Fun in the Sun?

By now, everyone knows the potentially damaging effects of the sun's UV rays. But that hasn't exactly stopped the world from wanting a summer tan. Not to worry: Nowadays, anyone in search of that browned, just-vacationed look has options that are completely safe. While "tanning pills" are pure snake oil and don't really work, trust us on this one: sunless tanning invariably does. And let's all do our best to forget those sunless treatments in the '90s that dyed skin nuclear orange. Times have changed. In fact, current technology is so sophisticated and the after-effects so convincing (and long lasting), that nobody will be able to tell whether you achieved your color in Fort Lauderdale or in your bathroom -- not even you.

Here are some sunless tanning tips to get you started:

• Sunless tanning takes time. It'll be around two hours before you can put clothing on. (These applications stain.) For this reason, it's wise to apply the lotion a couple of hours before going to bed.

• Before applying, make sure you have everything you need close at hand: a washcloth to exfoliate, soap, and the self-tanner itself.

• Make sure you have a long enough sponge paintbrush if you're going to do your back! A handle of three inches (or more) should do the trick.

• Exfoliating beforehand is key. We can't emphasize this enough. Really go to town on your legs, knees, ankles, elbows, and the tops of feet.

• When applying, the best place to start is your legs (one at a time). Start at the bottom edges of your bathing suit and work down.

• When you get to your ankles and feet, use the lotion sparingly. The same goes for your face and neck. All these places take the color surprisingly well -- particularly your forehead.

• Apply the tanner with a little more gusto than you would ordinary lotion, but apply it quickly (and for not too long) so your palms don't turn orange.

• Wash your hands about every five minutes while applying to prevent staining your fingers orange.

• Please note that the areas directly beneath the knees and elbows tend to get a little too dark with very little provocation. Solution? Apply only a small amount to either area.

• Wearing the same outfit each time will give you the best, most consistent results. A tight-fitting, black swim trunk is recommended.

• For the best results, apply moisturizer to your faux glow each day, every day.