The days are getting shorter and shorter, and the sun seems to set every day around 5PM.  Leaves from Maple, Birch, Oak and Sycamore trees have been progressively falling in orange, red and brown waves due to insufficient sunlight. Just like how leaves fade away, so will the zenith of your golden summer tan.
If you’re anything like me, your bronze skin has been slowly regressing to translucent white ever since the first days of Autumn, and you’re silently cursing your friend who has that coveted, naturally brown skin. But don’t worry, for those of us who lack any speck of color to our skin, there are ways to stay tan even in the cold winter months.
1. Try creams, bronzers, tanning mists, gradual tanners. If you’re not afraid of looking like Charlize Theron in the 2004 Oscars, then go for these products, which can give you a safe but sometimes unnatural tan. If you’ve never used these types of products before, then choosing a shade can be a tough job. I know you might think that going for the darkest color will give you the deepest, richest tan right? Nope, totally wrong. Remember, if your skin is quite fair and along the lines of alabaster white, then going for chocolate brown is NOT a smart idea. Choose a bronzer that is just a tad to a few shades darker than your own skin tone because the goal here is to look as natural as possible.
Just like how you would test a lock of your hair with a new brand of hair color, you should do a test run of your bronzer as well. First, apply it to a section of skin (you probably want to do this in an area that doesn’t see the light of day as much. Otherwise you’ll end up with visible spotted marks if you choose to test out more than a few products) and wait for the results. Remember that some creams/bronzers require more than a few applications in order to see results. If the cream/bronzer/mist lends your skin an eerie, phosphorescent orange glow, then skip it and try another brand. Some people who use these tanners complain about the smell, but some DO lend impressive results. Drugstore brands can run around $10-25, and department store brands can range from $30-60+.
2. Go to a tanning salon. Yes, you heard me. Going here will give you the most natural tan, but remember that baking in UV rays can have potential serious health risks. If you’ve never gone tanning before, only do half a session for your first time. If you do a full session or more than a full session for your first time thinking you want the benefits ASAP, then you will be gifted in return with some serious sun burns and peeling. Be patient and start out slow. Most tanners see results immediately! Buy a pass and go no more than once a week. If you tan in moderation, it should pose no serious health risks (though this is debated) and will give you the healthy glow you are looking for.
(Note: There are some who have a terrible, life threatening “addiction” to tanning. These people are popularly known as “tanorexics.” If you or any loved one suffers from this debilitating and skin-dehydrating disease, please seek help immediately.)
When trying to pick a salon, either go by word of mouth or look online. Most salons will be listed online nowadays with reviewers either giving failing or passing scores, so remember that a wealth of information awaits you at your fingertips! When you finally do narrow down your search, I’d recommend choosing one that is moderately priced. Most places use the same equipment, so it doesn’t really make sense to pay more for something you can get somewhere else for cheaper.  The bulk of the money these tanning salons make are from the products they try to sell you. Most of these products are fairly expensive and not exactly useful, but some people I know swear by them, so I leave the decision up to you whether or not to invest in them.
Also, please do a skin check thoroughly each week. If you notice a strange skin growth or a mole that is growing asymmetrically or a patch of skin with different shades of color, please go to a dermatologist RIGHT AWAY. This could be skin damage that could lead to skin cancer. Be aware that using tanning booths DO come at a risk and MAY cause premature wrinkling!!
3. Skip the orange glow of creams and the health risks of tanning salons and learn to love your pale skin! Chinese culture has always admired girls with round moonfaces and skin as soft and white as lotus flowers. It was (and in other Far Eastern cultures) a symbol of nobility and grace. Even current American culture, notoriously known to obsess over glowing, bronze skin has come to embrace fair beauties such as actresses Nicole Kidman and Liv Tyler, and burlesque temptress Dita von Teese.
Whatever your terms for beauty may be, remember that beauty is fleeting and subject to the duress and whims of time and age. Be safe and know what you are getting yourself into when you step into that tanning bed or start applying that cream liberally to your body. Your health should not be sacrificed for beauty, nor should your skin be dyed an unnatural orange for it either! “Moderation” and “natural” should be the two words you stand by this winter when you are seeking the return of your golden summer tan!
Useful Links:
Best Self-Tanners for Face and Body from About.com
Top 10 Sunless Tanners from StyleBakery
