How to get your best tan ever (without stepping in the sun or tanning bed)

By Brittany Anas

Looking at your legs and wondering if they are so bright white that they could actually emit a glow or that you could rival the vampires of the Twilight series? It’s been a long winter for those legs. (Triple-blade razor, anyone?) Hey, we’re not ones to judge.

With warm weather approaching (welcome back summer dresses and tanks!) you might be wanting to warm up your skin tone, too.

But, the Center for Disease Control is warning us of all of the skin cancer dangers linked with indoor tanning, including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and even cancers of the eyes. The alternative — achieving a healthy, natural tan — could take until Labor Day, especially for fair-skinned dames who wear “porcelain ivory” foundation.

Self-tanner to the rescue! Trust us: It’s come a long way since the early days  when it was notorious for Jersey Shore-orange streaks. The self-tanners these days can give you a natural-looking, sunkissed tan by allowing you to customize your coloring based on your skin tone and how dark you’re looking to go.

Bonus: The friends and family sale is running at Beauty.com now through May 18 and you can save 20 percent. Plus, when you buy through ShopAtHome.com, you can score 6 percent cash back.

Here’s how to get a natural, healthy looking glow and some of our favorite products from Beauty.com:

• Go gradual: Here Comes the Sun gradual lotion from Philosophy is a self tanner that you can use on your face that gradually warms up your skin tone and improves the signs of aging with an amino acid complex that helps hide fine lines and wrinkles. Use it each day to increase the intensity of your tan until you get the perfect glow. 
• Last-minute tan: The night before you hit the beach or pool, spray on a light self-tanning mist, like St. Tropez bronzer. It’s infused with aloe vera that conditions the skin and will help your skin retain the tan. The tan shows up in an instant. Just let it set for six to eight hours so you don’t “wash it off.”
• Give your face a glow: Bahama Mama bronzer is a matte finish that you can layer until you get your desired shade. Tip: When you’re applying bronzer, use a good make-up brush and create contours by following the rule of three. (Pretend like you’re drawing a 3 on each side of your face — taking your brush from the middle of your forehead, swiping midway through your check and then extending down to the middle of your chin).

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