Orange you glad you're tan
A tan is nothing but your skin desperately making pigment to shield you from the sun's evil rays--but we all want one anyway. There's the sun, yeah, if you don't mind cancer, or you can get self-tanner airbrushed on (like the movie stars), or try snazzy new self-tanning towelettes.
Self-tanners, including sprays, all use the same chemical ingredient--DHA--to stain the top layer of skin. The most important thing, says Thomas Jefferson University dermatologist Tanya Humphreys: The stain makes you look tan, but it won't stop you from burning--so slather on the sunscreen. None of our fake-tan testers turned (horrors!) orange, and all fake tans lasted less than a week.
THE STYLE
Spray-on booth about $25 at tanning salons
THE SKINNY
Hold silly poses while the booth sprays you--but be sure to turn on cue so you don't get tan on just one side.
SKIN CHECK
The "subtle" hue looked great. But the FDA advises not to inhale the mist or let it get near any mucous membranes.
THE STYLE
Airbrush tan $50-$110 at beauty salons
THE SKINNY
Strip, pull on the paper underpants, then stand for 10 to 20 minutes while an esthetician airbrushes self-tanner alllll over.
SKIN CHECK
After a shower, the initial weirdly dark color became a light, natural glow--but our tester inhaled a ton of chemicals.
THE STYLE
Self-tanning towels 10 for $22.50-$27.50, esteelauder.com; 10 for $20-$24, tantowel.com
THE SKINNY
As easy as wipe-wipe-wipe, but it's hard to tell what's already covered, and you probably can't reach your own back.
SKIN CHECK
A tester was "totally sold" on the "perfect tan." Spreading self-tanner on yourself seems completely safe, Humphreys says.
THE STYLE
Sun free, outdoors
THE SKINNY
Lie down. Turn. Repeat. The new sunscreen ingredient Mexoryl gives better UVA protection but is only available online or abroad.
SKIN CHECK
As natural as can be, but watch out for tan lines, lobster burns--and, down the line, wrinkles and skin cancer.
THE STYLE
UV tanning beds $5-$20 a session at tanning salons
THE SKINNY
Put on the goggles and climb into the hot, glowing bed for a few minutes to half an hour, depending on the bed.
SKIN CHECK
A nice bronze, with the same damage the sun imparts: aged skin, risk of cancer. -Helen Fields
This story appears in the June 21, 2004 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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