Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

I’ve always had what you’d call a "fair" complexion. In fact, I can recall a day in fifth grade when a boy in my class asked me in all seriousness, “So, is your whole body that white?” Needless to say, I’ve done everything to achieve the rich, caramel tans that my peers continually flaunt before me, but in vain. From foams to lotions to sprays, home remedies to tanning salons, if it’s out there I’ve tried it and I finally came to the conclusion that the easiest way to turn my skin brown is to spend long periods of time in the exotic, we’re talking years, which isn’t exactly possible when you’re chained to a desk all day.

Well, yesterday, while sharing my woes with a co-worker, she handed me one of our clients’ instant spray-on tans, SunFX, a new product that is supposed to achieve a professional airbrush tan right in the privacy of your home. A little skeptical, I stuck the can in my purse promising her I would try it.

After work, I found myself in my shower, fully exfoliated, as suggested, and a little nervous. What if, instead of turning me into a golden goddess, I had my own Lindsay Lohan mishap? I could definitely say goodbye to wearing skirts the rest of the week which would be no trivial matter considering the 85 plus degree weather that has recently taken over Manhattan. Still, if it did work, I could finally wear that creme bubble skirt I’ve been dying to debut.

Taking a deep breath, I started spraying around my legs in continual motions as instructed. A little surprised by the amount of liquid that started dripping down my calves, I took a cloth and gently wiped away the excess. Once I made sure I was evenly covered, I examined my handiwork and felt surprisingly satisfied! As you can see from the picture below, the color looked even and smooth. There were no streaks and it looked completely natural. I made sure to spend the rest of the evening in loose clothing and waited to bathe until the next day.

The real test came the next morning and to my delight there was no orange residue on my white sheets! The tan’s color had darkened somewhat but still came off as more golden chic than orange freak, see picture. Then the next test, direct sunlight, but as you can see, as I’m stepping into my car to catch my morning train, it still looks flawless.

So, except for a few minor streaks on the tops of my feet, which you can tell are hardly noticeable, SunFX worked like a charm! I definitely recommend this product to anyone who wants to achieve that sun kissed glow without the grief of other tanning products and the harm of tanning beds or direct sunlight. And as for me? I’m definitely going to keep using SunFX, that is, if I can get it back from my roommate…