Summertime seems like a great excuse to be a sun goddess, but spending long hours soaking up the rays is damaging to your skin – and we’re not just talking about your vanity. Yes, excessive sunbathing can lead to wrinkles and sun spots, but it can also lead to more serious conditions – like skin cancer. If you want to get a bronzed glow but don’t want to ruin your skin, consider sunless tanning!

The days of orange, streaky tans are gone. These days, sunless tanners are sophisticated, easy to apply and will leave you with a natural golden glow with none of the negative side effects. Choose from towelettes, lotions and sprays – each will give you a beautiful tan that won’t stain your clothes or wash off in the shower. Sunless tanning products contain a chemical that reacts with the outer layer of your skin, causing it to darken temporarily. Gradually, as the outer layer of your skin sloughs off, you’ll lose the sunless tan – just like you’d lose a real one.

Before you apply a sunless tanning product, you should exfoliate your skin to make sure you have an even surface to work with. After you apply, be sure to wash your hands or you could end up with dark brown palms.

If you still want to hit the beach with your friends, choose a sunless tanning product that also contains sunscreen. Apply it before you hit the beach, and your friends will be amazed how quickly your tan develops! They’ll never know it’s not real.