Our Founder's Story
When It Started
After years of baking and using Solariums as a teen, and witnessing her parents damaged skin, skin cancers and melanoma from growing up on Sydney's Bondi Beach, In 2005, Amy was a freelance makeup artist who had converted to a weekly fake tan herself and saw the need to encourage her clients to do the same. She had a passion for sunless glows and educating on the importance of sun safety, soon enough her makeup and tanning business was loved by hundreds of regular clients.
Why It Matters
Growing up, Amy saw her family battle skin cancer from years of sun exposure on Sydney's beaches. She knew there had to be a safer way to glow. Her Mum suffering her first BCC at just 24 which grew into bone requiring major surgery and also surviving Melanoma and her Dad almost losing his jaw bone and chin to a fast growing (SCC) skin cancer. Amy's younger brother also had major plastic surgery to remove a BCC from his head.
The Journey
She started out as a mobile tanner, eventually moving into a home tanning studio, then became Nine Network Sydney’s contracted celebrity spray tan artist, perfecting streak-free, red carpet glows for all of Sydney's biggest stars. In 2015, she launched Southern Sydney’s largest combined hair and beauty salon, building a clientele of 14,000 in a 400sqm salon with 15 staff. By 2024, she sold it all to focus on her one true passion, the Island Vibes product.
The Launch
In 2021, pregnant and chasing a toddler, Amy was drawn to dive into her passion for a sunless glow and with much less time for her own weekly tan, wanted to work closely with a pharmacist to develop a quick and easy express glow that was the same quality in salon as it was when applied at home —it needed to be easy fool-proof application, fast-developing with quick wash off time, natural-looking, and hydrating with no fake tan smell. After two years of development, Island Vibes Tanning launched in 2024—a real-looking glow so good, no one will know it’s faux.
The Inspiration
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
With a strong family history of Melanoma and Skin cancers, our founder is passionate about spreading awareness and pushing the 'fake tan' trend to ensure we are helping prevention of skin cancers and preserving our youthful skin from the sun. Sun Safety is a HUGE part of our brand identity and messaging. Looking and feeling amazing and sun kissed all year round, is possible without the harsh UV rays causing damage to our skin.
What We’re About
Island Vibes is all about community, inclusivity, and authenticity. We create sunless tanning and lifestyle products designed to make you feel like you're on vacation, all year round.
Breaking Beauty Barriers
Our founder’s diverse clientele inspires us to break beauty barriers by using models of all ages, sizes, skin tones, genders, and abilities. Tanning isn’t just for the “young”—it’s for anyone who wants to glow!
That Holiday Feeling
Inspired by our founder’s love for tropical getaways, Island Vibes is all about bringing that sun-kissed, just-back-from-vacation glow to your weekly routine. Because looking good should feel effortless—and shouldn't just be saved for those special occasions.
A Word From Our Founder
“More than just another tan brand, I want to create an inclusive and diverse lifestyle brand, that is represented by real people, that is relatable and authentic. A brand with all the elements to create that vacation feel, every day, all year round. Easily accessible and educational, for our community to understand all aspects of our products and have them feeling like their best self. When we look good, we feel good, and when we feel good, our whole vibe changes. It lifts our vibration and we live a more positive life”