Kelsi Zimmerman is an NYC-based beauty editor, spray tan artist, and founder of The Tan Bible, Best Spray Tans Near Me, and Keke Media; a digital media consulting agency. Her love for self and spray tanning began in the early 2000’s and continued throughout her career as a beauty editor when writing for sites like Allure, InStyle, Elite Daily, Teen Vogue, and more. While covering red carpets and trending celebrity beauty looks she would often wonder who was doing their spray tans and what products they were using. Well, since sunless tanning was rarely covered by other beauty media outlets, she decided to launch The Tan Bible to shine light on the rapid-growing sunless industry through highlighting celebrity tans and featuring sunless news, reviews, and interviews on the site.

From experience trying and writing about every beauty product and professional under the sun to spray tanning since 2010, she’s a true beauty industry professional who wants to give a platform to the sunless industry like never before. Read on to hear about how she got her start, advice for other business owners, the importance of branding, and more.

Social Media: @kekeandthecity , @the_ tan_ bible, @bestspraytansnearme, @kekemedia, @kekes _spraybaes

Year started in the industry: 2010.

How did you get your start in the industry?: My mom owned a full-service hair and beauty salon growing up which was basically my second home. I began helping out in the salon anyway I could at a young age. When I went away to college I began working at a UV and spray tanning salon where I learned to spray then. Then, when I moved to New York after college to pursue my career in journalism, I would work nights and weekends spray tanning. When I became a beauty writer I began trying and reviewing countless self tanners, then finally married my two passions (writing and tanning) when launching The Tan Bible.

What has been the most challenging part of being an entrepreneur? The most rewarding/exciting part?: The most challenging part: getting used to the fact that there are so many highs and lows. Being an entrepreneur means there will be countless highs and lows — often times in a short time period, so staying grounded regardless of the situation is key. The most rewarding part: seeing all of your hard work pay off and looking back and recognizing so much growth.

Best piece advice you’ve ever received (in business or in life)?: The universe helps those who help themselves. It’s really principle of the law of attraction.

Your absolute favorite product or service you offer?: On the beauty side: spray tans! On the digital consulting side: branding — I love helping beauty businesses build their brands and echo their branding from their physical in-store decor to their social media presence and making it all cohesive.

What are your go-to tips for aftercare/maintaining a tan?: Moisturize twice a day when you have a tan. DHA in the spray tan dries your skin out so if you naturally have drier skin or live in a dry climate, your tan is likely to fade faster. Moisturizing twice a day will help prolong your tan as long as possible.

One instance when you should definitely see a spray tan artist vs. using a self-tanner?: For a regular week: use self tanner on your body and touch your face up with a tanning water (I like Isle of Paradise’s Dark Tanning Water) two to three times a week. For special events like weddings, red carpets, photoshoots, or just want a pick-me-up: spray tans all the way.

What do you know now that you wish you would’ve known when starting out in the industry?: There’s enough room for everyone.

Go-to professional solutions? Nuda Canada. Use code “THETANBIBLE” for 10% off.