It’s the Sophie’s Choice of sun care in our new hyper-informed world: To tan, or not to tan? Of course, we’ve now all had the mantra of no sun, ever drilled into our heads for years now, with the threat of premature aging and cancer looming over our heads like proverbial dark clouds. On the other hand…well, we’re all Vitamin D deficient, right? And, if we’ve ever had a bit of a tan in the past, we know how rested, healthy and er…slim a bit of color can make us look. So, despite our best intentions, many of us can easily fall into the trap of the “just a little color” cheat. Thankfully, the new sunscreens and self-tanners make it easy to protect our mugs, get a bit of a tan and sleep well at night knowing that we aren’t damaging the only set of skin that we’ve got.
To help you decode the myriad of sunscreens and self-tanners out there, we sorted through the best new new picks to find the creams of the crop — and, we organized them by personality, so whether you’re looking for a heavy-duty block to get you through your surfing vacation (consider us seriously jealous) or a self-tanner that will put you on the fast track to a healthy glow, we’ve got you covered. Click through, and stock up — we promise that those damaging rays will be much less tempting when you’ve already been properly protected and bronzed.
featured image by ozzy garcia
For the Naturalist: Argan Daily Moisturizer SP: Josie Maran must know how tempting it is for us all to skip daily sunscreen applications, so the eco-beauty entrepreneur created this luxurious, completely chemical-free SPF 47 that’s designed to be used as a daily moisturizer. This light, nourishing blend of argan oil, green tea extracts, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide will leave you perfectly covered, minus the nasties. Or…
For the Perfectionist: The Brazilian Bombshell SPF: This overachieving sunblock smooths and blurs imperfections while SPF 30 spares your bod of damaging UV rays and free radicals. (Bonus for those discerning ladies out there: It’s also hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and fragrance- and dye-free.)
For the Sensitive Type: Mineral Tinted Creme SPF: If you’ve avoided sunscreen because your skin is so finicky that even the thought of smearing the greasy stuff on makes you feel breakouts coming on, this cream-to-powder formula will be a total game-changer. This mineral-based, hypoallergenic pick is a cinch to apply and leaves your skin smooth and matte, with a subtle hint of tint. But, don’t underestimate this little tube of goodness — It may be gentle, but it packs serious sun protection, and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes.
For the Luxuriate: Sisley Paris ‘Sunleya’ Age Minimizer SPF: Yes, the price of this super-luxe anti-aging SPF is steep. But, when you take into account that this luxe French formula is treating existing signs of aging while preventing further damage at the same time — well, that’s a decent amount of bang for your sunscreen buck. (The fact that it’s an absolute joy to apply doesn’t hurt, either.) BY TERRY Bronzing Serum: Talk about ingenious: This translucent self-tanning serum contains an active ingredient called Helisun, which boosts your skin’s natural production of melanin — resulting in a totally customized glow. Plus, Vitamin E protects your skin from free radicals, meaning this is the one case in which a tan actually can actually be healthy. image source
For the Low-Maintenance Lady: Continuous Mist Sunscreen: I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the latest offerings from L’Oreal’s sun care line — their formulas always seem much more expensive than they are. This weightless mist will keep you covered with minimal fuss (to the tune of 50+ protection). Simply spray it on and forget about it — the spray dries almost instantly, and will keep you protected from even the strongest rays for at least 80 minutes. XEN-TAN Deep Bronze Weekly Self-Tan: As much as I like having the control of a subtle, gradual tanning lotion, I have to say that the idea of a product that does the job with only one application a week sounds even better. This shea-butter- and green-tea-packed formula includes a higher concentration of DHA (the active ingredient in most self-tanning products), meaning that you can spend less time lubing up and more time actually on the beach. Which is the the point, after all. image source
For the Speed Demon: Instant Mineral Powder SPF: Raise your hand if, despite your best efforts, you’re the kind of woman who always seems to be in a rush (I feel ya, girl). If you constantly find yourself sprinting out the door in the summertime only to realize five minutes later that you completely forgot to apply your SPF, this mineral powder is about to be the most valuable item in your bag. Simply whip it out and dust over any exposed skin liberally — the super-fine, talc-free powder will impart major protection with no cakiness. Rodial Brazilian Tan: For busy ladies, self-tanners in aerosol sprays — like this gardenia-scented winner from Rodial — are total no-brainers. Simply spray with abandon while standing nude in your shower, and wait for it to dry (with these fine-mist sprays, it should only take a few seconds). Get dressed, and get moving — seriously, it’s that simple.
For the Athlete: Hang Ten Classic Sport SPF: Specifically designed for California surfers, this water-resistant, broad-spectrum spray offers serious protection for outdoorsy types — plus, the non-greasy formula will ensure that you don’t slip while you’re catching a wave. Sun Laboratories Self Tanning Mist: Just because you’re more likely to choose beach volleyball than lounging doesn’t mean that you don’t appreciate a nice, even bronze as much as the next beach bunny. This no-nonsense, tinted micro-mist delivers an instant dose of color in addition to a self-tan that develops within three hours, thanks to its unique sugar-derived active ingredient. Because hey — nothing complements your hard-won six-pack like the perfect (faux) tan, right? image source
