First Day Back To School Get Ready With Me

What is “self-tanner” and why do American teens use it in winter?

Self-tanner is a mousse, spray, or lotion that turns pale skin temporarily tan. American teens, especially in northern states, often use it before going back to school in January, when winter break ends and they want to look like they spent the holidays somewhere warm. The trick: most American families don’t actually go to Florida or the Caribbean; the tan comes from a bottle. Top brands include St. Tropez, Bondi Sand, and Loving Tan. Done badly, it streaks orange. Done well, it lasts about a week.

In this clip, a teen finishes a fresh self-tanner application: “As you can see, I tanned. Bro, what is going on with my part? I’m gonna go rinse off my tan because this is bad.”