The Tanning Wars

The Process: This cream is light and easy to apply; it also has a pleasant aroma.
Price: $28 for 125 ml
The Result: Within three hours, I had even, golden-toned color. (Don’t expect dark or drastic results with this one.) And the moisturizer left my skin supple and smooth.
It’s a Good Look For: An important work day.

The Process: Apply this tanner daily as a replacement for your usual moisturizer. It uses the same chemical as spray tanners, but in much smaller amounts, so color builds gradually over a few days.
Price: $6.99 for 7.5 oz
The Result: In a week, my skin was one shade darker, and maintaining the color was easy with daily applications. The medium skin tone formulation yields more dramatic results.
It’s a Good Look For: Every day.

The Process: I used the entire pack to get a deep tan, but you could get at least two tans out of one pack. The towelettes can be a bit streaky, so long,
consistent strokes are key.
Price: $22 for 10 towelettes
The Result: Color developed overnight, giving me deep, week-at-the-beach color that lasted for
five days.
It’s a Good Look For: A weekend getaway.

The Process: Bella Vita uses SolarFX,
an Australian brand of tanning spray
that—I love this!—has no odor.
Price: $50 per session
The Result: In three hours, I had a believable tan that lasted a full week. The even color on my face was especially satisfying.
It’s a Good Look For: Vacation.

The Process: The technicians here know what they’re doing; follow instructions and you’ll have
the best spray-on experience ever.
Price: $35 per session
The Result: A tan that manages to be both tropical beach-dark and subtle. The color took about five hours to develop and lasted five days.
It’s a Good Look For: A party.

The Process: Mystic tanning has been around for a while and is a quick fix for pasty skin. The only drawbacks: Depending on your skin tone, your tan might be a bit on the orange side, and there’s a definite odor.
Price: $20 per session
The Result: A fixer-upper tan that lasts three days.
It’s a Good Look For: A must-have-color-now event.