How to Fake a Summer Glow

Skip the rays and still get a gorgeous sun-kissed look

Lois Joy Johnson,

AARP

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Published June 03, 2024

a woman at a tanning salon getting a spray tan

Getty Images

Skin cancer, wrinkles, brown spots, biopsy, Mohs surgery. These eight words continue to freak out an entire generation of former sun worshipers who loved to “lie out” and bake their way to a tan. However, many people ages 50-plus — including those who have committed to applying SPF 30+ daily — still believe they look healthier and more attractive, and feel better, when their skin has a sun-warmed hue. Thanks to updated self-tanners, bronze boosters and multitasking makeup, we can all go sunny side up with safe sun-free glow-getting options. Here’s how:

Tanologist Face + Body Self Tan Drops in Light

CVS Pharmacy

1. Mix tanning drops with skin care for a mini tan.

Instead of jumping into a full self-tan routine, try giving sallow, ashy, blotchy, pale or tired complexions what I call “tan lite.” Tanning drops give mature skin a mistake-proof gradual sunny glow, and the best part is you mix them right into your existing skin-care routine. Just a couple of drops turns everyday moisturizer, serum, face oil or even a non-retinol night cream into a perfect facial self-tanner. Simply blend the drops with any of the above in the palm of your hand before applying. For a subtle glow, use two to four drops; for a more golden or bronze look, dial up the number of drops. By controlling the number of drops and frequency — from daily to every other day or once a week — you can easily achieve a customized level of golden warmth. Try Sol by Jergens Deeper by the Drop Face + Body Serum ($20, walmart.com), Tanologist Face + Body Self Tan Drops in Light, Medium, Dark ($22, cvs.com) and Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops in Light/Medium or Medium Dark ($50, ulta.com) for a believable look. But don’t stop there. Keep the effect seamless by applying any leftover mix (or a little extra mix) on your hands, neck and chest, or blend a few drops with your body lotion and give arms and/or legs the same hint of color. And then wash your hands! Just a reminder: You still need to apply an SPF 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen daily.

A woman getting a professional spray tan

Csaba Toth/Getty Images

2. Go to a pro to kick-start a stress-free summer.

Jumping into a summer wardrobe of bare legs, swimsuits and sundresses, or wearing a skin-revealing dress for a beach-side wedding, is challenging. You can’t beat a salon spray tan for first-day confidence — especially if you’re concerned about extra pounds, jiggly skin or discolorations. The flawless finish can help blur discolorations and warm up skin that’s been under wraps. A spray tan also eliminates tan lines and makes wardrobe changes — going from a V-neck swimsuit to a strapless one or pivoting from a tee and jeans to a breezy sundress — easy. To be honest, there is a difference between a self-tan and a salon spray tan. Only a pro can get every tiny nook and cranny and control the exact level of allover tan they prefer. You’ll want to note what DHA percentage the technician used for a possible repeat process later and be sure to discuss skin concerns like psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo and sensitivity when you book the appointment. It’s fine to get sprayed in underwear for modesty’s sake (or in a bathing suit) but choose your briefest pair and exfoliate your skin before “tanning” for a smooth, even finish. Make sure to wear loose black clothing to the salon, and wait to shower for six to eight hours afterward to prevent uneven color development and tan stains on car seats, clothing and furniture. While color begins to develop within two or three hours, give it the full eight to 10 hours for final results. Costs vary, but expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $75.

(Left to right) Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Moisturizing Mousse in Light Bronze; Bondi Sands Light/Medium Self Tanning Foam

Rite Aid; CVS Pharmacy

3. Fake it with DIY self-tanner at home.

Whether you’re an experienced self-tanner who has the routine down pat or a newbie, be sure to choose a “tan” shade that’s compatible with your current 50-plus skin tone. The good news: Self-tanners have evolved from the once orange-y shade and now come in a variety of liquids, creams and gels. Some formulas claim to correct skin undertones, but the best and most goof-proof formulas now are moisturizing foams like L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mousse in Medium ($12, target.com) with hydrating coconut water and St. Tropez Self-Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse ($32, walmart.com) with skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and Bondi Sands Light/Medium Self Tanning Foam ($27, riteaid.com), which is vegan with aloe vera. The light texture is fast absorbing, and easier to apply and blend, and those that are scented have a mild tropical smell, not chemical-y. You can use hands or a tanning mitt, but follow the golden rule on “tan” day and shower, blot and apply moisturizer lightly to dry spots like elbows, knees, ankles and feet where color grabs and intensifies. Then, start applying tanner in circular movements using hands (wash immediately after) or a “tanning” mitt for pristine palms. Wait 20 minutes to dry before dressing, and if you have light brows or hair, avoid tanners on those areas. Two words of caution: There is a difference in formula between self-tanners for the face and those for the body. Buy separates unless the formula specifies face and body. And unless you’re really in a jam, avoid express self-tanners, which have a higher concentration of active ingredients to speed color development, but are less predictable and choose a tinted mousse like Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Moisturizing Mousse in Light Bronze or Deep Bronze ($16, cvs.com) or see tip No. 4!

Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF50 Body Oil

Sephora

4. Get a temporary tan that washes off at night.

Sometimes you just want a short-term bronze-y look … and fast. Let’s say you need to revive a self-tan that’s fading without having a total redo, get paler legs in sync with a sun-warmed face, chest and arms (a common issue for pants and midi-skirt wearers) or just enhance your natural skin tone for a bare “situation” dress for a party or outdoor wedding. A temporary transfer-resistant body bronzer like Hi Beautiful You Be You Body Body Perfecting Bronzer ($58, amazon.com), This Works Perfect Legs Skin Miracle ($30, dermstore.com) or Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Leg Makeup in Tan Glow ($17, walgreens.com) solves all and washes off with soap and water at the end of the day or evening. And yes, so-called leg bronzers can be used on arms too (but not your face). Use your hands, a makeup sponge or a dense kabuki makeup brush to apply and blend. For more casual moments, say when you’re wearing shorts or a swimsuit, pick a shimmery nongreasy dry body oil spray like Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF50 Body Oil ($38, amazon.com) or Coppertone Glow Shimmer Sunscreen Lotion ($30, walgreens.com) for a subtle golden glow … fuss-free.

(Left to right) Physicians Formula Butter Glow Bronzing Serum; Pixi On-The-Glow Bronze Tinted Moisture Stick

CVS Pharmacy; Target

5. Add bronzer to your everyday makeup.

Whether your complexion is pale, olive, dark or rosy, bronzer can add a sunny warmth to the face. But here’s where you need to be picky about product texture. Instead of powder bronzers, which tend to emphasize dry skin, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, and look unnatural or cakey on textured skin, try the new category of liquid bronzers like Physicians Formula Butter Glow Bronzing Serum ($17, cvs.com) and Isle of Paradise Sunny Serum Instant Face Bronzer ($24, sephora.com). Designed to be blended in the palm of your hand with foundation, moisturizer, tinted moisturizer or sunscreen before applying to the face, they provide an instant allover sun-kissed glow. Go slow and build your degree of bronzing by varying the proportions in the mix. Or get a more targeted effect by choosing a cream-gel bronzer like Pixi On-The-Glow Bronze Tinted Moisture Stick ($18, target.com), which comes in four realistic shades of glow — Beach, Rich, Soft and Warm — or Burt’s Bees 100 & Natural All Aglow Bronzer & Highlight Stick ($13, burtsbees.com) in Golden Shimmer or Bronze Splash. These are applied after your moisturizer, foundation, tinted moisturizer or sunscreen and blended on exactly where the sun would naturally hit to create a sunny look — the tops of cheekbones, across the bridge of nose and forehead.

(Left to right) e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi-Stick; Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick

Target; Sephora

6. Summer-ize your makeup with color and gleam.

Some women have given up the idea of any kind of tan. Others have never been beachgoers in the first place. Both can achieve a radiant summery look without taking the “bronzing” route. One way is to swap foundation for a tinted moisturizer and bump up the shade one notch in a warmer, more golden hue. Though there are plenty of dewy-radiance boosting primers and highlighters around, your best bet is to keep it simple and minimize the layering. You want to create a more luminous look, not a sweaty one. The best way to energize your face and look fresher in hot steamy weather, rain or shine — even with a tinted moisturizer or sunscreen base — is to swap your usual neutrals for a dash of pink, coral, peach, berry or red on lips and cheeks (depending on your skin tone). Try a multitasking formula like e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi-Stick ($5, target.com), CoverGirl Clean Fresh All Over Dewy Tint in 3-in-1 ($8, walmart.com), Rimmel Kind & Free Tinted Multi-Stick ($8, walgreens.com) or Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick ($24, sephora.com) for an effective solution. Note that while these may look super-concentrated in the package, the high-pigment formulas go on sheer and in just the right degree of color to wakeup features and skin fast.

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Lois Joy Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at Ladies’ Home Journal and a founding editor of More magazine. She has written three books: The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup and The Woman's Wakeup.

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