There’s a reason everyone looks better after a week in the Mediterranean. A touch of color adds definition to your face, masks redness and makes tired skin look more awake. Plus, it often makes you appear a little leaner. The problem, of course, is that most of us aren’t spending our days sailing around Capri. And even if we were, intentionally baking in the sun isn’t exactly a smart skincare strategy.
Fortunately, modern self-tanners have come a long way from the streaky, orange disasters of the early 2000s. Women know this but many men are still a little weary. But trust that today’s best formulas are subtle, foolproof and capable of delivering the kind of healthy, post-vacation glow that has coworkers asking if you “got away for the weekend.”
More importantly, they’re dramatically safer than chasing a base tan the old-fashioned way. Dermatologists continue to warn that both sun exposure and tanning beds accelerate skin aging and increase skin cancer risk. Self-tanners, on the other hand, create the appearance of a tan without exposing skin to any damaging UV radiation. And good quality self-tanners (like the ones below) are infused with skincare ingredients that help the bronzing build gradually to suit the shade that suits you best.