FASHION Magazine

See our favourite self-tanners »

Growing up in my family, tanning was pastime, pleasure and competitive sport. Pale was pejorative. My parents, both great tanners in their youth, lived in East Africa in the early ’70s, before I was born. That time in their lives seemed to me fabulously glamorous—never mind the fact that my sister, a baby then, contracted malaria and nearly died—because for two years, they were tanned. Deeply tanned. Not the amateur-hour suntan you might obtain after a week in Fort Lauderdale, the kind of profound, layered tan that makes you look like another person—an exceptionally well-leisured one.

I remember the four of us in the ’80s, lying on a quartet of loungers and passing the Hawaiian Tropic SPF 4 down the line like a familial baton. If my friends enjoyed splashing around in swimming pools and lakes, I liked lying down next to them, and nowhere in the vicinity of a sun-blocking parasol. Parasols were meant for other people, the ones who took long luncheons in the shade during prime UV time. (I preferred to feast on rays.)

When my sister and I had a productive tanning day, we’d high-five each other as the sun sank into the horizon and our freckles settled into our still-warm cheeks. A tan, like the travel that furnished it, was an escape from our regular selves, a gilded (if short-lived) costume.

Lately, we’ve been inspired by summer hairstyles, from effortless beach waves to gorgeous braids for every event on your calendar. But now that we’ve got our go-to hairstyle under control, we’re faced with the question of how to wear makeup to the beach. Achieving the perfect beach look is no easy task, because a) you’re out in the sun all day, which means makeup is prone to melting and b) you’re going to the beach to relax, so naturally putting so much effort on your face seems a bit much. But before you skip makeup altogether for your summer outing, we asked the ladies of Beauty Panel for their advice and their tips on how to wear makeup to the beach without looking over-the-top. Thanks to these experts, we’ve got the solution on how to work the “no makeup” makeup look to the beach.

Challenge 69: How do you wear your makeup at the beach? See the answers now! »

Normally we would have blown through at least a few bottles of sunscreen by now, but with the constant rain and cloudiness this summer, we’ve been reaching for the self-tanner instead. Even if we aren’t busting out a bikini every weekend, we still want our limbs looking bronzed and healthy.

There is quite the range of self tanner options available that offer different finishes depending on your skin tone and the level of bronze you’re looking for. But what we’re fixated on right now is growing number of natural and organic tanners geared toward those of us who want to green our beauty routine.

While faux glow and all-natural products may not seem like the most obvious pairing, it’s one that makes sense. After all, if you’re avoiding damage from the sun, it’s just as important to avoid the harmful chemicals and additives that many self-tanners can contain. But before we share our paraben- and silicone-free picks, some self-tanning 101: don’t forget to exfoliate. We can’t stress enough how important it is to polish your skin before you apply any self tanner—it will be the difference between achieving a gorgeous golden versus blotchy butterscotch.

See the Kate Moss for St. Tropez campaign shots »

With countless campaigns under her belt, Kate Moss has just been announced as the face and body of international self-tan brand St. Tropez. Already a fan of the brand (and frequent user) today the British top model revealed her excitement to be officially working with St. Tropez. Via press release Moss said, “I’ve been using the products since they started and it’s a really trustworthy, cool brand. I always feel more confident with a St. Tropez tan!”

Hoping to connect with women of all ages, Moss’s iconic status, confidence and amazing attitude make her the perfect face and body for the brand’s first-ever global advertising campaign. And what a campaign it is! Renowned fashion and beauty photographer Solve Sundsbo has created super-saturated shots of Moss’s divine tanned body against blue skies and crystal-clear water. This campaign certainly has us dreaming about basking in the Mediterranean sun. (But at this point we’ll even take a weekend up in cottage country.)

We’re prepping you for beach season with 25 swimsuits picks, two foolproof guides on how to wear ‘em as well as a healthy guide to the best faux glows out there. Get ready to dive in!

By Malena Harbers

Today, it’s all about customizing your tan,” says skin-care expert Nichola Joss, who created a variety of caramel tones for models at the Spring 2012 shows of British designers such as Issa and House of Holland. Designed to work with the spirit of each collection, Joss’s handiwork illustrates the idea that one hue indeed does not fit all. By adding, omitting or changing the way you apply a product, you can create a completely different-looking tan. Here, we break down the shades.

SUN-KISSED
Suntan equivalent:
A day out in the garden
Seen at: Roksanda Ilincic

MID-TONE
Suntan equivalent:
A long-weekend at the cottage
Seen at: Erdem

HOLOGRAPHIC
Suntan equivalent:
A week in the Mediterranean
Seen at: House of Holland

BRONZE
Suntan equivalent:
Weeks of sun-worshipping in Brazil
Seen at: Issa

We feel like beauty vandals swirling our fluffy brush into bronzers imprinted with designs as pretty and perfect as these.

See our bronzer picks now »

Now that it’s officially winter, I need an alternative to a tanning bed to boost my pale complexion. I’ve resolved to care for my skin this year with lots of SPF, so should I try a self-tanner?
From Cate Blanchett to Julianne Moore, Florence Welch and beyond, fair skin is appealing not only ’cause it’s sexy, but also ’cause it’s a sign that you’ve routinely protected your skin from the sun. However, if you love a bronzed finish or are preparing for a wintertime escape, here are a few options (to apply overtop your SPF, of course).

Beautiful skin is always in style and this cream by Josie Maran does double beauty duty by giving the ultimate faux summer glow without loading up on parabens and other evil poisons. ($32, Josie Maran Self-Tanning Cream at sephora.com)