I got bronzed by the ultimate celebrity spray tan artist — here’s what it was like

When it comes to getting A-listers glowing, Isabel Alysa is a contouring tour de force.

The Celebrity spray tan artist is Hollywood’s best-kept beauty secret, with a client list ranging from the Kardashian-Jenners to Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus — the latter of whom loves her Dolce Glow product line so much, she even became an investor.

And while stars rarely speak out about their pre-red carpet spray tans, I got a peek behind the tanning tent curtain last month when Alysa gave me the superstar treatment, using signature sprays similar to her at-home Dolce Glow Luce Self-Tanning Mist ($53).

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  Dolce Glow Self Tanning Mist

  ulta beauty $53.00

  neiman marcus $53.00

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“When you’re looking at someone on the red carpet …. 99% of the time I’d say it’s because they got a good spray tan,” Alysa told me, noting that beyond bronzing, the sunless glow functions like a “filter on your skin” to “help tone, reduce appearance of cellulite [and] blur imperfections.” 

While I’d never tried tanning products before, Alyssa’s assurances made me confident to dip a toe (and the rest of my body) into the world of the faux glow with one the pop-up tents she uses when working on A-listers at their homes.

Our review

The entire process took only about 15 minutes from start to finish, and Alysa’s signature formula was so comfortable and hydrating it felt like applying luxe skincare all over (plus, it didn’t stain my white bed sheets or clothing). 

Dolce Glow Acqua Hydrating Face Mist

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“It’s not just for celebrities; I want you to feel like a celebrity at home,” she explained. “Our products dry super quick, they don’t smell … you can literally spray tan your entire body in two minutes.”

To get the same glow at home, the expert recommends products like the Dolce Glow Luce Clear Self-Tanning Mist ($53) — which is “hassle-free and mess-free” and has a QR code on the back, should you want to watch a how-to video before you start spritzing.

For “the softest glow you will ever get,” there’s also the Acqua Hydrating Face Mist ($36), which can be used as a setting spray or as the last step of your nighttime routine to “wake up sun-kissed.”

The bottom line

As for my final verdict? Seeing my finished glow made me wonder why I’ve never tried self-tanning before — and why I don’t own daring dresses like Cyrus’ cutout couture to show it off.

After all, while I’m not hanging out with billionaires or walking red carpets anytime soon, a good spray tan’s powers go beyond skin deep — whatever your day may throw your way.

“All the stars you see want to look and feel [their] best, and a spray tan just gives you that inner as well as that outer confidence,” Alysa told me.

And given she’s been part of practically every headline-making Celebrity event — from prepping Kim Kardashian and Lauren Sánchez for Sunday’s Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty to bronzing Sofia Richie for her wedding — it’s only a matter of time before we see more stars get their glow on using Alysa’s product line.

After all, even when the sun’s not out, the (Hollywood) stars are still shining — and thanks to Alysa, us non-famous folks can be, too.