Fake Bake 101: How to Use Sunless Self-Tanners

Sunless tanners have come a long way, which makes getting a convincingly natural-looking tan at home so easy. Or is it? With a little practice, patience and finesse, we think it's entirely possible. Here's a simple 4-step process to help you get started:

Hop in the shower and scrub down from head to toe with a great exfoliator. Right now, I'm loving Bain De-Luxe Foaming Body Scrub ($4.20) in Verbena. Prior to tanning, don't forget to shave, which is another form of exfoliating.

Lightly moisturize, paying special attention to dry spots like ankles, elbows and knees. Burt's Bees Milk & Honey Body Lotion ($8.59) does the trick for me every time. If you use a moisturizing body wash, you could probably skip this step. Some say it interferes with the tanner, I say you get a more even tan.

Apply tanner to the desired areas in small, circular motions. Use sparingly on those tricky knees, ankles and elbows. I know you're supposed to wear gloves, but I feel like I have better control using my bare hands. Have a wet cloth handy so you can wipe your palms immediately afterwards without washing the tanner of the top of your hands. Personally, I only use self-tanner on my legs, and I'm happy with the results I get from L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion ($8.54).

Let your tanner dry completely before getting dressed or coming into contact with anything - about 15-20 minutes (don't rush it!) Fix streaks by exfoliating the area once the tan has totally developed. Keep your fake bake from fading by moisturizing often.

What's your favorite sunless self-tanner?