Stars' Beach-Ready Beauty Tips!

Want to look good as California girl Lauren Conrad on the beach? Get all the stars' tricks for a gorgeous surfside look!

  • BASE TAN MYTH photo | Whitney Port

Credit: Kadena Pix/Bauer-Griffin

Updated: Monday Aug 10, 2009 | 06:00 AM EDT By: Katherine Kluznik Rentmeester

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BASE TAN MYTH

Think you're protecting your skin before hitting the beach by getting a "base tan" at the tanning salon? The concept is a myth, explains Beatrice Secretan, PhD, of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. "The base tan doesn't protect you. It's similar to a sunscreen protection factor of 2 to 4, which is nothing." And according to a recent meta-analysis of tanning bed studies conducted by IARC, using a tanning bed for any purpose has serious health risks. "Your risk [of skin cancer] increases by 75% if you are exposed [to a tanning bed] under the age of 30." So take a cue from Whitney Port and hit the beach with your natural skin color – and plenty of SPF.