throw in the towel

It's November so, chances are, your golden glow has long faded. Yet it's at this time of the year--with the holiday season just around the corner--that you need to look your best. (The last thing you want is Aunt Sadie saying "If you look like that, you'll be single forever!" and Cousin Arthur thinking you're still wearing your ghost costume from Halloween!) The solution: If you can't afford a vacation in the tropics, try self-tanning. Stop grumbling--not all self-tanners involve orange-stained hands, a chemical scent and an artificial-looking end result. TanTowel takes self-tanning to a whole new level. It looks like a hand-wipe packet but it's actually self-tanner in a towelette. Just tear open the packet, remove the towelette and swipe all over your face and body (available in half body or full body size--box of TanTowel Classics, $21 each; box of TanTowel Plus, $25.25 each). My favorite part: There's an X-foliator towelette too ($21 per box) that you can use before you self-tan to keep your skin buffed and smooth. This is the easiest exfoliator I've ever used! One side of the towelette exfoliates while the other side buffs and smooths your skin--use it in or out of the shower and you don't even have to rinse it off! But getting back to the self-tanner. It's easy to use, dries quickly and doesn't leave streaks or spots. I used the Classic version for a subtle dose of color but you can try the Plus towelette for a deeper, darker tan. My friends commented on the fact that I look rested and refreshed but couldn't exactly pinpoint why! TanTowel also has an Express Self-Tan Kit ($30), On the Glow Body daily moisturizer ($17), On the Glow Face Moisturizer ($8.50), On the Glow Face Tinted Moisturizer ($19), Moisture Mist ($21), Tanning Mist ($21), SPF Mist 30+ ($21), Bronzer ($26) and Lip Gloss ($15). For more info, go to www.tantowel.com.