Exposing white skin to the first hint of warm weather can cause you look at your body in a whole new light -- preferably a dim one. Springtime always makes me envy dark-skinned girls who never have to face the horrifying white pallor.
The rest of us have to figure out a way to tint our skin before we can even expose it to the sun. It's like cleaning before the maid comes.
There are some options. Tanning beds can leave an unnatural shade and are horribly drying. Spray tans are a bit better, but it's an expensive proposition beyond special occasions. Tanning in a bottle is tricky, but can work if you're careful. I know some women who manage a very pretty natural-looking tan from a bottle.
Experiment with products until you find one you like. They are slowly getting better -- less smelly and with improved shade selections. The same product doesn't work best on everyone, so you'll have to shop around a bit.
Next comes some application tricks. Start with a bubble bath, add a few drops of oil, and use a loofah to thoroughly scrub all of your skin. Rinse well, dry, and moisturize. Let the cream dry completely. Then start with the tanning lotion.
If you have someone willing to do this part for you, it is much easier. Otherwise, you're on your own. Don't rush, but patiently cover everything. I like to start from the bottom up. That way, you're not bending over a belly that's been freshly tanned. Take it easy on elbows, knees, ankles, and follow the bottle directions carefully.
When you're done, wash your hands well and stand around naked for a good 15 minutes. That's the fun part. You might want to paint your nails while you wait. Just don't put clothes on for a while.
Then sit back and wait to see how your color turns out. If you've got striped legs, you may have to wear pants for a day or two till they fade, then try again. But with practice, you're going to have a nice bit of cancer-free color. And think of all the time you'll save lying around in a bikini. Enjoy your colorful new self.
Trevy Thomas - After more than a decade of food writing, Trevy Thomas joined Suite 101 as Feature Writer for the Home Décor and Cookbooks ...
