There is no denying that a large majority of us (college ladies, I’m talking to you) prefer looking tanner. As a naturally fair skin brunette, I am 100 percent guilty of this desire.
Recently, my mother asked me why I am so obsessed with looking tan. My response? Who wouldn’t love to look 5 pounds thinner with no cellulite and more muscle definition?
Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but I’m not crazy for wanting to develop more of a golden tone. It’s only natural –no pun intended– for a Florida girl to want to darken her color.
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It’s been (visually) proven that a darker skin tone reflects light off skin evenly and can give an insta-skinny illusion. Plus, your teeth and eyes look brighter when offset with a tan. Pale skin may have been beautiful a century ago, but watch any awards show or open any celebrity weekly and there’s no question where society stands today. People want to look tanner. And even those born with naturally dark skin feel the lure of the sun.
While looking tan may be beautiful, there is definitely an ugly side to the bronzed craze. Even if you’re not an avid UV tanner, random trips to the tanning salon or a few weekend afternoons spent lounging in the sun can lead to potentially life threatening diseases.
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How could a handful of bikini-clad summers and a few tanning-bed cram sessions end up causing cancer, you may ask? Studies have shown that when you endure small bursts of very intense UV exposure the rays can produce serious changes to DNA, which is believed to be the source of malignant changes in cells that can lead to melanoma and other skin cancers. The instant that those DNA mutations occur, your cells are more prone to the long-term carcinogenic effects of UV light over the course of your life. In short: the damage all adds up.
Recent studies show even one trip to a tanning salon can cause irrevocable damage—morphing healthy DNA in skin cells beyond repair and increasing your risk for melanoma by nearly 2 percent with each visit. Plus, tanning has been linked to such non-melanoma skin cancers as squamous- and basal-cell carcinoma, conditions that, if left untreated, can be lethal.
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I’m sure you get the point; tanning is definitely not good for you. I think we all realize that a “healthy” glow is not worth all of the potential sacrifice. But what if you still yearn for that bronzed gleam, especially during the current summer season? The secret is simply, sunless tanners.
No not spray tans, those can get expensive and streaky. I’m talking about bang for your buck, at home, do it yourself, sunless tanners. You probably think that you’d end up looking like a pumpkin if you tried one of these, or that you’d need the most expensive product out there to achieve a long lasting immaculate glow.
Well this is not the case. You can literally hit up CVS after reading this and pick up some of the best self-tanners on the market. Check out my top three below.
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*Tip: Before applying ANY self-tanner be sure to shower, shave, and exfoliate thoroughly. You also want to moisturize the driest parts of your body (think elbows and knees), and you want to apply the tanner in an even and consistent manner. Check out these super simple tutorials for the best ways to apply sunless tanners.
Sun Labs Tanner
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The guys at Sun Labs definitely have the sunless tanner thing down pat. Not only does it provide a beautiful natural looking color (not orange at all) that doesn’t streak over time, it contains a bronzer for those seeking instant gratification in their application.
It also contains absolutely no smell, so you achieve a perfect bronze without smelling like a bunch of weird tan chemicals. You can find this tanner on Amazon or at sunlabsonline.com.
L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Luminous Bronzer
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To begin with, this lotion smells so incredible, especially compared to most self-tanners. The scent even lasts throughout the day, but not in an overpowering kind of way.
One of the coolest aspects of the Sublime Bronze is the “instant action” effect, meaning that you can see the color as you apply it unlike most gradual bronzers, however it still continues to build up color as you wear it throughout the day.
It also contains a bit of shimmer, which adds to the sun kissed aesthetic and helps you to see any spots that were missed while applying. It’s a great streak free tanner that stays in place after it’s dried and provides a healthy natural glow. You can find this product at your local drugstore.
Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Sunless Tanner
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This little gem is one of the best and most sustainable sunless tanners currently on the market. It smells fabulous, with a clean and floral scent, and not like a typical sunless tanner at all. The size is great and can be easily thrown in your gym or travel bag.
So not only are you looking your best, your skin will feel its best too! To top it all off, it costs under $10! You can purchase this little bottle of magic at Whole Foods or online from vitacost.com.