Summer time is only a few months away, yet for college girls that go to school where it’s still chilly, getting sun-kissed skin isn’t the easiest thing to achieve. Many people would advise those who want a tan to just go outside and let the sun do its job; however, as a college student, it’s hard to be outside when Pittsburgh weather calls for flurries in April, and most of your time is spent cooped up in your room or the library.
Most women in college resort to the easiest place to get sun tanned skin without having to spend more than two minutes outside: a tanning salon. Although this seems like the most convenient resolution to cure paper white skin, it is not the safest by any means. I am all about saying ‘no’ to pasty skin, but I know I want to avoid skin cancer at all costs, just one of the risks of the ‘fake bake’ lifestyle. Not only does tanning increase your risk for skin cancer like melanoma, but it also makes you age faster increasing the wrinkles on your face. According to the skin foundation, going to a tanning salon can give you aging spots and saggy skin, too.
Stressed about these risks, I decided to research cheap self-tanning alternatives to save my skin and my life:
Self-Tanners
Self-Tanners are a great way to stay out of tanning salons, but still have glowing skin. They are cheap and easy to purchase at your local drug store such as Rite Aid or CVS. If you apply the lotions or sprays consistently and evenly over your skin, your complexion will darken as soon as three days! The best part about self-tanners is that it looks natural. No more worrying about looking like an Ompaloompa.
Here is a list of some self-tanners at CVS, located on Forbes Avenue.
- Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer Medium/Tan Skin ($6.74)
- L’oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes Medium($8.24)
- L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion Medium Natural Tan SPF 15 Sunscreen($8.24)
- L’Oreal Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist Medium Natural($8.24)
- Neutrogena Micromist Tanning Sunless Spray Medium($8.24)
- Nivea Sun Kissed Beautiful Legs Shave Minimizing Gradual Tan Moisturizer(7.49)
To increase your glow, shaving before applying tanner and exfoliating your skin can increase color.
Bronzers
Even Snooki from the Jersey Shore knows that Bronzer helps her look tanner. You can purchase at your local drugstore and find a shade that will blend well with your skin tone. You can apply it year round and it can also enhance your natural or self-tanned skin. It works best on your face, which is great because your face is the hardest place to match skin tones with the rest of your body.
Here is a list of cheap, but great bronzers found in any make-up section.
- Physicians Formula – Botanical Bronzer, Sunnybuddy($8.99)
- Rimmel Natural Bronzer 021 Sun Light($4.99)
Spray-Tans
For those that simply cannot get away from the tanning salon, try a spray-tan as an alternative to the booth. Spray-tans do have the reputation of making people look orange; however, starting at a light spray and testing that out before increasing the color will decrease the orange look.
If you just don’t want to stop tanning in the booth, gradually limiting your visits will save your skin some damage. Also, buying fewer tans instead of long extended packages will make it easier for you to not feel inclined to tan as much. Using the protective lotions and moisturizers will help your skin retain its healthy appearance. I advise you to cut down on the tanning salon visits, but taking baby steps will help you be on your way to a better lifestyle.
These cost-effective strategies to look like a glowing goddess will not only save you money, but save your skin! You may look like a sexy tangerine now, but nobody wants to look like their 40 before graduating college.
Ladies, I challenge you to save your skin, because it will be worth it in the long run. Instead of spending money to have that nasty mole removed, you can spend that money on a Caribbean cruise, where you can safely soak up actual sun!