Whether you’re spending spring break on the beach or the couch, you can re-enter society with a gorgeous sun-soaked glow without frying in harmful rays. And to help plan your pale-to-perfect transformation, we’ve rounded up the top tools to do the job. Fiona Locke, St. Tropez skin expert and celebrity tanning specialist, recommends bringing two things with you on vacation:

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“One being sunscreen with at least a 30 SPF, the other being a great natural looking self tanning product like St. Tropez bronzing mousse. This will allow you to apply a beautiful tan to your skin that you can build upon throughout the week. Then apply your SPF so you don’t damage your skin.” Sunscreen might seem like an obvious staple for a sun-soaked trip, but remembering to re-apply is more important than you think. “The damage you allow now to young skin will appear later on in life when you can do nothing to reverse it,” says Locke. “If you start protecting your skin from a young age, you can prevent ugly sun spots and wrinkles from ever happening. I work with skin everyday and believe me—I see the difference in my celebrity clients that used an SPF and the ones that didn’t.”

These three sunscreens will keep your skin protected:
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Blue Lizard SPF 30 sunscreen is serious about sun protection. The lotion holds itself to Australian Standards of sunscreen which are notoriously stricter than FDA regulations. For example, the FDA requires a product to withstand 80 minutes in standing water to be considered waterproof, while the Australian Standards requires 240 minutes in whirlpool water. Blue Lizard qualifies as waterproof from the latter.

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Coppertone Ultra Guard sunscreen SPF 70+ sounds like tough stuff, but the formula is actually very gentle. Vitamin E and Aloe moisturize skin and the product is PABA-free. Extreme SPF without a harsh formula is a winning combination.

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Neutrogena Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 45 with Helioplex is non-comedogenic so it won’t clog pores and it literally feels chilly when it touches skin, which can be a great relief after hours outside. Many sunscreens on the market qualify as broad spectrum products, meaning they have the ability to protect against UVA and UVB rays, but often the actual UVA protection is slim. Helioplex is a technology by Neutrogena that refers to the long-lasting UVA protection in their formula that many sunscreens lack. Once you’ve mastered the art of sun safety, it’s time to get your glow on. Judge how much time you have to build your tan, and use this guide to find the right bronzer to achieve your desired color at your own pace. First, think about your own skin tone. “If you are very fair, I suggest you gradually build some color over a few days so it’s not a dramatic shock,” advises Locke. “If you have a little color already, then you can go straight into a self-tanning product.”

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If you have all week to fake a great glow, Jergens Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer is a great way to build serious color over the course of many days. Unlike the original Jergens Natural Glow formula that can take weeks for the color to develop, this product darkens skin with the same easy lotion application.
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If you have just a few days to kick up your coloring, try a sunless tanner. If you apply it at the beginning of break, it may fade by the time you’re ready to return. If you use it the night before break ends, you could wake up splotchy and orange. Give yourself a few days to experiment with the application process and find a shade that is right for your skin tone. St. Tropez has a tried and true formula that never looks orange. Check out the St. Tropez site for a detailed application video tutorial. (Note: For a lighter application, Locke suggests The Everyday Lotion from St. Tropez because it “gives a subtle glow that builds up each day that you use it and keeps the skin looking fresh and natural.” If you’re into a darker tan, The St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse is the way to go, according to Locke. Just make sure to use an application mitt or a pair of latex gloves if you have them because the product can be tricky to remove from hands.)
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If you want to slap on a glow the day that you head back from break, a tinted gel is a great way to explore washable color. L’Oreal Sublime One Day Tinted Gel dries fast so you can apply it in the morning and get ready right away. Just slather it on for a hint of color and wash it off with soap and water when you’re done with the look.