How to look tan without a tanning bed

Opting for a spray tan means you can go to the tanning salon without damaging your skin. But look out: Spray tans can be pricey (anywhere from $25 to $70), so you may want to save them for special occasions. Spray tans tend to last about a week and, when done correctly, they can give you a natural-looking, sun-kissed bronze.

How to make a spray tan work for you

• Do your research. Find out what spray tan method the salon uses. Some people have sensitive skin, so you may want to test the product on a patch of skin (somewhere discreet) to see whether or not you have an allergic reaction to it.
• Exfoliate first. Use a loofah, gentle washcloth, or exfoliating mitt (it looks like an oven mitt). This will help slough off dead skin cells on the surface of your skin to give you an even glow.
• Shave or wax first (if you want to). If you plan to remove body hair, do so before heading to the salon. It will help exfoliate your skin.
• Avoid the orange glow. Skip a few weeks between sprays and gradually increase the shade of your tan instead of going dark all at once.

“If you take care of your skin properly, like using lotion every time you get out of the shower and pat yourself dry, [a spray tan] lasts for almost a week and takes a lot less time than tanning in a bed!”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, South Dakota State University

“Spray tans work well after the first [time you take a] shower, but they have a tendency to darken clothes. Don’t wear light colors if you spray tan!”
—Recent graduate, University of North Dakota School of Law

“For prom I would get a spray tan, which worked really well. If you go to a professional who knows what they are doing you should be fine. [Some people used tanning beds] and it took a lot of time and money. In addition, it ruined their skin’s health.”
—First-year undergraduate, Simpson College, Iowa

Worried that your skin may look washed out? Every skin tone has a color palette that can flatter you year-round. This applies to any skin color, gender, and any type of clothing. There are three main types of skin undertones:

• Cool (pink, red, or bluish undertones)
• Warm (yellow, peachy, golden undertones)
• Neutral (this can have both pink and yellow undertones)

Step 1   Figure out your undertones

• The jewelry test: Do you look better in gold or silver?
  • Gold = warm undertones
  • Silver = cool undertones
  • Both = neutral
• Think yellow: Picture yourself in a yellow shirt. If you look great in yellow, you probably have warm undertones. If yellow is not your best color, you probably have cool undertones.

Step 2   Dress your best

• Colors for warm undertones: You may look best in earth tones such as brown, yellow, orange, orangey-red, and moss green.
• Colors for cool undertones: Go for jewel tones like blue, purple, teal, deep red, and emerald green.
• Neutral undertones: Lucky you. You probably look good in colors for both cool and warm undertones.

“I tried to tan once but decided it was not worth the risk. People better like me for who I am and not how dark I am. I am pasty and proud of it.”
—Recent graduate, Northern Illinois University

Bronzer can be your best friend. Makeup provides a short-term healthy glow in just a few easy steps. Guys can wear bronzer too, and there are some great men’s products out there for natural-looking bronzed skin.

How to get your bronze on

• Know your options. Bronzers come in three forms: powder, cream, and gel. Each one has its own benefits. Powder is quick and almost error-proof, cream gives a dewy look, and gel provides a sheer look that is great for oily skin.
• Choose your shade wisely. The most natural-looking bronzers have brown tones with hints of red. Avoid anything with an orange tone. To keep it from looking fake, choose a bronzer that is only half a shade darker than your skin tone. Not sure of your shade? Ask a friend to help you pick the right match.
• Apply it. Use bronzer where the sun would naturally hit your face—forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin.
• Check yourself out. Want to turn up the natural glow even more? Sweep pink or rose blush on the apples of your cheeks after bronzing.

If hitting up a spray tan salon isn’t your scene, try using a self-tanner in the comfort of your own home. Self-tanners can be found at your local drugstore, and can fit any budget (prices range from about $10 to over $100 for the fancy stuff). Most products last three to seven days when applied correctly.

How to self-tan without regrets

• Prep first. As with a spray tan, exfoliate before you begin, and if you want to shave or wax, do that now too.
• Rub it in. Apply the tanner in sections (such as arms, then legs, then torso). Massage it into your skin in a circular motion. Remember to wash your hands in between sections or wear gloves to avoid the dreaded orange palm.
• Patience is key. When you’re done, wait at least 10 minutes before getting dressed, unless you want streaky clothes.
• Double up. Try a self-tanner that also has SPF 30 or higher to show off your new tan and prevent unsightly burns at the same time. If you can’t find a self-tanner with SPF, wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30 in addition to your tanner.

How to apply self-tanner

“I have used a self-tanning product for certain occasions. It left no streaks and looked completely natural and subtle.”
—Third-year undergraduate, East Tennessee State University

You don’t need to avoid the sun completely. With a few stylish accessories that are probably already in your closet, you can still safely get outdoors. Hats and sunglasses are your best bet, and just about everyone can rock them.
Your slay-it guide to hats and sunglasses

• Cover up. Look for hats with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. Floppy beach hats and even cowboy hats are great options. Hats made out of canvas provide better sun protection than straw hats.
• Wear a baseball cap plus sunscreen. Your favorite baseball cap is great for sun protection, but it only protects your face. Use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to protect your ears and the back of your neck, too.
• Avoid squinting. Sunglasses shield your eyes from UV rays and protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure. Shades that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the US meet this standard.
• Complete your ensemble. Slather on sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) to protect the rest of your skin, particularly your arms, legs, chest, and anywhere else that’s likely to be exposed.

“The only sun damage I have experienced has been when I was too stubborn to listen to my mother while being outside, and received a sunburn that turned me red enough to make a tomato jealous.”
—First-year undergraduate, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Studies have found that tanning can be addictive. But it’s not always the tan itself that creates the addiction—it’s also the warmth of the sunbed. If you’re craving heat, especially in the colder months, trade tanning for a warm shower or bath at home. If you add in some candles and relaxing music, you can warm up and de-stress at the same time. When it’s warm out, use a sun umbrella or spend most of your time in a covered area.

What’s the easiest and most affordable option? Embrace your natural glow, no matter how tan it is (or isn’t). Studies show that the fake-tan look is fading in popularity anyway. “Today, the trend is toward embracing your natural skin tone,” Eleanor Langston, former beauty director at Fitness magazine, told the Skin Cancer Foundation. “It just looks fresher and so much more sophisticated.”

Forgoing the tanning salon won’t ruin your love life, either. In a recent CampusWell survey, 83 percent of students said they don’t care at all whether or not their romantic interest is tan. If you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin, it will show. Put your worries of being too pale or too dark to rest and learn to love the skin tone you were born with.

“I am very, very fair skinned, and in high school I was always a little self-conscious of this. I decided to get a spray tan for prom to help me feel more confident. It all went very well, and I had no issues. Looking back on those pictures now as an adult, I can’t believe I was so scared about what other people thought of my skin tone that I spent money on this. Admittedly, some days I still go to the beach and wonder if people are staring at my white thighs, but those days are fewer and farther between because I’ve accepted who I am. I have beautiful, porcelain skin. And I love it.”
—Third-year undergraduate, University of Wisconsin-Stout

“I like to remain pale enough to resemble the virgin snow.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Kutztown University, Pennsylvania

“I’m naturally tan and can honestly say it’s overrated… I’m not sure why people think it’s so great.”
—Second-year undergraduate, University of Maryland-Baltimore County