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The latest trends, techniques, and insider secrets—revealed.

Get Glowing
A couple of easy steps are all it takes to create a gorgeous sun-kissed glow—even in the dead of winter.
By J.P. Mangalindan

When the sun seems as distant as a beachside resort in the South Pacific, it’s difficult not to look pale and pasty. What you really want, of course, is a luxurious sun-kissed glow: one that looks radiant enough that people will notice, but not so resplendent that they’ll think you went skinny-dipping in a vat of molten bronze. So what’s a girl to do? Skip the tanning salon, and rely on self-tanners and bronzers—safe, inexpensive solutions that can look just as convincing as their UV-laden counterparts.

Bronzing Basics
Two of the fastest-growing beauty categories, sunless tanners and bronzers are favorites for those who, like Jennifer Aniston and Kate Bosworth, crave a healthy year-round glow. Many sunless tanners—lotions, gels, mousses, and sprays—feature dihydroxyacetone (DHA), an FDA-approved glycerin derivative that interacts with the skin’s topmost layer. The reaction between DHA and your skin produces melanoidin, the pigment responsible for that highly coveted golden hue.

Bronzers, available as creams, gels, or powders, vary in their application and the way they work. Unlike sunless tanners, bronzers, particularly those in powder form, may merely add a layer of immediate color that can be washed away. Depending on the type of product you use, the amount of time a faux glow lasts can vary: Since powder bronzers don’t react with the skin, the darker effects they create are only good for the day, but the effects of sunless tanners can last as long as a week, until the reactive skin cells have been fully sloughed off via showering and scrubbing.

Gold Standards
These days, there are countless self-tanners and bronzers available, and some of the newer hybrid versions, like the über-popular Jergens Natural Glow, are designed to both moisturize and tan. A favorite of New York City makeup artist Sally Duvall, Natural Glow features small amounts of erythrulose and DHA to produce a subtle color and shimmer gradually over the course of a week, without visible streaking or an orange cast.

Currently sold out at Sephora, J.Lo’s SexyBody Bronzing Body Moisturizer is formulated with vanilla, jasmine, and orange flower. “It’s a body bronzer, but it also has a slight shimmer you can control,” says makeup artist Viviane Hidalgo, of the Primal Studio in Miami. “You can use it everywhere—on your neck, shoulders, and legs. It’s sheer, very light, and versatile enough to suit those with pale skin and those whose skin is a bit darker.” Hidalgo also swears by Laura Mercier Bronzer, a two-toned powder that imparts convincing color and controls shine, while Duvall says Philosophy’s Big Skinny Tinted Body Shaper, which features shea butter, “is easy to apply and not at all heavy.”

Fake Bake 101
Today’s self-tanners and bronzers are clearly an improvement upon their less-believable predecessors, but that doesn’t necessarily mean splotchy streaks and the orangutan effect are things of the past. To ensure that the perfect faux glow is just an application away, remember these simple, proven tips:
Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Sure, everyone says it, but that’s because it’s true. Sloughing off dead cells from the skin’s surface prevents unevenness. “If you have dry skin, the product tends to pool in that area,” Duvall says. “Just a gentle scrubbing with a pair of exfoliation gloves should do the trick.”
A little lotion never hurt anyone. “A bit of moisturizer beforehand goes a long way toward evening out the skin,” Hidalgo says. Don’t forget to apply it to hard-to-reach areas like elbows and knees, to ensure they don’t become too dark.
Protect yourself. Unless you’re dressing up as Garfield for Halloween, orange palms are a beauty taboo. To keep your hands looking human, wear a disposable gloves during application.
The sheerer, the better. The sheerer a product is, the easier it is to apply, and the less likely you are to run into problems. Hidalgo recommends looking in the mirror to make sure you’re distributing the product evenly.
Patience is a virtue: Call us cliché, but good things really do come to those who wait. Before jumping in the shower or going for a swim, think twice. Exposing yourself to water too soon could result in streaks. Instead, wait at least two hours to ensure the tanner has worked its magic.

Photo Credit: Aldra

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