Can a spray tan improve mood? Vogue writer tests the claim

A Vogue writer explores whether spray tans can boost mood, citing Kylie Jenner's claim on a podcast that she sometimes mistakes paleness for depression. A 2022 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology links tanned appearance to emotional well-being and improved body image. Celebrity spray tanner Jimmy Coco, who has worked with the Kardashians for over 20 years, agrees that tans uplift mood through compliments. The writer, naturally pale, visits a Sugared + Bronzed in Brooklyn for a spray tan. The salon uses DHA, an FDA-approved ingredient from sugar beet, and Jimmy Coco adds erythrulose from blueberries and hyaluronic acid. After a level two tan (compared to a weekend at the beach), the writer marinates for six hours, then rinses. Friends notice the change, with one saying she looks "alive." The writer feels more confident and finds the tan makes her features pop, but concludes she won't ditch her antidepressant.