How to Perfect Your Faux Glow

By Jennifer Tzeses


Disclaimer: Despite being a beauty writer, editor, and self-proclaimed product maven, I've never been one of those girls who avoid the sun at all costs. Instead (hand covering face) I've worshipped it. This is not something I like to admit, especially given my profession and everything I know about the dangers of the sun. But for the sake of this blog, I'm 'fessing up. On vacation, I was always the first one up and ready, towel in hand, to secure a coveted spot next to the pool or in the sand. I opted for tanning lotion instead of sunscreen and even drank carrot juice in an effort to achieve that perfect shade of bronze.


However, now that I'm older, wiser, and discovering tiny brown spots by my eyes, I know that the best kind of glow is one that's faux. So if you're a sun lover like me, or you just don't want to be super pasty on your wedding day, check out these tips to get a fake tan that'll rival a day spent outside sans SPF 50.


No matter what method of fake bake you use, test it well before your wedding day, says sunless tanning expert, Ricky Croft, vice president of marketing for Sunless Inc. Croft also suggests waiting a day or two before deciding whether or not you want more color. "Your tan won't fully develop until about eight hours after first application," he says. Get your wedding day tan about two weeks before your big day and maintain it with a few follow-up appointments. Your last one should be two days before the wedding.


Before you go in for a fake tan, Croft recommends using body washes and exfoliators that don't contain oils, since these can impede the tan's development process. You also want to shave or wax at least 24 to 48 hours before you get sprayed, which will give your pores time to close and ensure the most even tan.


Now, check out three of the best sunless tanning options out there:


Airbrush
The stinky, orange tans of the past are, well, a thing of the past. The Evolv. Sidekick airbrush tanning system features a warm flow of heat as well as customized color and scent (you can choose from aromas like tea tree oil and coconut lime). A technician uses a spray gun, which warms the solution so it penetrates deeper and dries faster, and this tan will last about a week. Log on to evolvsunless.com for locations.


Spray Booth
Mystic Tan HD is the latest tanning experience from Mystic Tan. Once you step into the booth, tiny spray jets deliver a heated formula from side to side, conditioning the skin to create a longer lasting tan. At the same time, a flow of warm air keeps your skin dry and comfortable. Color lasts up to a week. Log on to mystictan.com for locations.


Professionally Applied
The Bliss Spa Scrub and Color treatment involves a full-body buffing to get rid of dead skin so the tan goes on evenly. What follows is a precise painted-on head-to-toe application of their liquid stain. Your skin stays smooth and radiant for three to five days. Log on to blissworld.com for locations.


Will you be tanning before your wedding day? And if so, which faux-glow are you going to try?