) are made for daily hydration, not tanning. They’re full of ingredients that interfere with UV tanning, like:

• SPF or UV blockers – even a tiny amount can prevent the light from doing its job
• Oils – these can coat the skin in a way that actually blocks absorption
• Fragrance compounds + alcohols – these dry your skin out even more under UV
• Ingredients that damage the bed – many everyday lotions can degrade the acrylic surface over time, which is a big no-no in salons

Indoor tanning lotions are specially formulated to:

• Absorb quickly and cleanly
• Support melanin production without blocking UV
• Hydrate without leaving residue
• Protect both your skin and the bed

They’re not just better — they’re designed for this exact environment. And once you try them, you’ll feel the difference immediately.

Picking the right lotion for your skin and goals

Here’s a quick breakdown of the main types:

Intensifiers

‍No added bronzers — just ingredients that support natural melanin production and keep skin hydrated. Great for beginners, fair skin tones, or anyone building a base tan.

Natural Bronzers

These lotions contain plant-based or mineral bronzing agents such as caramel or walnut that give you a subtle, instant tint that washes off after your next shower, while your natural tan develops underneath. Ideal if you want to leave the salon with a light glow right away.

DHA Bronzers

Contain DHA (a sugar-derived compound) that reacts with the skin to develop a deeper tan over the next few hours. These deliver the richest results — ideal for regular tanners or when you want that wow colour.

Need help choosing? Just ask — we’ll point you to something that fits your vibe and your skin type.

Pro tips for using lotion

• Always apply lotion right before you get into the bed — not at home hours before.
• Use enough to fully cover your skin, but don’t overdo it — a thin, even layer is perfect.
• Don’t forget spots like your feet, hands, and behind your knees.
• Pair it with a separate lotion made for your face — regular indoor lotion can be too heavy or pore-clogging for delicate facial skin.

The bottom line

This isn’t about “being extra.” It’s about getting what you came for.

Tanning lotion does more than just smell good. It helps you tan faster, tan better, and hold onto that glow longer — while keeping your skin smooth and happy. Without it, you’re fighting against the process (and wasting your session).

You’re investing time and money into your tan… and if you’re not using the right products, you’re wasting both.

We’ve got a curated selection in-salon — and we’re always down to help you find your perfect match.