This weekend Dan and I took a trip to Zion National Park in southern Utah. I definitely recommend it. While the weather was absolutely glorious, it was still just chilly enough that I kept pretty covered up. When I had on capris, though, I saw how white my skin is. Oh boy.
I've made peace with the fact that I'm a white girl. I don't tan and that's fine with me. However, I do still want to avoid frightening the people hanging out with me next to a pool. The best option? A fake tan. It should be your go-to option too, even if you can tan. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation's web site, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 3.5 million cases in two million people are diagnosed annually. About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, and up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun. Yikes.
Today's market offers a lot of products that will give you the tan you desire without hours of being outdoors (or in a tanning bed), or that icky orange glow. Every person has different needs and it's best to experiment to find what you like best. Some of your options include:
- Gels, creams, lotions or foams: These are the most common at-home products you can use for a tan. There are pros and cons to each, but the best part is that you can control the product. I really like the lotions that "build up" a tan over a few days. It's easy to see how much you like the color. (Tip: Only buy products based on your actual skin tone, not what you want your skin to look like. Meaning if you're pale like me, go with the "light" shade instead of "medium" or "dark.")
- Spray tans: Spray tans usually last longer than lotions or creams. Most people get a spray tan at a salon, where a professional will apply an all-over shade.
- Bronzers: You can get a glow with a simple bronzer powder as well. Bronzer is a great option when you need to add more color quickly.