There is nothing worse than slipping into a new spring outfit only to reveal two pairs of pasty white limbs just a shade lighter that the pastels you are sporting. Gone are the days when we would slather on the baby oil and bake in tanning beds to prepare for the start of spring. “Fake and baking” is no longer acceptable… unless of course you are a fan of skin cancer and premature aging.

If you’re like me and don’t have the time or the patience to schedule and then stand for a spray tan, here are a few great at-home options. I’ve put together a product guide for self tanning/bronzing. These products came highly recommended from TV professionals (my colleagues), beauty professionals (TV makeup artists) and have all been tested by yours truly!

St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse– This is a industry favorite and for good reason. The mousse glides on effortlessly and leaves you with an even, long lasting, natural looking tan. I’ve tried others, but always end up coming back to St. Tropez. Note- It doesn’t travel well. I’ve tried double Ziploc-ing the bottle, but still the liquid gets everywhere…which leads me to my next suggestion.

Dr. Denese’s Glow Younger Self Tanning Glove– Each package comes with 15 individually wrapped self tanning gloves that are saturated in the “Advanced Peptide Technology”…..throw a few in your luggage and head somewhere warm.  One glove will tan your entire body including your face (in full discloser, I’ve never used it on my face). I prefer gloves to towelette because I find that towelettes are difficult to hold. Gloves allow you to move quickly and apply evenly. Dr. Denese’s Tanning gloves are perfect for travel and give you a very natural looking tan.

So to be absolutely honest, I’ve always shied away from using self tanners on my face. I was terrified of the outcome. Would it look blotchy? Would I turn yellow? Too much risk for this lady. Then I found Vita Liberata’s Trystal Minerals. Trystal Minerals is first self-tanning bronzing mineral powder.  The Trystal13 technology interacts with your moisturizer or liquid foundation to tan the skin gradually over time. It comes with a gorgeous Kabuki brush that makes it super easy to apply.  The beauty is that when you remove your makeup, your face still keeps the subtle natural glow. I just love it!

Ok so maybe your not looking for a full on self tanner, instead you’d just like to glow like Jlo…who doesn’t? Well, I’ve got the product for you. I’m obsessed with Nars Body Glow.

It’s a multi-purpose beauty oil which moisturizes the skin and adds a shimmer for a natural glow. An added benefit is that it smells AMAZING. The scent is pure coconut extract macerated with the bud of the tiare flower (Tahitian gardenia). It works well alone or can be layered on top of an existing tan.

Hope this helps! Warmer weather is almost here!!

-Ereka