For centuries the pale-skinned woman was considered to be the ultimate in beauty. How many poems refer to skin like “alabaster”? Before the 20th century, a suntan meant a woman worked outdoors and was therefore of a lower class and station. Women used parasols and wide brimmed hats to ensure that no part of their bodies was exposed to the sun.

But in the 1920’s, Coco Chanel changed all that by popularizing the bronze look. Suddenly a tan meant that you had leisure time to spend by the sea, which meant you had money. Suddenly, tans were “in”. Soon a suntan became associated with looking healthy.

Of course, that was before we learned the relationship between premature aging of the skin and skin cancer with repeated sun exposure. Still, the image persists - tan skin is healthy skin. A tan also helps to hide imperfections and makes you look thinner. So, what’s the answer?

Self-tanners go back a long way. In the early days they were mostly dyes that stained the skin and were very orange. Nowadays self-tanners have advanced and are available for every skin type and color and come in the form of lotions, sprays and even towelettes. You can get good color with even a lower-priced drugstore product. The best thing is that you can get a tan with a sunless tanning product even if you can’t get a tan from the sun!

The key is application. Here are some tips to help you get the results you want from your sunless tanning product.

* Take time to apply it evenly. Don’t use too much or you will end up with a streaky, orange tan.

* Wear gloves to apply the sunless tanning product. Trying to wash it off your palms before it “tans” them is almost impossible and you will also end up with dark orange knuckles.

* Self-tanners adhere to the top layer of dead skin cells. Taking a shower and exfoliating prior to use will prevent uneven color. Use a light moisturizer over knees, elbows and ankles to prevent dry skin in those areas from soaking up too much tanner.

* Apply the self-tanner to hands last. Apply lotion using a sponge for an even look. Even if you use the towelettes or a spray, going lightly over the back of the hand with a cloth will help to avoid a patchy tan. This method also works well for the tops of the feet. After applying to hands, use a Q-tip soaked in nail polish remover to go around nails and between fingers.

* Wait at least 15 minutes before getting dressed as sunless tanners will stain clothes. Keep cool as humidity and perspiration will cause the product to streak.

Lastly, enjoy your safe tan!