The No Commitment Tan: Wash-Off Bronzers and Body Tints

Jul 1, 2009

Avoid the hassle of self-tanners with wash-off bronzers and body tints, which provide an extra kiss of color without the commitment. Use them to mask imperfections like freckles and bruises, even out skin tone from a self-tanner gone wrong, hide tan lines, illuminate skin for an evening out or add color when you don't have time to apply a self-tanner.

Bronzers for Body

Laura Mercier Body Bronzing Makeup, $38. Scented with the tropical aroma of coconut, this sheer and silky formula hides imperfections while giving your skin a luminous golden bronze color. Get it at Nordstom or lauramercier.com.

Fake Bake Tinted Full Body Glow, $13.95. Mix a squirt of this bronze-hued shimmery lotion into your regular body moisturizer or foundation for a touch of color. Packed with nourishing botanicals, this product gives skin a subtle lavender-scented sheen and can be applied anywhere in need of color. Also great at hiding self-tanning streaks. Get it at select Ulta stores and fakebake.com.

JK Jemma Kidd Show Stopper Year-Round Body Glow, $28. A lightweight body tint from the creator of the Jemma Kidd Make-Up School, this body makeup gives skin a hint of color while the micro-fine pearl in the formulation shimmers in the light. Get it at most Target stores or at jemmakidd.com.

Jemma Cosmetics Cookies & Cream Bronzing Duo, $24.95. Not to be confused with Jemma Kidd, this delectable duo was created by Austrailia's "lip gloss queen" Jemma Gawned. Blend on the copper-hued Cookies to create depth and finish with the dew-enhancing Cream. Or use one or the other alone. Water resistant and can be slathered all over body or used to highlight eyes and lips. Get it at jemmacosmetics.com.

Bikini Kitchen Booty Butter Tanning Lotion, $27.95. Channel your inner Bar Rafaeli (bikini model) by buttering up with this nutty-fragranced body bronzer mixed with your fave sunscreen when lounging by the pool. Gives skin an instant coffee-colored glow and is enriched with nourishing oils and extracts straight from the islands of Hawaii. Get it at bikinikitchen.com.

Diana B. Miracle Tan, $60. A cult favorite among beauty addicts, this foam tanner produces rich, natural color in 1 minute flat by combining DHA with water-activated sugar protein. It makes your skin smell as irresistible as a chocolate bon bon and even though this tan-in-a-can comes with a hefty price tag, keep in mind that one bottle contains about 30 applications. Offers instant color that builds every time you use it. Get it at dianabbeauty.com.

Bronzers for Legs

Michael Kors Leg Shine Classic, $32. This non-greasy stick gives legs a hint of golden shimmer and boost color and luminosity. As an added kick, the stick is scented with the floral notes of Michael to double as a fragrance. Also comes in Shimmer and Bronze shades. Get it at Neiman Marcus stores and neimanmarcus.com.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Leg Makeup, $13. Sunspots, freckles, veins, shaving nicks and other boo-boos are diminished by this high coverage spray. Available in four shades, the formula airbrushes on as a liquid and dries quickly to a water-resistant, flawless finish. Application can be a little messy but once you get the hang of it, you'll love it. Get it at most drugstores and mass retailers or sallyhansen.com.

MAC Skinsheen Leg Spray, $22.50. Ran out of time to apply your self-tanner? Not a problem! Spray your way to a sleeker looking you with this lightweight, gel-based bronzer. The mousse formulation offers easy to blend, sheer coverage to camouflage problem areas and is available in three shades. Get it at most MAC retailers and maccosmetics.com.

Body Bronzers with SPF

DuWop Revolotion SPF 15, $28. A cult fave, this moisturizing body shimmer not only gives you a kiss of color but protects skin with a dose of SPF. Also comes in a new deeper shade a formulation for the face. Get it at Sephora stores or duwop.com.

Rodial Skinny Beach SPF 15 Tinted, $49. It firms. It tones. It protects. And it gives you a dose of caramel-tinted goodness to boot. Slather it on for your next company picnic and watch them swoon. Get it at blissworld.com.

Bronzers with Extra Shimmer

Sephora Divine Oil, $18. A simply divine concoction of nourishing plant oils tinted with a hint of golden shimmer and scented with exotic botanicals. Get it at Sephora stores or sephora.com.

Nars Body Glow, $59. Blended from rare oils from the South Pacific, this chocolate-hued liquid nourishes and illuminates skin with tiny flecks of gold. Use alone or mix with body lotion for a translucent glow. Get it at NARS retailers or sephora.com.

Tips

Don't forget your neck! Most of us have slightly darker necklines and after using a bronzer on our face, our necks often look pale. Use a body bronzer to even out the color between your face and decolletage.

No time to snag a wash-off bronzing product? In a pinch, dust your facial bronzing powder on shoulders, arms, neck and legs.