Orange you glad sunless tanning improved?

I had an epiphany the other day at the hair salon. Well, I’m not sure if epiphany is the right word, but I came to the following conclusion about my life: I’m not going to go tanning anymore. Yes, I always knew it was bad for me and I’ve been trying to kick addiction for a while. But at the hair salon, I made my final decision.

To make a long story short: My hairdresser Ambrosia (from Magnum Opus salon – Ambrosia is fabulous, by the way!) told me a terrifying story about a client of hers. The client is a girl who is younger than me. She used to go tanning all the time in high school and college (like me!) and got skin cancer at the age of 20.

My head was spinning when I heard this. 20? That’s so young! It never occurred to me that something like that could happen to someone so young.

More than anything, the story was a wakeup call for me. And it was enough to persuade me that a little brown isn’t worth the consequences.

Luckily, there are other options for those of us who enjoy a bronzed glow. UV-free tanning has gotten way better than it was when it first hit the market in the 1960s. In fact, it has gotten much better than it was when I started playing around with it in the early 2000s. Back then the likelihood that your skin would turn streaky and orange was more than a little high. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of sunless tanning disasters.

But now, there are many good sunless tanners on the market that provide a quick, natural-looking tan. And they come in all sorts of consistencies and styles to fit your personal taste. You have your tanning lotions, sprays, foams, gels, wipes… The list goes on and on.

The best sunless tanners:

Clarins Self Tanning Gel, $32.50 – Obviously, this is a gel. It’s a really great sunless tanner. I’ve never had any problems with streakiness or orangeness when using this self tanner. It’s a little expensive, but it’s a really good buy. And it lasts forever.

Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer, $8 – This is a good option if you’re willing to wait around for your tan. It’s a moisturizer that builds a tan over time. Personally, I find the concept a little bit silly. If you want to be tan and moisturized, why not buy an INSTANT tanning moisturizer? But I guess it’s good for tanning newbies and people who are scared of commitment. It provides a nice, even, natural-looking tan. And the price is right.

L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Towelettes, $5.99 – This tanner comes in the form of a wipe. I like the tan it produces but I have had slight issues with streakiness from these wipes. Also, I find that one wipe isn’t enough to coat my entire body. So, I usually end up wasting another wipe on my legs. Still, it’s cheap and produces a nice color.

Neutrogena Instant Bronze Sunless Tanner and Bronzer in One, $7.89 – This sunless tanner is in foam form. It colors your skin instantly, which makes it easy to tell if you’ve missed a spot. The color is very natural. This was my favorite sunless tanner in high school. It’s a great overall body tanner, and it’s cheap. However, the tan doesn’t last as long as it does with other tanners.

Bare Escentuals Faux Tan Self-Tanner, $22 – This is my favorite sunless tanner of the moment. It also has an instant bronzer, so it’s easy to see where you’re putting it. It smells much better than other tanners, which is a major plus. And I’ve had really good luck with the color and the consistency. I highly recommend this product.

I haven’t yet tried any spray-on self tanners (other than mystic tanning). But I ran into my friend Chardae this morning while I was getting coffee and we got talking and she told me that she swears by her spray-on self tanner. She couldn’t remember the name of the brand, but I’ll follow up with her and let you all know when she tells me.

My sunless tanning tips:
+Exfoliate before you tan. Your tan will last longer and it’s less likely that it will turn out streaky.
+Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. This will make your tan last longer too.
+ALWAYS wash your palms immediately after you use sunless tanner. Otherwise, they absolutely will turn 100% orange. I learned that the hard way.
+For a less dramatic tan on my face, I like to mix some of my favorite sunless tanner in with my daily moisturizer, then apply.

So, next time you’re considering going tanning in a tanning bed, think about the girl who got skin cancer at the age of 20. Then, think about all the UV-free tanning options there are on the market right now.