Your Ultimate Countdown to Swimsuit-Ready Skin — Just in Time For Memorial Day

If you've got a bit of breathing room before slipping into your bikini, opt for a gradual tanner to achieve that sun-kissed glow. What makes a gradual tanner different from instant solutions is the concentration of the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone, more commonly known as DHA. Gradual tanners have a lower concentration of DHA compared to instant formulas (read: less room for mistakes, i.e. streaky tans), resulting in a subtler glow with each application. After several days of applying a gradual tanner, you'll eventually lead up to your desired level of bronze. Most gradual tanners also do double-duty as moisturizers, like L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Hydrating Self-Tanning Milk ($13).