PALE GAL WANTS A TAN

Dear Jellybean,

Ok so it's swim suit season and I'm way over-due for a tan. So I figured it's time to soak up the sun and get back some color. I have fair skin, so I tend to burn faster than tan. How can I achieve my goal of getting color without the painful burn?
-Pale Gal

Dear Pale Gal,

Whoa there! Before you even consider getting color via the sun, you need some facts. There is NO safe way to get a suntan, period - for anyone! Tanning is radiation, and it's toxic to our bodies, causing cancer, wrinkles, and other signs of accelerated aging. Worse, even one burn as a teen can lead to MAJOR aging and wrinkling when you're older! Fair-skinned girls are even more at risk that other people, so you need to be extra cautious with your skin, so prevent becoming a creased old bag (or worse, contracting skin cancer) before your time.

This is why self-tanners were invented! As long as you choose the right product, and apply it properly, nobody should be able to tell the difference between a fake tan and a real one. You know Jessica Simpson and her perfectly tanned skin? It's fake. Ditto for Lindsay Lohan, Rachel Bilson, the Olsen sisters and every other celebrity you can think of who looks beautifully bronzed, despite having naturally fair skin. They "fake bake" and so should you!

So head to the drugstore or your local Sephora, and pick up a self-tanner. Lotions are typically better than sprays or mousses, which are very difficult to apply evenly by yourself. Be sure to choose a self-tanner made for "Fair" skin. (Don't cheat and pick a Medium or Dark tanner, thinking it will make you look more bronzed. It won't - it will just look weird and orangey on you. There's a good reason the products are formulated for specific skin types). You don't need to buy a special lotion "for the face." Just apply a regular moisturizing cream to your face 10 minutes before you apply the self-tanner there, for best results.

Once you've got your self-tanning product home, here are my tips for how to apply it for the best, most natural-looking results.

Start with clean, exfoliated skin. Use a cotton washcloth or an exfoliating body scrub to give skin a smooth and even surface. (Exfoliaters work by getting rid of dead surface skin). Pay close attention to elbows, knees, feet, and other areas where dead skin can build up. Don't shave your legs right before applying your sunless-tanner, as this can cause irritation (wait at least a few hours after shaving to apply).

Before popping the lid on your tanning product, time the time to apply a moisturizing lotion or baby oil to areas you don't want to get too dark, like feet, wrists, elbows and knees. Then apply your tanning product to one area of your body at a time, working quickly but thoroughly, and rubbing it in gently.

When you're done, wash your hands very well with soap and warm water (or use baby wipes), to prevent palms and nails from tanning (they don't tan naturally, so it's a giveaway your tan is fake).

For the best color results, allow 30-45 minutes of drying time before you get dressed (this also prevents staining your clothes). You should wait at least three hours before showering, bathing or swimming - otherwise your "tan" may end up with streaks.

A final word: Don't forget that self-tanners do NOT contain sunscreen, or protect you against sunburn. Having a fake tan won't protect you against sun damage either. Repeated sun exposure on unprotected skin can increase your risk of getting wrinkles, skin cancer and other harmful effects. So be smart, and wear sunscreen EVERY day, even when you look tanned!