| | |  Health & Beauty | June 2009 
Best in Glow: The Right Tools to a Perfect Tan
 Betsy Lowther, Holly J. Morris, & Jennifer Barger - Express
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| | (Marge Ely/Express) | |
We have Coco Chanel to thank or blame for the buzz about bronzing. Alabaster skin was the norm until the influential Parisian designer returned from a Mediterranean vacation in the 1920s with a golden glow, single-handedly turning the tan into a fashion craze on par with her quilted purses. We'd like to think that if Mademoiselle C were alive today, she'd turn her nose up at the thought of exposing her precious epidermis to the wrinkle-causing, cancer-spawning sun (or its not-any-better-no-matter-how-much-you-kid-yourself cousin, the tanning bed) and get her brown in a newfangled way by bottle, booth or airbrush. A trio of staffers gave their hides to the latest fake-bake techniques and came back in a range of easy-to-get, natural-looking hues (well, mostly). Even picky Coco might be fooled. B.L.
BOTTLE BRONZED
What it is: Bronze Goddess at-home self-tanner set ($22.50-$28.50).
How it works: Slather on the lotion, which is loaded with dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a sugar-derived, FDA-approved chemical that reacts with amino acids to darken skin.
On your mark, get set: As a pigment-challenged American, our unable-to-suntan tester was persecuted throughout childhood, accused of being an albino, a ghost and glow-in-the-dark. In an attempt to find a less shockingly pale hue, she turned to DIY products. Of course, the risks of self-tanners are well-known (and well-documented by Lindsay Lohan's paparazzi photos): streaks, splotches and extra-dark knees, elbows and feet (the skin is dryer in those spots and thus absorbs more product). Be sure to spread on the stuff as evenly as possible, working it into the skin like lotion. Hit joints and feet last with a lighter amount. Then (and we can't stress this enough), wash those hands. Our tester ended up with dark blobs of color at the bases of her fingers, giving the threatening appearance of brass knuckles.
Tan marks: It takes a few applications to get a deep (but, thankfully, non-orange) tan. But if you're going to commit, you need to bronze your face and neck, too, or you'll look like a bobblehead someone got tired of painting. Also, unless you have a devoted partner, child or servant who's willing to rub your hard-to-reach places, at-home tanner is not the best for all-over bronzing. It's more about dulling the radioactive glare of snow-white limbs.
High marks: We like the tinted formula best it lets you see which areas have been covered and it offers some instant gratification. It also instantly colors sheets and towels, however.
Low marks: The infamous metallic smell. The Estee Lauder line includes a perfume, perhaps meant to nullify the stench, but nothing worked other than time. And, make a mistake? Not even those "self-tan remover" products can fix it until it fades.
Tip: The key to any good faux tan: exfoliation. Be sure to slough skin with a scrub (like Bliss' Hot Salt option, $36) before applying bronzer. H.J.M.
SPRAY TAN BOOTH
What it is: MyMyst tanning booth, Palm Beach Tan (2900 Wilson Blvd.; Arlington; 703-312-5110, $30).
How it works: After a staffer determines how much of a glow you should go for, he or she gives you a bottle of DHA formula (see "Bottle Bronzed" for definition). You pop it into a slot in a pod (pictured, left) and prepare to be sprayed.
On your mark, get set: Scarred and scared by watching David Schwimmer be turned tobacco-stain brown by a Mystic tanning booth on "Friends," our tester stepped into the company's new MyMyst capsule with trepidation. Still, even an addled sitcom star would ha sve a hard time goofing up in the walk-in-shower like contraptions. After stripping (and putting on a shower cap and claustrophobia-inducing goggles), she stood in the booth, placing her feet on two of four numbered ovals on the floor. They looked a little like Arthur Murray dance step footprints, which was helpful. Then, a soothing female voice (let's call her, um, Tania) instructed her on when to turn left, allowing the chilly, vanilla-scented mist to hit her from three angles. After a quick towel-off, she was in and out within 10 minutes. Still, says store manager Kira Hinrichs, "On holiday weekends, there can be a two-hour wait."
Tan marks: After four hours, the tester noticed that a toasted almond tone similar to a tan she'd gotten in Puerto Vallarta during her unwise, SPF-free college days covered her hide. Well, except one wonky spot on her right foot. "Hands and feet are the toughest to get right," says Hinrichs. "Coat them with lotion beforehand." Still, after a good scrub, the color blended with the rest of her fake bake, making her feel like Brigitte Bardot before the ray-induced wrinkles set in.
High marks: The mist literally hit everything; our tester was left for a week at least tan head to toe.
Low marks: The vanilla scent mixed into the tanning potion smelled like a Yankee Candle. It's better, perhaps, to just put up with the odor of the bronzer itself. J.B.
AIRBRUSH APPLICATION
What it is: Airbrush tanning, Fit to be Tan (2360 Wilson Blvd., 703-841-0999; $45 for full-body application).
How it works: A technician mixes a color to match your skin tone, then manually sprays it over your bod with a handheld airbrush tool
On your mark, get set: Because it's mixed for each customer and manually applied, airbrushing lessens the fear of a Horribly Embarrassing Fake Tanning Disaster. But it's not for the shy or self-conscious: Customers must strip down to their skivvies for the treatment, which takes about 15 minutes. And trust us: It's hard to make awkward conversation with a tanning technician while standing in front of her nearly naked for 15 minutes. Because it takes about eight hours for the tan to fully develop, loose-fitting clothing is required post-spray-down. But, as the mist contains no dye just the chemical DHA, creating a reaction in skin that mimics sun exposure there's no worry about stains on your pajamas (or palms).
Tip: Products that have a heavy moisturizer like Dove soap or thick body lotion can interfere with an even application. When tanning, switch to light soaps and baby oil instead.
Tan marks: "Tomorrow morning, you might wake up, see how tan you are and think, 'This is the worst thing I've ever done,'" Fit to Be Tan owner Heather Loughridge says after finishing the application. Um, really? Cue small panic. "Don't worry," she says. "A shower will lighten the skin and leave it looking natural." That didn't stop our tester from peeking cautiously in the mirror the next day; luckily, she was greeted with a surprisingly deep, just-back-from-a-week-in-Rio (or, more realistically, a Dupont rooftop pool) golden glow that faded after about a week.
High marks: The customized hue looked a lot like the natural shade of our tester's sun-worshipping youth. Which means fair- or dark-skinned clients can get colors that will better match their complexions.
Low marks: As with most tanners, exfoliating is key. But the areas our tester couldn't reach particularly her back meant color didn't last there, leaving her looking pale from behind and also a teensy bit depressed about how she had no one to scrub her hard-to-reach spots. B.L.
We tested the latest and, sometimes, not-so-greatest self-tanning products to suss out the best DIY finds for a faux glow.
Sevin Nyne Tanning Mist
($35; Sephora.com) We were dubious of Lindsay Lohans coconut-scented airbrush tanner, too, but it left our legs a nice brown.
Estee Lauder Bronzer
($30; Macys.com) We love the beauty companys luxe bronzer, which is a flattering, gold-flecked powder in an oversized compact that lasts for months.
Comodynes Tanning Towelette
($13 for 8; Drugstore.com) This light facial tanner comes wrapped, making it easy to swipe on and to pack for a vacation.
Tarte Glam Gams
($30; Sephora.com) For an insta-tan, this bronzing stick coats legs in a shiny, coppery stain. Apply, then rub with a paper towel to blend color. B.L. |
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