PALE IS THE NEW TAN

Sunless tanning is a tricky business. It can be a total disaster, leaving those who dare to dabble looking like a streaky oompa loompa and smelling like…well, sunless tanner. Never fear my pale ones, just because you dream of Edward Cullen, does not mean your skin has to look like a vampire!

The most important step is choosing the right sunless tanner. My recommendation is St. Tropez lotion (once you are skilled in the art, you may switch to the foam version. Until then, tread lightly, as it dries at turbo speeds.) It has a very natural golden color, even if your natural complexion is a lovely glow in the dark blue white (like myself). Although there is a faint sunless tanner smell, the people in the next aisle of the grocery store will not be peering around the corner to see where it’s coming from. You can buy this brand at Sephora, although it’s almost always sold out. They also have it at, you guessed it, sttropez.com.

The next necessity in your sunless adventure should be some disposable plastic gloves. This is how you avoid the tell-tale orange palms you (deservedly) fear. Next you will need some body lotion, any kind will do. Some type of exfoliant is also highly recommended, whether it’s a body scrub or some on the cheap exfoliating gloves from wal-mart.)

Take a shower, shave, and use your preferred exfoliant, paying special attention to knees and elbows as these are the areas most prone to streaks and patchy color deposits

Allow skin to dry completely

Apply body lotion to any areas that you would like to avoid as much color depositing (knees, behind knees, elbows, ankles, wrists and hands. Also include eyebrows and hairline if you are tanning the face.)

Put on your disposable gloves and you are ready to begin!

Apply sunless tanner in circular motions working in sections. Be sure to go over the areas you applied lotion, so you don’t end up with white patches where your knees are, just don’t use as much sunless lotion in those areas.

Take off the disposable gloves and apply a very small amount of sunless tanner to outside of hands and fingers, avoiding palms altogether.

Turn on some Gaga and dance around in your bathroom while you wait for the lotion to dry before you get dressed!

Do NOT shower, go swimming, scuba diving with sharks or any other activity that will involve water or sweat for 4 hours following your tanning extravaganza as this will remove the color you just applied. Good luck and let me know how it goes!!