The Perfect Faux Glow - 5 of The Best Sunless Tanners

The Staff at wowOwow.com

Wondering how to get that sun-kissed look this summer - minus the havoc that too much sun might wreak on your gorgeous skin? Meet your new best friend - the sunless tanner! Sure, you may recoil as you're suddenly brought back to the streaky, artificial-looking mishaps of days gone by, but science and beauty have come together once again, making all our lives just a teeny bit easier.

With the right sunless tanner, you'll look healthy, feel confident, conceal complexion inconsistencies and may even soak up skin-conditioning and antioxidant benefits if the formula is smart. A bonus of achieving a head-to-toe tan is cursorily camouflaging cellulite (not that you have any, but you know, just in case). After scouring the self-tanning universe for something that meets their lofty criteria, our in-the-know friends at TruthInAging.com have settled on five products to represent the very best in the category, based on formula, fragrance and performance.

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1. Famous Dave's Sunless Self Tanner ($22.97) has the ever-present parabens, but absolutely everything else about the product is wonderful too. The Famous Dave Self Tanner goes on smoothly, turns skin a very natural and even shade of brown overnight, the scent is very light and it has a wonderful moisturizing effect on skin. It doesn't wipe off on bedding or clothing, and it lasts a decent amount of time. For a deeper tan, add additional layers a day or two apart.

2. Bliss A Tan For All Seasons ($36.00). Well, you may love it for the name alone. Bliss has majored on ensuring it is odor free and easy to apply. It looks realistic providing you don't overdo it, in which case it can look a bit orange-y, so just take it easy. If you exfoliate well beforehand, it can last almost a week - and there's no towel staining.

3. Xen-Tan Transform Gradual Self Tan ($20.00) is different. The color of Transform is white, like any other body lotion. Though the white tint might facilitate the blending process, don't forget that what's white will eventually turn tan. Touting a paraben-free formula that is exceptional for its category, Transform is loaded with emollients such as caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, shea butter and silicone. A bevy of botanical extracts include aloe (soothing), green tea (anti-inflammatory) and ginkgo biloba (antioxidant). With such a commendable formula, though far from innocuous in the fragrance department, Transform does its job.

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4. Kona Tanning Gradual Tanner ($35.00). There is a chocolaty smell to this tanner with coconut, sunflower, soy and shea. It goes on brown so you can see what you are doing as you attempt a streakless application. The first application is subtle, but the second will give you a good natural glow. Do beware of stained bath towels, though.

5. Aviva Organics Sunless Tanning Face Cream ($29.00) and Body Cream ($27.00) are meant to impart a subtle sun-free glow and they certainly deliver on this promise. And more good news: the highly organic formulas' list of ingredients reads like an ode to botanical extracts, from the gently stimulating rosemary down to the calming rose hip. You'll find antioxidants aplenty and essential oils galore, without a paraben in sight. Aviva Organics has formulated two creams that manage to not only nourish and protect the skin, but also to make it glow. And when the color does emerge, it leaves a healthy, understated radiance.

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