Perfect Tanning Without The Sun

Memorial Day may be the official kickoff to the summer, but if you can't hit the beach to start working on that gorgeous golden glow, fear not. There's always the fake tan!

The Early Show's stylist to the stars, David Evangelista, showcased a few self-tanners that will give you skin that sun-kissed look, without exposing yourself to the sun's dangerous effects.

He points out that the newest self-tanners come in different formulations (tan towels, creams, gels and mousses, or sprays), so you can pick whichever you're most comfortable with, and they're built to give you a natural glow that can, depending on the product you choose, last up to six days and fade gradually, much like a real tan. And, unlike in years past, self-tanners today are quick-drying and mess-free, so you can get a gorgeous glow quickly and easily at home.

Evangelista says there are a few basic steps to getting the perfect self-tan and, if you follow them, you'll get a flawless, golden glow:

1. Exfoliate: Either with a wash cloth or fine-grain exfoliating scrub, your skin should be exfoliated to prime for self-tanner application)

2. Moisturize: Every area where you'll be applying the self-tanner should be moisturized lightly, but don't apply self-tanner while your skin is damp; let the moisturizer settle into your skin for five-to-ten minutes before applying the tanner.

3. Take care with "problem areas": As an option for your hands, which can be particularly tricky to get looking natural, apply the self-tanner as you would a moisturizer, but then quickly wipe your palms off on a slightly soapy washcloth. You can also use a makeup sponge to apply self-tanner to the back of your hands, tops of your feet, temples, and hairline.

Skin-care products such as AHAs, BHA, topical scrubs, Retin-A, and topical disinfectants can affect the self-tanner's action on your skin, or even eliminate the color by exfoliating the surface skin cells, so it's best not to apply these products the evening you apply a self-tanner. However, if you have to, then wait at least two to three hours before you do.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SELF-TANNER

Some self-tanners will react differently with your skin, providing varying changes in color. Moisturizing cream and lotion formulas are easier to smooth across the skin, will add hydration, and work well for dry, aging or sensitive skin. Lotions and creams are also easier to work with than sprays, because you have a better idea of exactly where you're applying the product. Gels and sprays, however, dry faster, are more convenient, and may work better for combination, or oily skin types. Additionally, spray-on tanners are recommended for men, because of their body hair.

When it comes to using the self-tanner, give it time! It can take self-tanners between 20 minutes and 10 hours to develop on the skin, so wait six-to-ten hours before reapplying, no matter what the bottle says, or you can get darker-than-expected results. And don't buy too dark: Choose "light to medium" formulations if you're fair, and only buy "dark" if your skin tone is dark to begin with.

CREAMS/LOTIONS/GELS/MOUSSES

These are all applied in the same way: Rub the product into your skin, like a moisturizer, and reapply for deeper or darker color. Some people prefer lotions and creams for their dry skin (obviously, thick lotions and creams provide some moisturizing effects); others prefer them purely because they take longer to build up an overall tan than other options (the benefit being that the user has more time and leeway for ensuring that the self-tanner has been applied evenly on the skin). However others prefer the quick-drying action of gels and mousses (they basically dissolve right into the skin), since there's no time wasted in waiting for them to dry on the skin (that said, there's less room for making mistakes when you're using a mousse or a gel; you have to be pretty quick-handed to get the product blended all over the skin before it dries, but most of these products are designed to be applied evenly all over your skin). There are also triple-packed self tan lotions available: Jergens, the company that made self-tanning easy for everyone a few years ago with its "Natural Glow" products, now has self-tanning lotions for the face with SPF 20, and for the body with "firming" properties to improve skin elasticity. Clinique, Philosophy and Decleor all have similar products, "muti-action" self tanners, and a grouping of standard but effective single-action self-tanners.

A few noteworthy creams/lotions/gels/mousses:
- Clinique Self-Sun Body Quick Bronze mousse
- Clairns Gelee Auto-Bronzante Hydratante Special Visage
- Rodial Instant Glow self tan gel
- Aveda Sun Source cream
- Jergens Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer
- Jergens Natural Glow Face Daily Moisturizer with SPF 20
- Philosophy The Big Skinny Tinted Body Shaper in a Tube
- Decleor Aroma Sun Gel-Creme Teinte with SPF 10

TAN TOWELS

Perhaps the easiest way to get a great glow is by using tan towels, which come pre-loaded with self-tanner and are disposable, and very portable. The beauty of tan towels is that they make streaking virtually impossible (you just rub the towel all over your skin, and since the amount of self-tanner in the towel is controlled, you're not going to get uneven distribution of the tanner), and the whole application process is mess-free. People have, however, found that they forget which areas they have covered, because the skin dries so quickly, resulting in missed spots. Others, usually those with darker skin colors, have found that the towels have produced no major visible difference because an insufficient concentration of DHA was in the formulation.

Two to try:

- L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes
- Estée Lauder Go Tan Sunless Towelettes

SPRAYS

Once upon a time, spray-tanners were miserable. They were heavy globs of orangey spay that dribbled out of a can, and made your skin look more diseased than tan. They'd also leave a huge mess everywhere around you, turning all of your clothing, linens, and furniture a not-so-lovely Oompah Loompah orange. But spray-tanners have changed enormously over the last few years, and they're now fine mists that cover the skin (and the skin alone) just perfectly. The main advantage of sprays is in their fine application, which minimizes streaking and cuts out the need to use the hands. They also dry a lot more quickly than many gels and lotions, because they're lighter, and they're excellent choices for oily skin as they don't moisturize and are absorbed very quickly into the skin.

A few of the best sprays:

- MAC Sundressing Spray Bronzant, and Studio Mist Foundation (for face, in bronze)
- Teracotta Spray Brume Poudre Bronzante
- Sally Hansen Airbrush Shine
- Bliss Scrub + Color Hue-it-Yourself self-tanning set

BRONZERS

Once you have a great base color on your skin, you can accentuate it even more with a great bronzer. Alternatively, if you don't want to put a self-tanner onto your face, you can just go with a bronzer and get a gorgeous glow. The best tip for finding the right bronzer: Look for one that has several different colors in it, not just a single brick-like color. Look for one that has several different colored powders in one palate (often, you'll find the bronze hues accompanied by pinks, white shimmers, even ochre tints) — they'll give you a more natural glow than the mono-chromed bronzers of yesteryear that left a harsh, heavy, mask-like color on the face. For the most natural look, apply bronzer where the sun would normally hit you: cheekbones, forehead, bridge of the nose and a little dusting on the chin.

Some of the best available:

- Guerlain's Terracotta Bronzing Powder
- T. LeClerc Terre D'Ete
- Lancome Star Bronzer
- Smashbox The Strip
- Clinique Shimmering Tones Powder in Bare Bronze