I'm originally from the Midwest -- a part of the country that doesn't see a smidgen of sunshine for months out of the year -- so growing up, all the tan girls garnered a ton of praise. Unfortunately, I am paler than pale so my tan (or lack thereof), well, always paled in comparison to my friends. I did the tanning bed thing here and there and would bake myself in the sun (hopefully admitting this in my line of work won't put me out of a job), but then I started to worry about skin cancer and (thankfully) vanity kicked in and I started imagining myself all old and crinkly -- think Magda in "There's Something About Mary".

Luckily, these days I don't have to fry myself because there are quality self-tanners out there (like the ones on this list) that even us pasty girls can use to get a gorgeous glow. And there's this fab guide to healthy (sunless) tanning. Check out the myths and tips I found most helpful:

Myth: Tanned skin doesn't need as much UV protection.

Fact: On the contrary, tanned skin needs just as much UV protection as fair skin. Being surrounded by sand, water, snow or ice increases your need for protection as those elements can reflect up to 80 percent of UV radiation. See what type of sunscreen to wear in those conditions.

Myth: Your body only produces vitamin D when you're tan.

Fact: You don't need to be tan to make vitamin D. In fact, experts recommend keeping your so-called "sunshine vitamin" levels up through limited sun exposure (10 minutes is enough -- and with sunscreen). See what foods provide vitamin D.

Tip: Get a perfect faux tan by exfoliating first.

To get a flawless finish, whether you're using a mistake-proof gradual tanner, or a near-instant kind of tanner like Kiehl's Sun-Free Self-Tanning Formula, $22.50, exfoliate with a body scrub beforehand. See why here.

Tip: Moisturize regularly.

To seal in your faux tan and keep it from flaking off prematurely, moisturize regularly with a lotion containing DHA, like Jergens(r) Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer, $8.99.

• Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston have clearly mastered the natural-looking faux-glow -- use these tips to get your own (safe) red carpet-worthy tan.

• Not obsessed with being tan like the rest of America? Find out how to make your fair skin glow -- sans tanner -- check out this video for the best make up for pale skin.

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