by Heather Cone

Created on: April 22, 2009

Staying stylish during the summer months can be difficult for those of us who:
A) don't have time to bask all day in the sun
B) Don't like the idea of being trapped in between two layers of UV light bulbs or
C) actually worry about things like skin cancer and premature aging.

The summer shorts and flirty dress trend is so appealing, but the thought of pasty white legs matched with a cute pair of slouchy shorts is not! There are so many self tanners available now that there is almost one to suit everyone. I have been using self tanners for years and have tried almost all of them. From the drug store brand to the "Mystic Tan" I have bronzed my skin and perfected my routine.

Here are some tips for a flawless sunless tan:

For the Do-it-yourself tan:

* Be sure to clean and exfoliate the skin before applying.
* Wear latex gloves when applying to avoid overly tanned palms.
* Use a make-up sponge or a cotton ball to dab the tanner on
elbows, knees, and ankles.
* Apply a little tanner to the sponge on the end of an extended
back cleaner to reach your back.
* Mix with moisturizer for a more even and subtle color

I searched around and found the brands that appeared most often on different favorites lists as well as my favorites, here are the top 5:

1. Banana Boat Summer Color Lotion
Pro's - Good color
Quick drying time
3 days before color starts to fade
Con's - Color fades a little unevenly

2. Neutrogena Sunless Tanning Spray
Pro's - Easy to apply
Drys quickly
Con's - The color is not as dark as you might like

3. Bain De Soleil Streakguard
Pro's - As the name suggests it is very helpful in avoiding
embarrassing streaks
Good scent
Con's - Color fades very quickly

4. Coppertone Endless Summer Tanning Lotion
Pro's - One of the best for color
Con's - Fades very quickly
Long drying time
Stains clothes

5. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Lotion
Pro's - Tinted color makes this easy to apply and gives you a bronze look
Fades evenly
Pleasant scent
Con's - Takes hours to dry

Airbrush Tanning:
If you have the money and the time this is the best way to achieve a natural looking sunless tan. A trained airbrush technician will airbrush every part of your pale body for a perfectly bronzed look.
This takes a little bit longer, but in my experience the color lasts longer too. The color is also more even than if you tried to do it yourself.
It can cost anywhere from $45.00 and up so it is not the cheapest solution but if you need a perfect tan for your Caribbean vacation this is a good option.

Sunless Tanning Booths:
Sunless tanning booths are cheaper than the airbrushed and more expensive than the drug store sunless tanning bottle. The results are also somewhere in the middle.
You can get a good tan from stepping into one of these booths, but be cautious when blending it in. Points to be very careful about are your feet, neck, arm pits and derrire.
The cost is usually between $20.00 and $30.00 and the color lasts about 4 full days before fading.

Now that you have all of the info for a perfect summer glow there are no excuses for ghostly white legs!

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