Luxe Glow customer guide
Spray tan or sunbed: understand the difference
Luxe Glow Studio · Updated 15 October 2026
A spray tan applies a sunless tanning product; a sunbed exposes skin to ultraviolet radiation. Luxe Glow offers a private automated Mystic spray tan booth and a range of UV sunbeds. They are different services with different preparation, pricing and risks, so choosing one is not simply choosing a stronger or weaker version of the other.
The UK Health Security Agency discourages cosmetic sunbed use. UV exposure can damage skin. A premium model, shorter session or salon course does not remove that risk. This comparison is service information, not medical clearance to tan.
Compare what happens at the studio
| Question | Automated spray tan | UV sunbed |
|---|---|---|
| How is colour produced? | A sunless tanning product is applied by the booth. | Skin is exposed to UV radiation. |
| Who applies it? | The machine applies the product in the private booth. | You use the selected sunbed following the studio's operating instructions. |
| How is it priced? | Per session or a block of sessions. | Single sessions or a minute balance in the relevant course tier. |
| What needs checking? | Product suitability, shade, preparation and the instructions for that application. | UV risks, eligibility and equipment instructions before any purchase or use. |
| Does colour mean sun protection? | Do not treat cosmetic colour as sunscreen. | A tan does not make further UV exposure safe. |
If you are considering a spray tan
Our automated spray tan service uses a Mystic booth. The machine applies the product; it is not a therapist-applied airbrush service. Staff explain the process before you enter, so ask about the booth instructions, shade options and anything you need to know before starting.
Get preparation and aftercare instructions for the actual product used. In particular, confirm when you may rinse and what to avoid while it develops. Do not use another salon's timings or a generic social-media routine as a substitute: the relevant instructions are those for your application. Our Mystic booth aftercare guide collects the published timings, and booth or hand-sprayed compares the booth with a technician-applied tan.
If this is for an occasion, tell the team the event date and ask how to plan around it, or read our holiday and wedding spray tan checklist. Do not assume that a last-minute walk-in leaves enough time for the process, development and your other plans. The existing spray tan event guide introduces the service; contact the studio for your specific questions.
If you are considering a sunbed
Read the health information before comparing equipment or course prices. UKHSA advises against sunbed use for cosmetic tanning, particularly warning people with very fair skin, those who burn easily and those with a history of skin cancer not to use one. People under 18 cannot use commercial sunbeds, although the spray tan booth has no age limit. For individual medical concerns, seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Our equipment page identifies the beds available, which sunbed compares the six models, and the course guide explains balances and price tiers. Neither should be used to calculate a tanning schedule. A course is a purchase arrangement, not a treatment plan or an assurance of suitability.
Keep sun protection separate from colour
The NHS sun-safety guidance explains that tanning does not protect skin from the sun's harmful effects. Continue to use shade, appropriate clothing and sunscreen outdoors. Do not extend time in the sun because you have acquired colour before a holiday.
Check the practical details before paying
Use the current price list to compare the actual purchase: spray sessions are not interchangeable with sunbed minutes. Ask which service a package covers and whether any offer has different expiry terms. If a product suitability question remains unresolved, settle that before buying a block.
Luxe Glow is at Unit 4, Onyx Retail Park, Manvers Way, Wath upon Dearne, S63 7FN. Walk-ins are welcome, but equipment availability and waiting time vary. Check contact details and opening hours before travelling and call the studio with questions about the service you are considering.