I first discovered St. Tropez tanner the summer of 2005, when I was in Greece for my friend M's wedding. After a summer of tanning, M had a patch of skin on her shoulder that peeled 2 days before the big day. I was fully expecting her to panic, but she just whipped out her bottle of St. Tropez and insisted she could match her natural tan and cover up the pale patch for the wedding.

I scoffed.

I was ...